Predictive Coolant Temperature Control for Hybrid Engine Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine cooling systems in hybrid vehicles face challenges in maintaining optimal coolant temperatures across varying driving conditions, leading to inefficiencies in fuel consumption and potential engine overload or overheating.
Innovation Solution
A control device that predicts the internal combustion engine's output based on vehicle position and traffic information, adjusting coolant temperature by controlling the electric thermostat and water pump to match the predicted engine load, thereby optimizing coolant flow and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the coolant temperature is lowered in advance by decreasing the opening degree of the flow rate control valve or increasing the supply power to the electric water pump, then the coolant temperature becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined target temperature, but the engine cannot be sufficiently cooled when traveling under high load conditions such as expressway or climbing road, causing knocking to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control device predicts future engine load based on travel plan information (route, traffic, elevation) and performs preliminary coolant temperature adjustment before high-load conditions occur. When high engine load is predicted, the coolant temperature is lowered in advance by controlling the flow rate control valve and electric water pump, ensuring the engine is adequately cooled when the load increases, thereby preventing knocking while avoiding excessive cooling during low-load conditions
2Temperature
If the engine is cooled too much when traveling in an urban area, then the cooling loss of the engine increases, but fuel efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses travel plan information to predict future driving conditions and adjusts coolant temperature in advance. During urban low-load conditions, the coolant temperature is maintained at a higher level appropriate for fuel efficiency, while in advance of predicted high-load conditions, the temperature is lowered to ensure adequate cooling. This predictive approach eliminates the need for excessive cooling during low-load urban driving, thereby improving fuel efficiency while maintaining engine protection when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant temperature control system dynamically adjusts the target temperature and flow rate based on predicted engine load conditions. The flow rate control valve and electric water pump are controlled to vary coolant flow and temperature according to the predicted driving conditions, enabling the system to optimize between cooling performance and fuel efficiency in real-time based on upcoming travel conditions
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 ensures the engine is efficiently cooled, reducing fuel consumption and preventing overheating or overcooling, thereby improving fuel efficiency and preventing engine damage.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant temperature change control unit that controls an operation of a coolant temperature change unit that changes a temperature of the coolant
Implementation Method 2
a target coolant temperature determination unit that determines a target coolant temperature, which is a target temperature of a coolant for cooling the internal combustion engine
Data Source
AI summary
When a coolant controlled to have a constant target temperature is used regardless of a traveling condition of a vehicle, a fuel efficiency of the vehicle may be reduced. Therefore, a VCU 1 predicts the output of an internal combustion engine in a future prediction period on the basis of position information of the vehicle acquired from a positioning unit, traffic information related to a route to a destination, and internal combustion engine control information, determines a target coolant temperature which is the target temperature of the coolant for cooling the internal combustion engine on the basis of the predicted output of the internal combustion engine, sets the change timing for changing the temperature of the coolant to the target coolant temperature on the basis of the predicted output of the internal combustion engine, and controls the operation of the coolant temperature change unit for changing the temperature of the coolant at the change timing so as to reach the target coolant temperature on the basis of the predicted output of the internal combustion engine.