Propulsion System Warmup Control via Engine Wall Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current propulsion system warmup control strategies rely primarily on coolant temperature, resulting in complex control structures and suboptimal performance, failing to achieve desired engine wall temperature control and leading to issues like boiling and overcooling.
Innovation Solution
A control method that directly manages engine wall temperature by determining engine speed and load, adjusting coolant flow rate through the cooling system to maintain a wall-reference temperature, and applying offsets for oil warming and boiling mitigation, enabling more aggressive low-flow and wall temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coolant temperature-based control strategy is used, then the control system can be implemented with existing sensors, but the control structure becomes complex and cannot achieve optimal warmup performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from coolant temperature to engine wall temperature. This parameter change enables more direct control of the engine thermal state, improving warmup performance while actually simplifying the control logic by focusing on a single critical parameter (wall temperature) rather than complex coolant temperature-based control structures.
2Reliability
If aggressive low flow and wall temperature control is implemented, then optimal engine temperature control is achieved, but the risk of boiling and overcooling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system that continuously monitors engine wall temperature and adjusts coolant flow rate accordingly. The controller compares the measured wall temperature with the target wall temperature and modifies the coolant flow to maintain optimal temperature, preventing both boiling and overcooling through real-time feedback adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic coolant flow rate adjustment based on real-time engine operating conditions. The coolant flow rate is not fixed but is continuously varied according to the difference between actual and target wall temperatures, enabling the system to adapt aggressively to changing thermal conditions while maintaining stability and preventing harmful extremes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If coolant flow rate is reduced for aggressive warmup, then energy transfer efficiency improves, but the risk of coolant boiling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system monitors wall temperature and dynamically adjusts coolant flow rate to maintain optimal thermal conditions. When wall temperature approaches boiling risk thresholds, the system automatically increases coolant flow, allowing aggressive warmup with low flow during normal conditions while preventing boiling through real-time feedback adjustment.
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 allows for more optimal engine temperature control, preventing boiling and overcooling, and supports next-generation thermal systems with improved energy transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting a volumetric flow rate of a coolant flowing through the internal combustion engine to maintain the wall temperature at the wall-reference temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: (a) determining an engine speed of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has an engine wall, and the engine wall has a wall temperature; (b) determining an engine load of the internal combustion engine; (c) determining a wall-reference temperature as a function of the engine load and the engine speed of the internal combustion engine; and (d) adjusting, using a cooling system, a volumetric flow rate of a coolant flowing through the internal combustion engine to maintain the wall temperature at the wall-reference temperature.