Intake Air Temperature Control via Switching Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intake air temperature control apparatuses for vehicle engines fail to properly control intake air temperature according to the engine's warmed state, leading to potential cold air introduction before engine warming and sudden thermostat and valve operation changes, which can result in inadequate temperature control.
Innovation Solution
An intake air temperature control apparatus featuring a passage switching valve and a valve control unit that selectively directs high-temperature or low-temperature air into the engine intake passage based on the engine compartment temperature, ensuring appropriate temperature control by switching between high-temperature air from the exhaust manifold and outside air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a hot-air control valve is used to control intake air temperature by switching between warm air and outside air, then the engine can be warmed up, but cold air may be introduced before the engine is warmed up and the thermostat opening degree changes suddenly
Solution Approach 1:
The passage switching valve switches to the warm air passage in advance before the engine reaches the warmed-up state, ensuring that warm air is introduced timely. This preliminary action prevents cold air from being introduced and avoids sudden temperature changes, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining temperature control.
2Temperature
If the thermostat is disposed in the intake passage downstream of both intake ports, then the intake air temperature can be controlled, but the opening degree of the hot-air control valve changes suddenly when warm air is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The passage switching valve acts as an intermediary device that selectively connects the intake passage to either the warm air passage or the outside air passage. This intermediary mechanism provides stable control by avoiding sudden switching between air sources, thereby maintaining valve opening degree stability while achieving temperature control.
3Temperature
If the hot-air control valve is controlled according to intake air temperature, then the intake air temperature can be regulated, but the valve opening degree changes suddenly causing control failure
Solution Approach 1:
The passage switching valve performs preliminary switching to the warm air passage before the engine warmed-up state is reached. This preliminary action ensures smooth temperature regulation by preventing sudden valve opening degree changes, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving accurate temperature control.
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
This solution allows for precise control of intake air temperature in accordance with the engine's warmed state, improving starting performance and preventing air density decline, thus enhancing engine output and preventing knocking.
Implementation Method 1
a high-temperature air passage placed in the engine compartment and connected to the intake passage to introduce high-temperature air around the exhaust passage to the engine
Implementation Method 2
a valve control unit to control a switching operation of the passage switching valve according to a temperature inside the engine compartment
Data Source
AI summary
An engine, an intake passage to introduce intake air to the engine, an exhaust passage to discharge exhaust air from the engine, and a high-temperature duct connected to the intake passage to introduce high-temperature air around the exhaust passage into the engine are provided in an engine compartment. The intake passage includes an intake-air inlet port to introduce outside air as low-temperature air. A passage switching valve provided between the intake passage and the high-temperature duct switches passages of the high-temperature air from the high-temperature duct and the low-temperature air from the intake air inlet port so as to selectively flow the air downstream of the intake passage. A valve control unit controls switching according to the temperature inside the compartment.