Engine Cooling Device with Segmented Jacket Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine cooling systems experience unstable coolant temperatures due to varying heat exchanges in heat exchangers, leading to unstable combustion chamber cooling and combustion states.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a coolant pump, a head-side jacket in the cylinder head, and a circulation path that includes a main and sub circulation path, where the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the coolant pump and upstream of the exhaust-port-side jacket, stabilizing coolant temperature and combustion chamber cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flows through heat exchangers (EGR cooler and heater) before returning to the engine body, then the coolant can be warmed or cooled by the heat exchangers, but the temperature of coolant fed to the engine body varies depending on the amount of heat exchange, causing unstable combustion chamber cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The head-side jacket is divided into two separate circulation paths: a main circulation path (cooling-chamber-side jacket) and a sub circulation path (exhaust-port-side jacket). The heat exchanger is placed only in the sub circulation path, allowing independent temperature control for each path. This segmentation enables the main circulation path to provide stable cooling to the combustion chamber while the sub circulation path handles heat exchange operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cooling system are given different thermal characteristics. The main circulation path maintains stable, cool temperatures for combustion chamber cooling, while the sub circulation path allows temperature variations for heat exchange with exhaust gases or intake air. This local differentiation of thermal properties resolves the contradiction between heat exchange functionality and cooling stability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If all coolant passes through heat exchangers for heat exchange, then the coolant can be warmed or cooled, but the combustion state of fuel-air mixture becomes unstable due to varying coolant temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant flow is segmented into two paths: one dedicated to combustion chamber cooling (main circulation path) and another for heat exchange (sub circulation path). This ensures that only a portion of the coolant undergoes heat exchange, while the majority maintains stable temperature for reliable combustion chamber cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange function is extracted from the main cooling circuit and placed in a separate sub circulation path. This extraction allows the heat exchange process to occur independently without affecting the temperature stability of the main cooling circuit that serves the combustion chamber.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchanger is disposed in the main circulation path, then heat exchange can occur, but the cooling stability of the combustion chamber deteriorates due to temperature variations in the coolant
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent circulation paths: the main circulation path for combustion chamber cooling and the sub circulation path for heat exchange. The heat exchanger is disposed in the sub circulation path, allowing heat exchange capability while maintaining cooling stability in the main path.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub circulation path acts as an intermediary between the heat exchanger and the main circulation path. It allows heat exchange operations to be performed without directly affecting the main cooling circuit, thus protecting the combustion chamber cooling stability while providing heat exchange versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures stable and appropriate cooling of the combustion chamber, stabilizing the combustion state of the fuel-air mixture and reducing temperature variations in the coolant.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant pump for feeding coolant into the engine body
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger disposed outside the engine body... the heat exchanger is disposed at a downstream position of the sub circulation path with respect to the coolant pump, and at an upstream position of the sub circulation path with respect to the exhaust-port-side jacket
Implementation Method 3
a head-side jacket formed in the cylinder head, and through which coolant flows... the head-side jacket includes an exhaust-port-side jacket formed around the exhaust port in the cylinder head, and a combustion-chamber-side jacket formed at a position closer to the combustion chamber than the exhaust-port-side jacket
Data Source
AI summary
A head-side jacket through which coolant flows is formed in a cylinder head. A main circulation path and a sub circulation path through which coolant fed from a coolant pump respectively circulates are formed. The head-side jacket is separated into an exhaust-port side jacket formed around an exhaust port, and a combustion-chamber-side jacket closer to a combustion chamber than the exhaust-port-side jacket. A heat exchanger is not formed in the main circulation path including the combustion-chamber-side jacket, but is formed in the sub circulation path excluding the combustion-chamber-side jacket and including the exhaust-port-side jacket.