Work Machine Exhaust Cooling via Cooling System Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Work machines, such as front loaders, generate high-temperature exhaust containing environmental contaminants that can irritate operators and damage vegetation, and traditional exhaust systems are prone to damage and inefficient in cooling the exhaust before release.
Innovation Solution
An exhaust system that directs exhaust gases adjacent to oil and engine cooling systems, utilizing an air displacement device to draw and cool the exhaust, incorporating emission control devices like selective catalytic reduction, diesel oxidation catalysts, and diesel particulate filters, and routing the exhaust pipe to position the exhaust for cooling by the oil and engine cooling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional exhaust stack is used to direct exhaust away from the vehicle, then exhaust can be released, but the exhaust stack is prone to damage and does not effectively cool the exhaust
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust system is merged with the cooling system by positioning the exhaust pipe outlet adjacent to the oil cooler and engine radiator, allowing the exhaust to be cooled by the cooling airflow without requiring a separate exhaust cooling mechanism. This integration resolves the contradiction by eliminating the vulnerable exhaust stack while achieving both exhaust release and cooling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The air displacement device (fan) acts as an intermediary that draws exhaust gases through the cooling system. The fan creates airflow that simultaneously cools the engine/radiator and carries the exhaust away from the vehicle, replacing the traditional exhaust stack function while adding cooling capability.
2Device complexity
If exhaust is released directly to the atmosphere, then exhaust removal is simple, but high temperature exhaust irritates operators and damages vegetation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling airflow acts as an intermediary medium that intercepts the hot exhaust gases before they are released to the atmosphere. This airflow cools the exhaust and directs it away from the operator and vegetation, reducing harmful effects without significantly increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful high temperature property is extracted from the exhaust stream through heat exchange with the cooling system airflow. The exhaust is pulled through the cooling system where heat is transferred to the cooling air, removing the harmful thermal energy before exhaust release.
3Ease of operation
If exhaust is directed through a vertical exhaust stack, then exhaust can be released, but the system is prone to damage from external factors
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust release function is merged with the existing cooling system airflow path. The exhaust pipe outlet is positioned to utilize the airflow generated by the cooling fan, which naturally draws exhaust away from the vehicle without requiring a separate vertical exhaust stack structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system's own airflow serves dual purposes: cooling the engine components and carrying the exhaust away from the vehicle. The system uses its existing operational resources (cooling airflow) to accomplish the exhaust release function, eliminating the need for a separate vulnerable exhaust stack.
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 reduces contaminants in the exhaust, lowers exhaust temperature, and directs the exhaust away from the vehicle, reducing operator exposure and damage to vegetation, while improving fan durability and thermal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
directing the exhaust adjacent to one of the oil cooler and the engine radiator... drawing the exhaust away from one of the oil cooler and the engine radiator
Implementation Method 2
An air displacement device is configured to draw air into and away from one of the oil cooler and the engine radiator and to draw the exhaust from the exhaust pipe
Implementation Method 3
at least one of a selective catalytic reduction device, a diesel oxidation catalyst device
Implementation Method 4
a diesel particulate filter device
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method of cooling an engine exhaust generated by an engine of a work machine having a hydraulically operated implement. The work machine includes an emission control system and a cooling system having an oil cooling system configured to cool an oil of a hydraulic system and an engine cooling system configured to cool an engine coolant circulating through the engine. An exhaust pipe, coupled to the emission control system and configured to direct engine exhaust, includes an outlet disposed in a space located between an oil cooler of the oil cooling system and a radiator of the engine cooling system. An air displacement device is configured to draw air into and away from the oil cooler and the radiator and to draw the exhaust from the exhaust pipe. Exhaust from the exhaust pipe is drawn past the oil cooler and the radiator to cool the exhaust.