Electric Water Pump Coolant Condition Detection via Ripple Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining coolant conditions in vehicles using electric water pumps require additional sensors and cannot accurately detect insufficient coolant levels or gas presence, especially at low pump RPM, leading to potential component damage and reduced cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates a ripple value from driving state information such as consumption power, speed, or PWM duty, and compares it to reference values to determine coolant conditions without additional sensors, allowing for accurate detection of insufficient coolant levels and gas presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to detect coolant conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric water pump performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own driving state information (consumption power, speed, PWM duty) to detect coolant conditions. The pump's inherent operational data is utilized to identify insufficient coolant levels and gas presence, eliminating the need for separate sensing systems while maintaining detection accuracy.
2Device complexity
If conventional methods are used to detect coolant insufficiency, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates at low pump RPM
Solution Approach 1:
The detection method monitors changes in driving state parameters (consumption power, speed, PWM duty) of the electric water pump across different operating conditions. By analyzing parameter variations rather than absolute values, the system achieves accurate coolant condition detection regardless of pump RPM, including low-speed operation where conventional methods fail.
3Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to detect gas presence, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing driving state monitoring system of the electric water pump is designed to serve multiple functions: controlling pump operation and detecting coolant conditions including gas presence. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated gas detection sensors, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining detection capability.
4Reliability
If early detection of coolant insufficiency is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the electric water pump's driving state information and provides real-time feedback on coolant conditions. By establishing a feedback loop that compares actual driving parameters against expected values, the system enables early detection of coolant insufficiency and gas presence, allowing preventive action before component damage occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method of determining a coolant condition of a vehicle, and more particularly, a method of accurately determining a coolant condition, e.g., a condition in which gas is present in a system and an insufficient coolant condition without a separate additional sensor in a vehicle using an electric water pump (EWP). To this end, the present disclosure provides a method of determining a coolant condition of a vehicle, including, in a vehicle including an electric water pump (EWP) for circulating a coolant, acquiring driving state information of a water pump while the water pump is driven, by a controller, calculating a ripple value of a driving state from the acquired driving state information of the water pump, by the controller, and comparing the calculated ripple value with a reference value to determine a condition of a coolant, by the controller.