Vehicle Thermal Valve Leak Detection via Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems for vehicles face difficulties in detecting a switching valve's slightly open state, where the valve fails to close completely, leading to heating medium leakage, as this condition is harder to detect compared to a complete failure.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system with temperature sensors on multiple flow paths and a control unit that determines the valve's state by analyzing temperature differences and using a heat generation map to estimate temperatures, allowing for detection of the slightly open state and subsequent flow rate regulation to restore the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors and control unit are added to detect slightly open state, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors temperature data from multiple sensors and compares actual temperatures with expected temperatures to detect deviations indicating a slightly open valve state, creating a closed-loop feedback system for automatic detection and correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical detection methods with thermal field-based detection using temperature sensors and computational analysis, substituting physical mechanical indicators with thermal measurement and data processing approaches
2Reliability
If flow rate regulation is applied to restore valve, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit regulates pump flow rates in periodic cycles rather than continuously, adjusting flow rates only when deviations are detected and allowing return to normal operation when the valve closes, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters (flow rate, temperature thresholds) based on real-time conditions, adjusting pump flow rates and temperature expectations adaptively to minimize energy use while ensuring proper valve closure
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
Enables reliable detection and correction of the switching valve's slightly open state, ensuring efficient heat management and preventing leaks by regulating pump flow rates to balance pressures and assist the valve in closing properly.
Implementation Method 1
a first temperature sensor that is located on the first flow path and that is configured to measure a first temperature of the heating medium... a second temperature sensor that is located on the second flow path and that is configured to measure a second temperature of the heating medium
Implementation Method 2
heat is transferred from the high temperature heating medium in the second flow path to the low temperature heating medium in the first flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system includes a switching valve that switches between a first mode in which first and second flow paths are separated and a second mode in which parts of the first and second flow paths are connected. In the first mode, a control unit acquires measured values of first and second temperatures in the first and second flow paths and estimated values of the first and second temperatures when the switching valve is not in a slightly open state. The switching valve is in the slightly open state when the measured value of the first temperature is higher than the estimated value of the first temperature by a value greater than a first predetermined threshold and the measured value of the second temperature is lower than the estimated value of the second temperature by a value greater than a second predetermined threshold.