Internal Combustion Engine Medium Line Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medium lines in internal combustion engines are prone to ice formation, particularly at low temperatures, which can lead to damage from larger ice elements detaching and causing harm to downstream components like compressor wheels in turbochargers, and existing solutions are complex, costly, or dependent on medium flow.
Innovation Solution
A medium line design featuring a base body with a means for stimulating vibrations externally at the blow-by gas introduction point, allowing for efficient detachment and removal of small ice elements, independent of internal geometry complexity, and with low energy requirements, using piezoelectric or electromechanical elements to generate vibrations that counteract ice formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive vibration elements (flexible annular membranes and cilia) are used inside the medium line, then ice elements can be loosened without external energy supply, but the device becomes complex to manufacture and cannot be installed in medium lines with complex geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration-generating function is extracted from the internal medium line structure and placed outside as a separate piezoelectric element. This external placement simplifies the internal geometry of the medium line while maintaining the ice-prevention function through external vibration excitation of the medium line walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The medium line wall itself serves as an intermediary, transmitting vibrations from the externally mounted piezoelectric element to the ice formations on its inner surface. This eliminates the need for complex internal vibration structures while achieving the same ice-loosening effect.
2Reliability
If heating methods are used to prevent ice formation, then ice accumulation is reduced, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using thermal energy (heating) to prevent ice formation, the invention employs mechanical vibration energy from piezoelectric elements. This mechanical approach loosens ice formations without the high energy consumption associated with heating methods, while still achieving reliable ice prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter used for ice prevention from thermal energy (temperature increase) to mechanical energy (vibration frequency and amplitude). This parameter change enables ice prevention with lower overall energy consumption, as piezoelectric elements require minimal electrical energy to generate effective vibrations.
3Reliability
If vibration elements are integrated into the medium line, then ice loosening is achieved, but assembly time increases and installation in complex geometries becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration-generating component is extracted from the medium line manufacturing process and installed separately as an external element. This allows the medium line to be manufactured with simple, complex-geometry-free designs while the vibration element is added independently, significantly simplifying both manufacturing and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice-prevention system is segmented into two independent parts: the medium line itself and the externally mounted piezoelectric element. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and installed separately, reducing overall assembly complexity and time while maintaining full functionality.
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
Effectively prevents thicker ice layers from forming on the inner peripheral wall, reducing the risk of mechanical damage to downstream components while being cost-effective and easily installable, with low energy consumption, even in complex geometries.
Implementation Method 1
using piezoelectric or electromechanical elements to generate vibrations that counteract ice formation
Implementation Method 2
at least one means for exciting vibrations of the base body is arranged on the base body outside the flow region
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a medium line of an internal combustion engine, comprising a main body (12) and at east one flow region (16), which is bounded by a peripheral wall (14) of the main body (12), wherein the flow region (16) is provided in order for a medium to flow therethrough, wherein a means for the vibrational excitation (28) of the main body (12) is arranged on the main body (12) outside of the flow region (16).