Integrated Vehicle Cooling System with Stratified Coolant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for internal combustion engines and auxiliary components in vehicles are separate, leading to increased cost, packaging burden, and inefficiencies due to the need for distinct high and moderate temperature cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
An integrated cooling system where a single coolant is shared and stratified to maintain thermal identity for both high and moderate temperature applications, using a single shared heat exchanger and separate piping for engine and auxiliary components, with a baffle to prevent mixing and a shared coolant reservoir for efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate high and moderate temperature cooling systems are used, then each system can be optimized for its specific temperature requirements, but the vehicle packaging space and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate high and moderate temperature cooling systems into a single integrated cooling system. Multiple coolant circuits share common components including a single radiator assembly, coolant reservoir, and pump housing, while maintaining separate flow paths through internal baffles and dedicated passages. This merging reduces packaging space by consolidating previously separate cooling systems into one unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooling system segments the coolant flow into distinct high temperature and moderate temperature circuits using internal baffles and separate passages within the radiator assembly. The baffle divides the radiator into first and second portions, with dedicated coolant passages for each temperature zone, allowing independent thermal management while sharing common external components.
2Reliability
If separate high and moderate temperature cooling systems are used, then each system can operate independently, but the manufacturing cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cooling systems by sharing common components such as the radiator assembly, coolant reservoir, and pump housing. The baffle and separate passages maintain independent operation of high and moderate temperature circuits while reducing the number of discrete components, thereby lowering manufacturing cost and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooling system implements multi-functionality where a single radiator assembly serves both high temperature and moderate temperature cooling needs. The shared coolant reservoir and pump housing provide universal functions for both circuits, reducing the total component count while maintaining independent thermal management capabilities through internal segmentation.
3Area of stationary object
If a single shared heat exchanger is used, then packaging space is reduced, but thermal management precision for different temperature zones becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator assembly is segmented into first and second portions by an internal baffle, with dedicated coolant passages for high temperature and moderate temperature circuits respectively. This segmentation allows the single heat exchanger to maintain distinct thermal zones, preserving temperature management precision while reducing packaging space compared to separate radiators.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated cooling system applies local quality by providing different thermal characteristics in different zones of the radiator assembly. The first portion is optimized for high temperature cooling with corresponding passage configuration, while the second portion is optimized for moderate temperature cooling, allowing each zone to maintain its required thermal management precision within the unified structure.
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 integrated system reduces vehicle cost and packaging while providing effective cooling performance for both high and moderate temperature requirements, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and enhancing thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
the shared coolant is stratified so as to maintain thermal identity between a high temperature cooling subsystem and a moderate temperature cooling subsystem
Implementation Method 2
the shared coolant is cooled, by heat exchange with the atmosphere, in a shared heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
using a single shared heat exchanger and separate piping for engine and auxiliary components, with a baffle to prevent mixing
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated high and moderate temperature cooling system both for an internal combustion engine and for auxiliary vehicle components requiring cooling. The integrated cooling system shares a coolant, yet the shared coolant is stratified to retain thermal identity between the portion of the coolant used for engine cooling and the portion of the coolant used for auxiliary vehicle components cooling. A shared coolant reservoir is used; preferably a shared heat exchanger, and optionally a common coolant pump may also be used.