HEV Cooling Valve Control for Low-Temperature Engine Warm-Up
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) struggle to maintain optimal engine coolant temperatures in low-temperature environments, leading to issues such as knocking, increased friction, poor fuel efficiency, and incomplete combustion, which can result in engine degradation and excessive emissions.
Innovation Solution
A method of controlling the cooling system in HEVs by using an integrated thermal management module (ITM) valve to manage coolant flow, including outside air temperature determination, vehicle state assessment, and coolant temperature monitoring to selectively control the opening and closing of control valves, preventing dilution and noise issues in low-temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flow is continuously circulated through the radiator in low-temperature environments, then the cooling system maintains its cooling function, but the engine warm-up performance deteriorates and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the control valve based on real-time detection of engine operating conditions (temperature, load, RPM) and ambient temperature. The valve opening degree is continuously adjusted to optimize the balance between engine warm-up and cooling requirements, transitioning from static to dynamic control strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter (valve opening degree) based on different operating conditions. By detecting ambient temperature and engine state, the controller adjusts the valve opening to appropriate degrees, achieving different control strategies (full opening, partial opening, closed) to optimize both warm-up performance and fuel efficiency.
2Productivity
If the control valve is closed to prevent coolant dilution in low-temperature environments, then fuel efficiency improves, but the cooling function deteriorates and engine temperature may become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve opening degree is dynamically adjusted based on real-time engine operating conditions. When cooling demand is high (high load, high RPM, high ambient temperature), the valve opens more to maintain cooling function. When cooling demand is low (idle, low load, low ambient temperature), the valve closes more to improve fuel efficiency and prevent dilution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control by continuously detecting engine temperature, ambient temperature, load, and RPM, then adjusting the control valve opening degree accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the engine temperature remains within the optimal range while maximizing fuel efficiency.
3Device complexity
If multiple cooling elements are controlled through a single valve, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision deteriorates and difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single control valve is designed to control multiple cooling elements (radiator, heater core, EGR cooler, oil cooler) simultaneously. By detecting comprehensive engine operating parameters (temperature, load, RPM, ambient temperature), the valve achieves multi-functional control, reducing the number of valves and simplifying the cooling system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve acts as an intermediary that distributes coolant flow to different cooling elements based on detected engine conditions. The valve opening degree serves as the control mediator, adjusting coolant distribution to multiple elements simultaneously, achieving precise control despite the simplified single-valve structure.
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
The method effectively maintains engine warm-up performance and prevents coolant dilution and noise problems, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions by optimizing coolant temperature management in low-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant absorbs thermal energy while circulating through the engine, a heater, and a radiator, which discharges the absorbed thermal energy to the outside
Implementation Method 2
opening and closing of a control valve by a controller to selectively perform coolant flow stop control
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a cooling system for a hybrid electric vehicle can include measuring an outside air temperature, determining whether the measured outside air temperature is within a preset low-temperature environment temperature range, determining, in a case where a determination is made that the outside air temperature is within the low-temperature environment temperature range, whether a vehicle state corresponds to a preset heating mode, detecting, in a case where a determination is made that the vehicle state does not correspond to the heating mode, a coolant temperature, and controlling, in a case where a determination is made that the coolant temperature detected by a coolant temperature measurement unit is within a preset target temperature range, opening and closing of a control valve by the controller to selectively perform a coolant flow stop control in a low-temperature environment.