Injector Mounting Assembly With Integrated Thermoelectric Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling techniques for injectors in exhaust after-treatment systems are complex and inefficient, leading to frequent failures and increased maintenance costs due to overheating, as they require additional coolant lines and may not provide sufficient cooling across all operating modes.
Innovation Solution
An injector mounting assembly with a thermoelectric cooler integrated into the mounting structure, which is in thermal contact with the injector to extract heat, eliminating the need for additional coolant lines and allowing for continuous cooling without significant changes to the existing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling techniques using coolant fluid flow through injector mount are employed, then heat transfer from injector is achieved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to additional failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the injector mount structure itself. The mounting assembly includes cooling fins integrated directly into the mount, eliminating the need for separate coolant lines and external cooling components. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation from the injector.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector mount structure serves dual purposes: mechanical support for the injector and thermal management through integrated cooling fins. The fins passively dissipate heat from the injector body into the surrounding environment, allowing the structure to cool itself without requiring external coolant systems.
2Temperature
If coolant fluid flow is used for injector cooling, then heat removal is possible, but reliability decreases due to frequent valve closure stopping fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The passive cooling fins enable the injector mount to dissipate heat continuously without relying on fluid flow. When the injector valve closes and stops fluid flow, the fins continue to conduct heat away from the injector body through thermal conduction and dissipate it into the environment through convection and radiation, maintaining cooling effectiveness across all operating modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The active coolant fluid flow system is replaced with a passive thermal conduction and convection system. The cooling fins use natural heat transfer mechanisms rather than requiring pumped fluid flow, eliminating the reliability issues associated with valve closure and fluid flow interruption.
3Device complexity
If no cooling system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but injector temperature increases causing frequent failures
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is combined with the structural mounting assembly, so the same component that supports the injector also provides thermal management. This integration adds minimal complexity to the overall device while significantly improving injector reliability by preventing overheating and associated failures.
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 thermoelectric cooler effectively manages injector temperature, reducing failure rates and maintenance costs by providing consistent cooling across varying operating conditions, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the exhaust after-treatment system.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric cooler coupled to at least one of the upstream wall and the downstream wall. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed in thermal contact with the injector. The thermoelectric cooler is configured to exchange heat with the injector.
Data Source
AI summary
An injector mounting assembly for supporting an injector is described. The injector mounting assembly includes an upstream wall and a downstream wall coupled to the upstream wall. The injector mounting assembly further includes a thermoelectric cooler coupled to at least one of the upstream wall and the downstream wall. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed in thermal contact with the injector and configured to exchange heat with the injector.