Marine Engine Cooling Jacket with Exhaust Conduit Heat Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marine engine cooling systems face issues with temperature inconsistencies, leading to oil dilution and water vapor condensation due to the lack of recirculation pumps in open systems, resulting in inefficient heat transfer and potential boiling or scale buildup.

Innovation Solution

A cooling system design featuring an elongated exhaust conduit with an adjacent cooling water jacket that receives raw cooling water to cool the exhaust conduit and subsequently warm the cooling water, which is then used to maintain optimal temperatures in the marine engine components, utilizing a pump to circulate the water effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a thermostat is placed in series with the cooling circuit to control coolant temperature, then coolant temperature is maintained, but temperature difference between inlet and outlet of engine block increases causing cold spots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoolant temperatureVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling circuit is divided into parallel branches: one branch contains the thermostat for temperature control, while another branch provides unrestricted coolant flow to ensure uniform temperature distribution throughout the engine block, preventing cold spots in cylinder portions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A bypass circuit acts as an intermediary pathway that allows coolant to flow around the thermostat when the thermostat is closed, ensuring continuous coolant circulation and temperature uniformity while still allowing temperature control when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If open cooling system is used without recirculation pump, then system complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system complexityVSAvoidtemperature control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a dynamically operated thermostat that automatically adjusts its state based on temperature conditions, providing precise temperature control without requiring complex active control systems or recirculation pumps. The thermostat opens or closes to regulate coolant flow and maintain optimal temperature

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system is self-regulating through the thermostat mechanism that automatically responds to temperature changes, controlling coolant flow without external control systems, sensors, or recirculation pumps, thereby maintaining precision while minimizing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If cooling water temperature is kept low, then engine cooling efficiency is improved, but oil dilution increases due to cold cylinder portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling water temperatureVSAvoidoil dilution

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the cooling circuit receive different temperatures of coolant: the parallel branch design ensures that all areas of the engine block, including cylinder portions, receive adequately warmed coolant to prevent oil dilution, while still maintaining overall cooling efficiency through the thermostat-controlled branch

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 design maintains warmer and more consistent cylinder temperatures, reduces oil dilution, and prevents water ingestion by ensuring even heat distribution and minimizing temperature differences within the cooling system.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling water jacket receives raw cooling water at a location proximate to the second end of the exhaust conduit, conveys the raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the cooling water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

utilizing a pump to circulate the water effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 3

maintains warmer and more consistent cylinder temperatures, reduces oil dilution, and prevents water ingestion by ensuring even heat distribution and minimizing temperature differences within the cooling system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8540536B1Systems and methods for cooling marine engines

Publication Date: 2013.09.24 BRUNSWICK CORP

AI summary

A cooling system for a marine engine has an elongated exhaust conduit comprising a first end receiving hot exhaust gas from the marine engine and a second end discharging the exhaust gas; and an elongated cooling water jacket extending adjacent to the exhaust conduit. The cooling water jacket receives raw cooling water at a location proximate to the second end of the exhaust conduit, conveys raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the raw cooling water, and thereafter discharges the warmed cooling water to cool the internal combustion engine.