Hybrid Coolant Flow Control for Engine Transient Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional engine control systems using only a feedback approach struggle to accurately and quickly adjust coolant flow during transient conditions, such as vehicle acceleration, leading to inefficiencies in cooling system management.

Innovation Solution

A system that combines feedforward and feedback approaches to control coolant flow, estimating cylinder wall temperature using a mathematical model and closed-loop feedback to determine the desired coolant flow rate, thereby improving response time and accuracy in both steady-state and transient conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only a feedback approach is used to control coolant flow, then the system is simple to implement, but the response time and accuracy during transient conditions deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidresponse time during transient conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The feedforward controller uses a mathematical model to predict the required coolant flow rate in advance based on anticipated engine conditions, allowing the system to proactively adjust coolant flow before transient conditions fully develop, thereby reducing response time without significantly increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If only a feedback approach is used to control coolant flow, then the control logic is simple, but the accuracy of coolant temperature control during transient conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidcoolant temperature control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback controller continuously monitors actual coolant temperature and compares it with the desired temperature, then adjusts the coolant flow rate to eliminate any deviation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures high accuracy in coolant temperature control during transient conditions by constantly correcting errors in the feedforward prediction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the feedforward controller (which provides proactive control based on mathematical modeling) with the feedback controller (which provides reactive correction based on actual measurements), creating a hybrid control system that achieves both high accuracy and reasonable complexity by leveraging the strengths of both approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a mathematical model is used to estimate cylinder wall temperature, then the system can predict coolant flow requirements, but errors in the mathematical model reduce control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprediction capabilityVSAvoidtemperature estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback controller uses actual temperature measurements to detect and correct errors in the mathematical model's predictions, continuously adjusting the coolant flow rate to compensate for model inaccuracies and maintain high control accuracy despite limitations in the mathematical modeling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 combined feedforward and feedback approach enables precise and rapid coolant temperature control, correcting for errors in the mathematical model and enhancing system performance across various operational conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The coolant pump circulates coolant through the inlet line, the engine, the outlet line, and the radiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

The outlet line extends from an outlet of the engine to an inlet of the radiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The radiator... cools coolant that flows through the radiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 4

The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of a cylinder wall in the engine based on the estimated coolant temperature and a measured coolant temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10087815B2System and method for estimating a cylinder wall temperature and for controlling coolant flow through an engine based on the estimated cylinder wall temperature

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A system includes a temperature estimation module and a pump control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of coolant flowing through an engine. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of a cylinder wall in the engine based on the estimated coolant temperature and a measured coolant temperature. The pump control module controls a coolant pump to adjust an actual rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the estimated cylinder wall temperature.