Thermally Insulated Expansion Vessel for Engine Coolant Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for internal combustion engines take a long time to reach operational conditions after a cold start, leading to increased fuel consumption and higher production costs.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with an electronically-controlled distribution valve, a thermally insulated tank acting as an expansion vessel, and an electronic control unit that manages coolant flow to accelerate engine warm-up by strategically directing coolant to the lubrication oil cooler, passenger compartment heater, and radiator, minimizing fuel consumption and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the engine uses a conventional cooling system without thermal insulation, then the system structure is simple and production costs are low, but the engine takes a long time to reach operational temperature after cold start
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats coolant in an expansion vessel before engine start by circulating warm coolant from the engine through the expansion vessel when the engine is running. This stored warm coolant is then injected into the cooling circuit after cold start to accelerate engine warm-up, performing the heating action in advance before it is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into two separate circuits: an inner circuit that passes through the engine block for heating, and an outer circuit that includes the expansion vessel for heat storage. This segmentation allows independent control of heat generation and heat storage functions, enabling the pre-heating mechanism without significantly complicating the overall system.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine warm-up time is reduced, then fuel consumption decreases, but the system requires additional components and higher production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion vessel is designed to serve dual functions: it acts as both the heat storage tank for pre-heating and as the traditional expansion vessel for coolant volume compensation. By making this single component perform multiple functions, the system reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby lowering production costs while achieving faster warm-up and reduced fuel consumption.
3Temperature
If the cooling system uses thermal insulation to retain heat, then engine warm-up is accelerated, but the system complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulation layer is integrated directly into the wall structure of the expansion vessel, combining the heat retention function with the vessel's structural body. This merging approach avoids the need for separate insulation components or complex assembly processes, making the manufacturing relatively simple while effectively retaining heat in the coolant.
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 system effectively accelerates engine warm-up and achieves operational conditions quickly, reducing fuel consumption and production costs while integrating components for efficient coolant circulation and temperature management.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally insulated tank for the coolant of the engine, connected to said outer portion of the cooling circuit, adapted for retaining a defined quantity of coolant at a temperature above the ambient temperature
Implementation Method 2
a cooler for the lubrication oil of the engine
Implementation Method 3
a heater for the passenger compartment of the motor-vehicle
Implementation Method 4
a radiator for cooling the coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine of a motor-vehicle presenting a circuit for a coolant of the engine. The circuit includes a thermally insulated tank for the coolant of the engine, connected to an outer portion of the cooling circuit. The tank is arranged in the circuit to retain a defined quantity of coolant at a temperature above the ambient temperature when the engine is inactive, and for causing this quantity of coolant to flow, at a temperature above the ambient temperature, into the cooling circuit of the engine, after a subsequent start of the engine, during an engine warm up stage. The circuit also includes an expansion vessel connected to the outer circuit portion of the coolant of the engine. The expansion vessel has a thermally insulated body and constitutes the thermally insulated tank for the engine coolant.