Piston Temperature Management via Intake Coolant Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of a turbocharger in internal combustion engines can lead to engine detonation due to the heating of compressed air, which reduces engine efficiency and performance. Existing solutions, such as intercoolers, are space-consuming and less effective at high altitudes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air intake system that includes a turbocharger and a coolant container connected to the intake air flow path. Cooling liquid is selectively delivered to the intake air flow path when the intake air and piston temperatures exceed a threshold, reducing the risk of engine detonation without reducing boost pressure or engine speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a turbocharger is used to compress intake air, then engine efficiency is improved, but intake air temperature increases causing engine detonation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the intake air by injecting coolant into the intake air flow path before the air enters the engine cylinders. This preliminary action prevents the compressed hot air from causing detonation, allowing the turbocharger to maintain high compression ratios for improved engine efficiency without the harmful temperature effects.
Solution Approach 2:
A coolant (such as water or alcohol) is introduced as an intermediary substance into the intake air flow path. The coolant absorbs excess heat from the compressed air through evaporation and direct contact, acting as a thermal mediator between the hot compressed air and the engine components, thereby preventing detonation while maintaining the benefits of turbocharging.
2Temperature
If an intercooler is added to cool compressed air, then intake air temperature is reduced, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the traditional intercooler system and integrates it directly into the intake air flow path using a simplified coolant injection mechanism. This removes the need for complex intercooler assemblies, radiators, and associated piping, significantly reducing device complexity and space requirements while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the existing intake air delivery system by injecting coolant directly into the intake air flow path. This combines the cooling action with the air delivery mechanism, eliminating the need for separate intercooler components and reducing overall system complexity and spatial requirements.
3Temperature
If cooling liquid is continuously provided to the intake air flow path, then intake air temperature is maintained below threshold, but vehicle weight increases due to larger coolant container
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous coolant provision, the system uses periodic or on-demand coolant injection controlled by a controller. The controller activates the coolant injection only when temperature sensors detect that intake air temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, thereby maintaining temperature control while minimizing coolant consumption and reducing the required coolant container size and vehicle weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the coolant injection parameters (flow rate, injection timing, injection amount) based on real-time temperature measurements and engine operating conditions. This parameter adjustment allows the system to use minimal coolant only when necessary, reducing the required coolant storage capacity and thereby reducing vehicle weight while maintaining effective temperature control.
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
The system effectively reduces intake air temperature and piston temperature, preventing engine detonation and maintaining engine efficiency and performance, even in high-altitude conditions.
Implementation Method 1
When the coolant is added to the air flow upstream of the compressor, some heat produced by compression in the compressor will be absorbed by the cooling liquid in the compressor by evaporation and heating of the cooling liquid.
Implementation Method 2
some heat produced by compression in the compressor will be absorbed by the cooling liquid in the compressor by evaporation and heating of the cooling liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing temperature of a piston of an engine of a vehicle, the method comprises determining, by a throttle position sensor connected to a controller, a throttle position of a throttle valve of the engine, determining, by an engine speed sensor connected to the controller, an engine speed (RPM) of the engine, and determining, by the controller, an estimated piston temperature based on at least the throttle position and the engine speed.