Predictive Auxiliary Load Management for Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle cooling systems, reliant on mechanically driven coolant pumps and fans, fail to optimize engine cooling across various operating conditions, leading to inefficiencies such as under-cooling or over-cooling, which increases fuel consumption and adds auxiliary loads to the engine.
Innovation Solution
Implementing electrically controlled components like variable flow coolant pumps, electric fans, and thermostats that can be operated independently of engine RPM, allowing for predictive control based on terrain and environmental data to manage engine temperature effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanically driven coolant pumps and fans are used, then the cooling system is simple in structure, but the engine cooling is not optimized across various operating conditions leading to under-cooling or over-cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanically driven coolant pumps and fans with electrically controlled components. The electric coolant pump and electric cooling fan can be independently controlled based on actual cooling requirements, enabling the system to adapt to various operating conditions without being constrained by engine RPM, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements variable flow control for the coolant pump and variable speed control for the cooling fan. These dynamic controls allow the cooling system to continuously adjust its performance according to real-time operating conditions, achieving optimized cooling across different scenarios while maintaining reasonable system complexity through electronic control.
2Loss of energy
If traditional mechanically driven cooling systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but fuel consumption increases due to under-cooling or over-cooling
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical drive systems with electric motors, the patent enables independent control of cooling components based on actual thermal requirements. This prevents energy waste from over-cooling (when cooling is not needed) and under-cooling (when additional cooling is required), optimizing fuel consumption while accepting increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements variable flow rate control for the coolant pump and variable speed control for the fan, allowing continuous adjustment of cooling parameters. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures optimal cooling efficiency across different operating conditions, minimizing energy loss while managing the complexity of the control system.
3Power
If mechanically driven cooling components are used, then the system is simple to operate, but auxiliary loads are added to the engine at times when spare power is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces engine-mechanically driven components with electric motors powered by the vehicle's electrical system. This decoupling allows cooling components to operate independently of engine power availability, drawing electricity rather than mechanical power, thus preserving engine spare power when needed while accepting increased electrical system complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If electrically controlled components are used, then predictive control based on terrain and environmental data can be implemented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements predictive control that uses terrain and environmental data to anticipate future cooling requirements. The controller pre-adjusts coolant pump flow and fan speed before the engine actually requires cooling, based on predicted operating conditions. This preliminary action enhances adaptability while the complexity is managed through integrated electronic control systems.
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 enhances engine efficiency by maintaining optimal temperatures, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing energy usage by the engine auxiliaries, while preventing coolant temperature overshoots and maintaining stable engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator in communication with the liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
a cooling fan operable to increase the flow of ambient air across the radiator
Implementation Method 3
a cooling fan operable to increase the flow of ambient air across the radiator
Data Source
AI summary
An improved vehicle cooling system is disclosed having the capability of controlling various thermal components of the system to effectively control the heating and cooling of an engine of the vehicle based on instantaneous vehicle and ambient conditions and also based upon predictive conditions. These predictive conditions can include information about the upcoming terrain of the route along which the vehicle will travel.