Liquid Additive Feeding Path Partial Draining for Freezing Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Devices for providing liquid additives, such as urea-water solutions, face challenges with freezing at low temperatures, leading to increased pressure and potential damage, and existing heating methods struggle with effective heat distribution to prevent freezing without causing chemical reactions or component damage.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a feeding path with a heat conducting section from a heater to a tank and a second portion with components susceptible to freezing, where the path is partially drained to maintain liquid additive in the heat conducting section, allowing for effective heat distribution while protecting components from pressure increases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the device is completely drained to prevent freezing damage, then component damage from frozen liquid is avoided, but the system requires complete refilling before operation can resume

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from freezing damageVSAvoidtime for complete refilling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding path is divided into two portions: a first portion that is drained of liquid additive and a second portion that retains liquid additive. This segmentation allows the system to protect components from freezing damage while maintaining heat distribution capability, eliminating the need for complete refilling after draining.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the feeding path have different liquid additive states: the first portion is drained to prevent freezing damage to components, while the second portion retains liquid additive to maintain heat distribution. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between protection and operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If a heater is used to melt frozen liquid additive quickly, then system availability is improved, but excessive local temperatures can cause chemical reactions and component damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequick system readinessVSAvoidexcessive temperature effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid additive in the second portion acts as a local heat distribution medium, ensuring that heating occurs uniformly throughout the retained liquid rather than creating excessive local temperatures. This prevents chemical reactions and component damage while maintaining quick system readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid additive in the second portion serves as an intermediary that distributes heat from the heater uniformly, preventing direct excessive heating of components while still enabling quick melting of frozen additive through controlled heat distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If liquid additive is retained in the feeding path, then heat distribution is maintained for quick operational readiness, but components are exposed to freezing risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequick operational readinessVSAvoidfreezing protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding path is segmented into a first portion drained of liquid additive for freezing protection and a second portion retaining liquid additive for heat distribution. This segmentation simultaneously achieves both quick operational readiness and freezing protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the feeding path have different liquid additive states optimized for their specific functions: the first portion is drained to protect components from freezing, while the second portion retains liquid to maintain heat distribution capability for quick operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method ensures quick system readiness and prevents damage by maintaining liquid additive in the heat conducting section, enabling efficient melting of frozen additives and protecting components from excessive temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

at least one first portion, which forms a heat conducting section from a heater of the device into a tank for the liquid additive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10718244B2Method for operating a device for providing a liquid additive

Publication Date: 2020.07.21 VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH

AI summary

A method for operating a device for providing a liquid additive includes feeding the liquid additive along a feeding path having at least one first portion which forms a heat conducting section from a heater of the device into a tank for the liquid additive. The feeding path also has at least one second portion in which a component susceptible to freezing is disposed. The liquid additive is first fed along the feeding path of the device. Subsequently, the feeding of liquid additive is stopped. Then, partial draining of the feeding path takes place, with liquid additive remaining in the at least one first portion of the feeding path while the at least one second portion is being drained. A device for providing a liquid additive is also provided.