Split Cooling System Cylinder Shutdown Cold Start
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustion engine technologies face challenges in achieving rapid warm-up during cold starts, leading to increased fuel consumption and emissions, particularly due to non-uniform temperature distribution and inefficient heat management in split cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a split cooling system with separate coolant jackets for the engine block and cylinder head, where coolant flow is selectively controlled to prioritize active cylinders, allowing for rapid warm-up of active combustion chambers and reducing thermal mass in inactive regions, thereby enhancing engine warm-up and emission reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant flows through the entire cooling circuit during cold start, then the engine block and all cylinders are cooled, but the warm-up time increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is segmented into multiple independent coolant flow paths: a first coolant flow path for the engine block, a second coolant flow path for active cylinders, and a third coolant flow path for inactive cylinders. This segmentation allows selective cooling of different engine regions, enabling rapid warm-up of active cylinders while maintaining cooling of the engine block, thereby reducing fuel consumption during cold start.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different coolant flow configurations based on engine operating conditions. During cold start with cylinder deactivation, the control unit opens the second coolant flow path valve while closing the third, directing coolant only to active cylinders. This dynamic adaptation optimizes warm-up speed and fuel efficiency according to real-time engine demands.
2Temperature
If coolant flow is restricted to only active cylinders during cold start, then warm-up speed increases, but thermal management of inactive cylinders becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is divided into separate flow paths for active and inactive cylinders, allowing independent temperature control. The second coolant flow path supplies coolant only to active cylinders for rapid warm-up, while the third flow path can be activated to cool inactive cylinders when needed, maintaining stable temperature distribution throughout the engine.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate and temperature parameters of coolant delivered to different cylinder groups based on their operational state. Active cylinders receive warmer coolant at optimized flow rates to accelerate warm-up, while inactive cylinders can receive cooler coolant when the third flow path is activated, maintaining appropriate temperature differentials for thermal management stability.
3Device complexity
If a unified cooling system is used, then system complexity is reduced, but selective cooling of active and inactive cylinders is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The unified cooling system is segmented into multiple flow paths with individual control valves. The first flow path serves the engine block, the second serves active cylinders, and the third serves inactive cylinders. Each path has its own control valve (first, second, and third coolant flow path valves), enabling selective cooling capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed with multi-functionality to handle different operating modes. The same cooling circuit structure can provide unified cooling when all valves are open, or selective cooling when specific valves are closed. This universal design allows the system to adapt to various engine operating conditions including cold start, hot operation, and cylinder deactivation without requiring completely different system configurations.
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 enables quicker engine warm-up, reduces emissions, and improves fuel efficiency by selectively heating active cylinders while maintaining or warming inactive cylinders, leading to faster catalyst light-off and reduced friction within the engine block.
Implementation Method 1
the coolant flowing around the engine block and the cylinder head in water-cooled combustion engines absorbs a large part of the waste heat which arises
Implementation Method 2
at least some of the heat absorbed by the coolant is released to the ambient air via the cooler arrangement, which usually comprises at least one air/coolant heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
air is drawn in from outside and/or from the interior of the vehicle and guided past the heating heat exchanger or through the latter. During this process, the air absorbs some of the heat energy before being passed into the interior of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for a coolant system. In one example, a method may include flowing coolant to an active cylinder during a cold-start.