Heat Exchanger Pump Duty Control for Flow Rate Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control apparatus for heat exchanging systems often results in a decrease in core flow rate when the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage, leading to reduced air temperature in vehicles, causing discomfort to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus with an electronic control unit that adjusts the duty ratios of the heater and engine pumps, and manages the connection system to maintain the core flow rate at the requested level by optimizing the flow resistance and direction of heat exchanging water, preventing the core flow rate from dropping below the required rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage, then the heater core can be heated by heat exchanging water from the engine, but the core flow rate decreases below the requested core flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pump duty ratio adjustable rather than fixed. The ECU dynamically changes the heater pump duty ratio based on the connection state between engine water passage and heater water passage. When connected, the duty ratio is increased to compensate for the additional flow resistance, thereby maintaining the required core flow rate while enabling heater core heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (duty ratio) of the heater pump based on the system configuration. By detecting whether the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage, the ECU adjusts the duty ratio parameter to ensure adequate flow rate. This parameter change compensates for the flow resistance increase caused by the connection, preventing core flow rate from dropping below the requested level.
2Productivity
If the heater pump duty ratio is increased to maintain core flow rate after connection, then the core flow rate is maintained, but the power consumption and heat loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the heater pump duty ratio based on real-time connection status. Rather than maintaining a high duty ratio always, the ECU increases it only when the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage. This dynamic adjustment maintains core flow rate when needed while minimizing energy loss during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing heat exchanging water from the engine cooling system to heat the heater core, eliminating the need for a separate heating system. By utilizing the engine's thermal energy and the existing circulation infrastructure, the system reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining heating effectiveness.
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
Ensures that the core flow rate remains at the requested level, maintaining the desired air temperature in vehicles and preventing discomfort, while also preventing overheating of the exhaust heat recovery device.
Implementation Method 1
a heater core heating system for heating a heater core for heating air supplied to an interior of a vehicle by heat exchanging water
Implementation Method 2
an engine cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine by the heat exchanging water
Data Source
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AI summary
A control apparatus of a heat exchanging apparatus according to the invention executes a control for activating a connection system (60) to connect an engine water passage (16, 11W, 17, 18, 12W, 19) to a heater water passage (40, 33W, 41, 31W, 42, 43, 34W, 44) and then, executes a control for decreasing a heater pump duty ratio (DH) and a control for decreasing an engine pump duty ratio (DE) when the control for decreasing the heater pump duty ratio (DH) and the control for decreasing the engine pump duty ratio (DE) are requested to be executed in order to control a core flow rate (Vhc) to a requested core flow rate (Vhc_req) and an engine flow rate (Veng) to a requested engine flow rate (Veng_req) after the engine water passage is connected to the heater water passage by the connection system (60).