Multi-Heat Exchanger Arrangement for Internal Combustion Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger arrangements for internal-combustion engines are inefficient in transferring thermal energy from the coolant and exhaust gas to the working medium, limiting the overall system's kinetic energy conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement includes multiple heat exchangers with strategically placed heat transfer devices and bypasses, allowing for optimized control of thermal flow, with the working medium flowing through heat exchangers in parallel or successive configurations, and incorporating an auxiliary heater and injection devices for rapid temperature control, enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from coolant and exhaust gas to the working medium, then the structure is simple, but the heat transfer efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger into multiple independent heat transfer circuits: a first heat transfer circuit for coolant-to-working-medium heat transfer, and a second heat transfer circuit for exhaust gas-to-working-medium heat transfer. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently for its specific thermal characteristics, thereby improving overall heat transfer efficiency while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the coolant heat transfer function and exhaust gas heat transfer function into a single integrated heat exchanger unit that processes both heat sources simultaneously. This combining approach enables comprehensive thermal energy recovery from multiple sources (coolant and exhaust gas) to heat the working medium, maximizing energy utilization efficiency
2Device complexity
If the working medium flows through heat exchangers in series configuration, then the heat transfer path is simple, but the thermal flow control flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic flow control mechanisms including adjustable flow distributors and controllable valves in each heat transfer circuit. These dynamic elements enable real-time adjustment of the working medium flow distribution between the first and second heat transfer circuits based on operating conditions, providing flexible thermal flow control while maintaining a relatively simple series-based heat transfer path structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate flow control devices and distributors as mediators between the working medium source and the heat transfer circuits. These intermediary components enable flexible routing and distribution of the working medium to different heat transfer paths without requiring complete redesign of the overall series configuration, thus achieving control flexibility with minimal structural complexity
3Loss of energy
If multiple heat transfer devices are added to improve heat transfer efficiency, then the thermal energy conversion efficiency increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the heat exchanger as a multi-functional integrated unit that simultaneously performs multiple heat transfer functions: cooling the working medium via the first heat transfer circuit, heating the working medium via the second heat transfer circuit from exhaust gas, and providing flow control functions. This multi-functionality approach achieves high thermal energy conversion efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single integrated structure accomplishes what would otherwise require multiple separate devices
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 configuration significantly improves the heat transfer efficiency, allowing for better conversion of thermal energy to kinetic energy, resulting in a more efficient internal-combustion engine and heat engine system with enhanced automatic control and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
the working medium, that can be delivered by a pump, is heatable in a first heat exchanger by a coolant
Implementation Method 2
the working medium first flows through the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
in a second heat exchanger by an exhaust gas of the internal-combustion engine
Implementation Method 4
the working medium subsequently through the second heat exchanger
Implementation Method 5
the heat transfer-from the coolant of the internal-combustion engine and the exhaust gas of the internal-combustion engine-to the working medium is clearly improved
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger arrangement is provided for an internal-combustion engine having a heat engine, which converts hot steam of a working medium by way of an expansion device to kinetic energy. The working medium, that can be delivered by a pump, can be heated in a first heat exchanger by a coolant and in a second heat exchanger by an exhaust gas of the internal-combustion engine. In the delivery direction, the working medium first flows through the first heat exchanger and, subsequently, through the second heat exchanger. The exhaust gas can flow through the first heat exchanger.