Parallel Cylinder Cooling Network for Engine Temperature Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional engine cooling systems fail to maintain consistent temperature across multiple cylinders due to the liquid coolant's temperature increase as it travels downstream, leading to uneven cooling and potential operating issues in engines made of lightweight materials.

Innovation Solution

A cooling system with individualized feeding ports and a network of fluidic passages that direct liquid coolant directly to each cylinder, ensuring parallel flow and uniform temperature distribution across all cylinders, thereby maintaining ideal operating conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If liquid coolant is introduced at one location and travels along downstream cylinders, then the cooling system structure is simple, but the downstream cylinders are not cooled to the same temperature as upstream cylinders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system structureVSAvoidcylinder temperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent cooling circuits, with each circuit providing coolant to a specific cylinder or group of cylinders. This segmentation allows each circuit to maintain independent temperature control, preventing the temperature gradient that occurs in single-circuit systems where coolant temperature increases along the flow path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each cooling circuit is designed with local quality characteristics, including individually sized passages and optimized coolant flow rates tailored to the specific thermal requirements of each cylinder. This allows downstream cylinders to receive adequately cooled coolant with appropriate flow characteristics, rather than being subjected to the progressively warmed coolant from upstream cylinders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If lightweight materials are used for engine construction, then vehicle weight is reduced and fuel economy is improved, but the operating temperature of the engine and its components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle weightVSAvoidengine operating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system parameters are optimized for lightweight engine materials, including adjusting coolant flow rates, passage dimensions, and thermal conductivity characteristics to compensate for the higher operating temperatures inherent in lightweight material construction. This ensures adequate heat removal while maintaining the weight benefits of lightweight materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If coolant flow rate is increased to improve cooling, then cooling performance improves, but energy loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecylinder cooling performanceVSAvoidcooling system energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Each cooling circuit is designed with locally optimized flow rates based on the specific thermal load and geometric characteristics of the served cylinder(s). This prevents the need to increase flow rates system-wide, allowing adequate cooling performance while minimizing the total energy loss associated with coolant circulation.

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 solution provides consistent and uniform cooling to all engine cylinders, reducing temperature gradients and minimizing piston blow-by, while optimizing cooling performance and maintaining engine efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid coolant can be routed or otherwise pumped along at least a portion of the cylinders to extract heat from the cylinder block

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

liquid coolant that is particularly well-suited to extract heat from the engine to maintain a proper operating temperature of the various parts of the engine and transfer such heat to a radiator for dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS8960134B1Targeted cooling with individualized feeding ports to cylinders

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A cooling system for an engine having a plurality of piston cylinders. The cooling system can include a liquid coolant source having liquid coolant and a cylinder cooling passage network having an inlet and an outlet for receiving and transmitting the liquid coolant. The cylinder cooling passage network having a plurality of individual upstream fluidic passages each being fluidly coupled to the inlet to directly receive the liquid coolant from the liquid coolant source in parallel flow. The cylinder cooling passage network further having a plurality of cylinder jacket passages each extending about at least a portion of a corresponding one of the plurality of piston cylinders and being positioned immediately adjacent thereto. The cylinder jacket passages are fluidly coupled directly to a corresponding one of the plurality of individual upstream fluidic passages to receive the liquid coolant and transmit the liquid coolant to the outlet for improved cooling performance.