Piezoelectric Fuel Injector Actuator Cooling via Integrated Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric actuators in fuel injectors generate significant heat, leading to elevated temperatures, and existing cooling strategies are complex and cumbersome, particularly in engine environments.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system where fuel is passed across a heat exchange interface within the actuator subassembly, utilizing a common fuel supply circuit segment and a separate cooling circuit segment to efficiently dissipate heat from the actuator, simplifying installation and operation by integrating cooling directly into the fuel injector body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a piezoelectric actuator is used to rapidly actuate the control valve, then the fuel injection timing control is improved, but the actuator generates significant heat leading to elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the piezoelectric actuator into a beneficial cooling mechanism by routing cooling fuel through a heat exchange interface directly coupled with the actuator. The fuel absorbs heat from the actuator during the cooling process, transforming the thermal problem into an integrated thermal management solution that maintains both rapid actuation and acceptable temperature levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuel supply function with the actuator cooling function by integrating a heat exchange interface within the actuator subassembly that directly contacts the cooling fuel. This combination allows the fuel to simultaneously supply the injection system and cool the actuator, reducing system complexity and improving thermal management efficiency.
2Temperature
If a cooling system with separate fluid connections is implemented, then the actuator cooling is improved, but the system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuel supply function with the actuator cooling function by integrating a heat exchange interface within the actuator subassembly that directly contacts the cooling fuel. This combination allows the fuel to simultaneously supply the injection system and cool the actuator, reducing system complexity and improving thermal management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fuel serves multiple functions: it supplies fuel to the injection system and simultaneously cools the actuator through the heat exchange interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling fluid connections, simplifying the system while maintaining effective thermal management.
3Temperature
If conventional cooling strategies with external fluid connections are used, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuel supply function with the actuator cooling function by integrating a heat exchange interface within the actuator subassembly that directly contacts the cooling fuel. This combination allows the fuel to simultaneously supply the injection system and cool the actuator, reducing system complexity and improving thermal management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange interface is nested within the actuator subassembly, with the cooling fuel flowing through passages integrated into the actuator housing. This nested configuration allows the cooling system to be compact and self-contained, eliminating external connections and simplifying assembly while maintaining effective heat transfer from the piezoelectric element.
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 approach effectively cools the actuator subassembly, reducing temperature and simplifying installation by eliminating the need for additional fluid connections, enhancing operational efficiency and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit with a plurality of cooling circuit segments including a first cooling circuit segment in common with a first fuel supply circuit segment of the fuel system, a second cooling circuit segment connecting with the second fuel inlet and a third cooling circuit segment defined by the injector body which is configured to pass fuel across the heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat herewith
Implementation Method 2
As a piezoelectric element cycles between an excited state and an unexcited state, it tends to generate a relatively large amount of heat
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection compression ignition diesel engine, includes an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of fuel injectors associated one with each of the cylinders. The fuel injectors each include a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet, and an actuator subassembly which is configured to actuate a control valve assembly positioned within the fuel injector. The engine further includes a fuel system having a fuel supply circuit, and a cooling system for the actuator subassembly having a cooling circuit with a segment in common with a segment of the fuel system. The cooling system is configured to pass cooling fuel across a heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat therewith. The actuator subassembly may include a piezoelectric actuator and a preloading spring, which are each fluidly sealed within a casing of the actuator subassembly.