Parallel Coolant Circuits for Engine Warm-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coolant circulation systems for engines lack the ability to independently control coolant flow rates in the cylinder head and cylinder block passages, leading to suboptimal distribution of coolant to heat exchangers during engine warm-up, which can result in inefficient heat exchange and increased friction loss.
Innovation Solution
A coolant circulation system with parallel cylinder block and cylinder head passages, connected to separate heat exchangers and a control unit that allows independent adjustment of coolant flow rates in each passage, ensuring optimal distribution to heat exchangers and promoting engine warm-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the open degree of the control valve is reduced to increase the cylinder block temperature, then the friction loss is reduced, but the coolant flow rate to heat exchangers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circulation system is divided into two independent parallel circuits: one circuit controls coolant flow through the cylinder block passage, and the other controls coolant flow through the cylinder head passage. Each circuit has its own control valve, allowing independent adjustment of coolant flow rates to prioritize cylinder block heating while maintaining adequate flow to heat exchangers.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valves in both circuits are designed to be dynamically adjustable during engine operation. The first control valve regulates cylinder block coolant flow based on warm-up requirements, while the second control valve independently regulates cylinder head coolant flow to ensure heat exchangers receive adequate coolant even when the first valve is partially closed.
2Temperature
If the coolant flow rate in the cylinder block passage is reduced during warm-up, then the cylinder block temperature increases faster, but the coolant distribution to heat exchangers becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the coolant circulation into two independent parallel paths with separate control mechanisms. The cylinder block passage circuit can be optimized for rapid temperature increase by adjusting the first control valve, while the cylinder head passage circuit maintains adequate coolant flow to heat exchangers through the second control valve, ensuring both warm-up efficiency and heat exchange productivity are maintained.
3Device complexity
If a single control valve is used to control coolant flow, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control flow rates to different passages is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single control valve is segmented into two separate control valves, each dedicated to a specific passage circuit. The first control valve manages coolant flow through the cylinder block passage, while the second control valve manages coolant flow through the cylinder head passage. This segmentation provides independent flow rate control capability for each circuit, enhancing system adaptability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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 solution enables the coolant to be distributed at desired flow rates to various heat exchangers, accelerating engine warm-up and reducing friction loss by prioritizing temperature increases in the cylinder block over the cylinder head, thus optimizing engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
the EGR cooler exchanges heat between the EGR gas and a coolant
Implementation Method 2
a coolant flows through a cylinder block passage and a cylinder head passage of an engine to cool the engine
Data Source
AI summary
A coolant circulation system for an engine includes a cylinder block passage and a cylinder head passage, which are provided respectively in a cylinder block portion and a cylinder head portion of the engine. These two passages serve as passages through which a coolant flows to cool the cylinder block portion and the cylinder head portion. The cylinder block passage and the cylinder head passage are connected in parallel to each other. The coolant circulation system further includes a first heat exchanger connected to the cylinder block passage, a second heat exchanger connected to the cylinder head passage, a radiator connected to both the cylinder block passage and the cylinder head passage, and a control unit capable of controlling flow rates of the coolant flowing through the cylinder block passage and the cylinder head passage respectively.