Adaptive Engine Cooling via Coolant Tank Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine cooling systems hinder rapid engine warm-up at startup, leading to increased poisonous gas emissions and reduced fuel efficiency, as they rely on coolant that impedes initial heating.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that measure cylinder head temperatures to strategically move coolant between the engine and a coolant tank, using solenoid valves and a coolant pump to control coolant flow, allowing for rapid warm-up by minimizing coolant circulation when the engine is cold and preventing overheating when it's warm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is continuously circulated through the engine at startup, then the engine is protected from overheating, but the engine warm-up speed is reduced and fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the coolant circulation system adaptive rather than static. The electronic coolant pump and solenoid valves dynamically adjust coolant flow based on real-time temperature measurements from sensors. At startup when the engine is cold, the system reduces or stops coolant circulation to enable rapid warm-up. When the engine reaches optimal temperature, the system activates coolant circulation to prevent overheating. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining low coolant flow for fuel efficiency and enabling high coolant flow for temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the cooling system based on engine temperature conditions. The control unit monitors engine temperature and adjusts parameters such as coolant pump speed, solenoid valve positions, and coolant flow rate. By changing these parameters dynamically according to temperature thresholds, the system achieves rapid warm-up during cold startup while preventing overheating during operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between warm-up speed and energy loss.
2Productivity
If coolant circulation is reduced at startup, then fuel efficiency improves and warm-up speed increases, but the engine may overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through temperature sensors that continuously monitor engine temperature and provide real-time data to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback information and adjusts coolant circulation accordingly. When the engine is cold at startup, the system reduces coolant flow to improve warm-up speed. When temperature sensors detect that the engine approaches overheating conditions, the control unit increases coolant circulation to provide protection. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction between improving productivity through reduced coolant flow and maintaining reliability for overheating protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system performs self-service by automatically adjusting its own operation based on engine conditions without external intervention. The control unit autonomously monitors temperature parameters and activates or deactivates the coolant pump and solenoid valves as needed. This self-regulating capability allows the system to optimize warm-up speed while simultaneously protecting against overheating, resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and reliability maintenance.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional cooling system with constant coolant circulation is used, then the engine is protected from overheating, but poisonous gas emissions increase due to incomplete combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant coolant circulation to dynamic, condition-based circulation. During cold startup, the system minimizes coolant flow to allow the engine to reach optimal combustion temperature quickly, thereby reducing poisonous gas emissions from incomplete combustion. Once the engine warms up, the system activates coolant circulation to maintain appropriate temperature and prevent overheating. This dynamic temperature management resolves the contradiction between reducing harmful emissions through rapid warm-up and maintaining temperature control for engine protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the coolant circulation parameters based on engine operating conditions. The control unit adjusts coolant flow rate, pump speed, and valve positions according to temperature sensor feedback. By changing these parameters dynamically, the system enables rapid warm-up during cold conditions to reduce poisonous gas emissions, while maintaining appropriate temperature control during operation to prevent overheating, thereby resolving the contradiction between emission reduction and temperature maintenance.
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 approach enables faster engine warm-up during initial startup, improving fuel efficiency and reducing harmful emissions by optimizing coolant management based on temperature thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant heated by the engine is heat-exchanged with outside air through the radiator and cooled
Implementation Method 2
coolant flows along a flow path formed at an exterior wall of a cylinder block
Implementation Method 3
the coolant heated by the engine is heat-exchanged with outside air through the radiator and cooled
Implementation Method 4
the coolant heated by the engine is heat-exchanged with outside air through the radiator and cooled
Implementation Method 5
a water pump for compulsively circulating coolant by receiving power from a crankshaft of the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A method of cooling an engine of a vehicle includes measuring a temperature of a cylinder head of the engine, determining whether the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, when the temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, moving coolant of the cylinder head and a cylinder block to a separate coolant tank, determining whether the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or higher than a specific temperature, and when the measured temperature of the cylinder head may be equal to or higher than the specific temperature, supplying coolant stored in the coolant tank to the cylinder head or the cylinder block.