Selective Liquid Cooling for Air Intake Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
High temperatures in the air intake duct of an engine can lead to reduced air density, negatively impacting engine efficiency and performance.
Innovation Solution
A system that selectively cools the air intake duct using a liquid from a cooling circuit, controlled by a temperature indicator and a controller that opens a valve to allow liquid flow when the temperature exceeds a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling is applied to the air intake duct, then air temperature is reduced and air density increases, but device complexity increases due to additional valves, temperature indicators, and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing engine cooling circuit to provide cooling liquid, eliminating the need for a separate cooling system. The cooling circuit serves dual purposes: engine temperature control and air intake cooling, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving the temperature reduction goal
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling parameter by using a temperature indicator and controller to open or close the valve based on real-time temperature measurements, optimizing the cooling effect while avoiding unnecessary system complexity in moderate temperature conditions
2Productivity
If a valve is added to control liquid flow selectively, then cooling can be applied only when needed, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is integrated into the existing cooling circuit infrastructure and serves multiple functions: controlling cooling flow to the air intake duct, regulating engine cooling, and potentially other system-wide temperature management tasks, thereby justifying its addition through multi-functionality rather than single-purpose complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a temperature indicator that provides feedback to a controller, which automatically actuates the valve based on temperature readings. This feedback mechanism enables selective cooling activation, improving cooling efficiency by applying cooling only when temperature thresholds are exceeded, while the automation reduces the need for complex manual control systems
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 reduces the temperature of air in the intake duct, increasing air density and improving engine efficiency and performance by utilizing existing cooling sources within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid is routed through a passage arranged in heat transfer relationship with the intake duct
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system, includes an air intake assembly including an inlet through which air flows, a filter downstream of the inlet, and an outlet downstream of the filter through which air from the filter flows, a liquid source, a valve, a temperature indicator and a controller. The valve is electrically actuated and arranged to selectively permit liquid flow from the liquid source to the air intake assembly. The temperature indicator provides an indication of a temperature in the air intake assembly upstream of the filter. And the controller is communicated with the temperature indicator and the valve and operable to open the valve when the output of the temperature indicator indicates a temperature above a temperature threshold.