Grill Shutter Control for Pre-Cooling During Deceleration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional grill shutter systems increase aerodynamic drag and negatively impact fuel economy by adjusting based solely on cooling demands, without considering conditions where aerodynamic drag does not result in fuel economy loss, such as during deceleration.

Innovation Solution

A method to adjust grill shutter systems based on non-driven vehicle conditions, such as deceleration or braking, to provide cooling without increasing fuel economy loss, by pre-cooling powertrain components and delaying or reducing shutter opening during subsequent driven conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If grill shutters are opened to provide cooling air flow, then cooling performance is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases and fuel economy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidfuel economy

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling action during deceleration events when the vehicle is coasting or braking. By opening the shutters during these non-driven conditions, the powertrain components are pre-cooled before the next acceleration event, reducing the need for excessive shutter opening during driven conditions and thereby minimizing aerodynamic drag and fuel economy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shutter control system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time detection of driven versus non-driven conditions. The system transitions between different shutter positions (open during deceleration, closed or partially open during acceleration) to optimize the balance between cooling performance and fuel economy, making the cooling strategy adaptive to varying vehicle operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If grill shutters are closed to reduce aerodynamic drag, then fuel economy is improved, but cooling air flow is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel economyVSAvoidcooling air flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively cooling the powertrain components during deceleration events before high-load driven conditions occur. This preemptive cooling reduces the subsequent cooling demand during acceleration, allowing the shutters to remain closed or partially closed for longer periods, thereby maintaining reduced aerodynamic drag while ensuring adequate cooling performance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Temperature

If shutters are opened during driven conditions to provide cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases causing fuel economy loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidfuel efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary cooling action during non-driven conditions (deceleration, braking) before driven conditions occur. By pre-cooling the powertrain components when the vehicle is coasting or braking, the system reduces the cooling demand during subsequent acceleration events, allowing shutters to remain closed or partially open longer, thereby minimizing aerodynamic drag and fuel economy loss during productive driven conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the otherwise wasted time during deceleration and braking events into beneficial cooling opportunities. During these non-driven conditions when the vehicle is not propelling forward, the shutters are opened to provide cooling air flow, transforming a period of reduced productivity into a useful cooling interval that reduces subsequent cooling demands during driven conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 reduces fuel economy losses by optimizing air flow for cooling during non-driven conditions, pre-cooling powertrain components, and delaying or reducing shutter opening during driven conditions, thus improving fuel efficiency and maintaining benefits like faster powertrain warm-up and improved passenger compartment heating performance.

Implementation Method 1

such intake air may then be directed to an engine compartment of the vehicle to assist the vehicle's cooling system in cooling the engine, transmission, and other such components of the engine compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8731782B2Adjustable grill shutter system

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

An adjustable grill shutter system is provided. In one embodiment, adjustment of the grill shutter system can be provided by a method of adjusting a grill shutter system for a vehicle, the method comprising adjusting opening of one or more grill shutters located at a front end opening of the vehicle in response to a non-driven vehicle condition.