Rail Vehicle Cooling System with Shared Radiator and Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for vehicles, particularly rail vehicles, face challenges in optimizing space and weight requirements while efficiently cooling diverse heat sources with different cooling demands, often leading to increased complexity and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with two separate cooling circuits sharing a common coolant conveying device, allowing each circuit to be adapted to its specific heat source, reducing the number of components and energy requirements, and utilizing a common cooler with separate routing through a circulation cooler for progressive cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling circuits are used for each heat source, then individual cooling adjustment is achieved, but installation space and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate cooling circuits into a single common cooling circuit that serves multiple heat sources. The cooling device (radiator) and conveying device (pump) are shared among all heat sources, while each heat source still receives customized cooling through individual control valves and flow regulators. This merging approach reduces the total number of components and installation space while maintaining individual cooling adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate cooling circuits are used for each heat source, then individual cooling adjustment is achieved, but weight of the cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple cooling circuits into one common circuit, eliminating duplicate components such as multiple radiators, multiple pumps, and multiple expansion tanks. The shared components significantly reduce the overall weight of the cooling system while individual control mechanisms ensure each heat source receives appropriate cooling.
3Temperature
If heat sources are arranged upstream in the direction of coolant flow, then cooling requirements are met, but radiator dimensioning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic flow control through individual control valves and flow regulators for each heat source. This allows the system to dynamically adjust the coolant flow distribution based on the specific cooling requirements of each heat source, rather than relying on fixed upstream/downstream positioning. The dynamic control optimizes the thermal performance while minimizing radiator size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by providing individual flow regulation for each heat source within the common cooling circuit. Each heat source can have its coolant flow rate independently adjusted to match its specific cooling demand, allowing the radiator to be sized for the total heat load rather than being oversized to accommodate the highest individual demand.
4Device complexity
If a common cooling circuit is used, then component number is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic flow control mechanisms including control valves and flow regulators that allow each heat source to receive the precise amount of coolant flow it needs. This dynamic adjustment optimizes the energy efficiency of the common pump by reducing unnecessary circulation and minimizing pressure losses, thereby lowering overall energy consumption despite the simplified single-circuit design.
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 configuration reduces installation space and weight, enhances cooling efficiency, and allows for tailored cooling of each heat source, improving the overall performance and economic operation of the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a common cooler (10) for cooling the coolant in both the first cooling circuit (7) and the second cooling circuit (8)
Implementation Method 2
a common conveying device (15) for conveying the coolant within the main branch (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling system (1) for a vehicle (2), in particular for a rail vehicle (2'), comprising a first cooling circuit (7) and a second cooling circuit (8) in which a coolant circulates, wherein a heat source (4) is arranged in each cooling circuit (7, 8) for cooling purposes. A key feature of the invention is that the cooling system (1) has a common radiator (10) for cooling the coolant in the first cooling circuit (7) and in the second cooling circuit (8), wherein the cooling system (1) has a main branch (12) in which the first cooling circuit (7) and the second cooling circuit (8) are routed together, and wherein a conveying device (15) for conveying the coolant is arranged in the main branch (12), and wherein the first cooling circuit (7) and the second cooling circuit (8) branch off from the main branch (12) downstream of the conveying device (15). This results in a space-saving, weight-reducing, and efficient design of the cooling system (1).