Hydrodynamic heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive heating systems using engine cooling fluid as a heat source experience delays in achieving desired temperatures, especially in cold conditions, and may not provide sufficient heat under low load conditions or very cold ambient temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A hydrodynamic heater is introduced to generate a stream of heated fluid, which can be integrated into the automotive engine cooling system to provide supplemental or primary heat, utilizing a rotor and stator design to enhance heat transfer and control the heating process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If engine cooling fluid is used as heat source, then heating system can operate continuously, but there is significant delay in achieving desired temperature when engine is first started
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrodynamic heater performs preliminary heating action on the cooling fluid before it reaches the heat exchanger. By actively heating the cooling fluid in advance using the rotor-stator hydrodynamic mechanism, the system ensures that the cooling fluid arrives at the heat exchanger at the required temperature, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur while waiting for engine heat to accumulate.
2Temperature
If engine operates under low load conditions, then fuel efficiency is improved, but heat available for heating system is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrodynamic heater acts as an intermediary heating device between the engine and the heat exchanger. When engine heat output is insufficient (under low load conditions), the hydrodynamic heater provides supplemental heating to the cooling fluid, ensuring adequate temperature is maintained without requiring increased engine load, thus preserving fuel efficiency while meeting heating demands.
3Temperature
If ambient temperature is very cold, then heating demand increases, but engine heat rejection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces reliance on thermal energy from engine heat rejection with a hydrodynamic heating mechanism. The rotor-stator assembly generates heat through hydrodynamic action on the cooling fluid, substituting the inadequate thermal pathway with a mechanically-driven hydrodynamic heating process that is independent of engine load and ambient temperature conditions.
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 hydrodynamic heater reduces the time to achieve desired temperatures and ensures consistent heating performance even under conditions where the engine cooling fluid may not provide sufficient heat, improving passenger compartment heating efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor is mounted to a drive shaft and rotatable relative to the stator. The hydrodynamic chamber operates to heat fluid present within an interior of the hydrodynamic chamber.
Implementation Method 2
The rotor and stator together define a hydrodynamic chamber operable for heating a fluid. The rotor is mounted to a drive shaft and rotatable relative to the stator.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrodynamic heater includes an inlet port for receiving a stream of fluid from an external source and an outlet port for discharging a stream of heated fluid from the hydrodynamic heater. A hydrodynamic chamber operates to selectively heat fluid present within an interior region of the hydrodynamic chamber. The hydrodynamic chamber includes an inlet port located proximate a center of the interior region of the hydrodynamic chamber and an outlet port located along an interior wall of the hydrodynamic chamber. The hydrodynamic chamber inlet port is fluidly connected to the inlet port of the hydrodynamic heater. The hydrodynamic heater includes a control valve fluidly connected to the hydrodynamic chamber outlet port and the hydrodynamic heater outlet port. A fluid metering device connected in series with the control valve is fluidly connected to the hydrodynamic chamber outlet port and the hydrodynamic heater outlet port.