Vehicle Reservoir Tank With Middle Chamber Heat Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated reservoir tanks with partitions for heat exchange between coolant chambers suffer from reduced coolant performance due to direct heat transfer, leading to inefficient cooling in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A reservoir tank design featuring two chambers with a middle chamber acting as a heat buffer, utilizing a circulation hole for coolant exchange between the chambers to minimize direct heat transfer and maintain optimal temperature differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If chambers are divided by a partition for heat exchange between coolant chambers, then thermal efficiency is improved, but direct heat transfer between chambers causes temperature mixing that reduces coolant performance
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate chamber is introduced between the first and second chambers, filled with coolant that acts as a thermal mediator. This intermediate coolant layer prevents direct heat transfer between the hot and cold chambers, reducing temperature mixing while maintaining thermal exchange efficiency through controlled convection patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The single partition structure is segmented into two separate partitions with an intermediate chamber in between. This divides the direct heat transfer path into two stages, allowing the intermediate coolant to buffer thermal exchange and prevent direct mixing of hot and cold coolant streams.
2Reliability
If multiple reservoir tanks are used for different components, then cooling performance for each component is improved, but space consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reservoir tanks are merged into a single integrated reservoir tank with internally divided chambers. The tank includes a first chamber for engine coolant, a second chamber for battery coolant, and an intermediate chamber, all within one structural unit. This reduces space consumption and simplifies system configuration while maintaining dedicated cooling zones for different components.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional chambers are nested within a single external tank structure. The first chamber, second chamber, and intermediate chamber are arranged in a nested configuration where each chamber is contained within the overall tank boundary, allowing multiple cooling functions in one compact unit.
3Volume of stationary object
If chambers are closely spaced for compact design, then space efficiency is improved, but direct heat transfer between chambers increases causing temperature mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate chamber filled with coolant serves as a thermal buffer between the closely spaced first and second chambers. Even though the chambers are compactly arranged, the intermediate coolant layer prevents direct thermal contact, maintaining temperature stability while enabling compact overall tank dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal exchange parameters are changed by introducing the intermediate chamber, which modifies the heat transfer pathway. The intermediate coolant absorbs and releases heat in a controlled manner, changing the thermal interaction parameters between the hot and cold chambers to prevent excessive temperature mixing.
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 middle chamber effectively buffers heat between the two coolant chambers, reducing temperature exchange to about 0.1° C, thereby enhancing thermal efficiency and preventing heat loss, compared to 1° C in existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
a middle chamber defined in a space between the first partition and the second partition and configured such that the coolant from the first chamber or the second chamber circulates through the middle chamber or is stored in the middle chamber, thereby providing a heat buffer between the first chamber and the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
the middle chamber exchanges coolant with one of the two chambers through a circulation hole so as to act as a heat buffer between the two chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A reservoir tank includes first and second chambers separated by partitions. The first chamber is configured such that coolant circulates through the first chamber. The second chamber is provided on a side and spaced apart from the first chamber and is configured such that coolant having a different temperature from the coolant stored in the first chamber circulates through the second chamber. A first partition and a second partition are provided so as to separate the first chamber and the second chamber from each other, and are spaced apart from and facing each other. A middle chamber is defined in a space between the first partition and the second partition and configured such that the coolant from the first chamber or the second chamber circulates through the middle chamber, thereby providing a heat buffer between the first chamber and the second chamber.