Turbocharger-Intercooler Layout to Reduce Engine Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation space of engines, particularly those mounted on ships, is restricted, leading to a need to suppress the overall height and size of the engine, as conventional designs with intercoolers and turbochargers protruding from the cylinder block increase the engine's overall height.
Innovation Solution
The engine design includes a turbocharger and cooling portion where the intercooler is placed on one side of the turbocharger in the output shaft direction, with the turbocharger positioned to minimize vibration and the intercooler separated from the turbocharger to reduce the engine's width, utilizing support members to isolate heat and vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the intercooler is attached to the upper side of the cylinder block and the turbocharger is attached to the upper side of the intercooler, then the cooling function and air pressurization function are achieved, but the overall height of the engine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the intercooler from a vertical stacking arrangement (above turbocharger) to a horizontal arrangement beside the turbocharger in the left-right direction. This dimensional change allows both components to coexist without increasing overall engine height, while maintaining their respective cooling and pressurization functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the intercooler and turbocharger side-by-side in the left-right direction, with both components nested within the same vertical envelope of the engine. This nesting arrangement allows the intercooler to be placed in the space beside the turbocharger rather than above it, suppressing overall height increase
2Volume of stationary object
If the intercooler and turbocharger are placed close together to save space, then the engine size is reduced, but heat from the turbocharger may affect the intercooler performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support member as an intermediary component between the intercooler and turbocharger. This support member provides thermal isolation, preventing heat from the turbocharger from directly affecting the intercooler, while still allowing the components to be positioned close together in the left-right direction to minimize engine size
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 effectively suppresses the increase in engine size, particularly in the vertical direction, while maintaining cooling performance and reducing vibrations, making the engine more compact.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling portion cools the intake air of the turbocharger
Implementation Method 2
utilizing support members to isolate heat and vibration
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To suppress an increase in the size of an engine. [Solution] An engine 100 includes a turbocharger 1 and a cooling portion 2. The turbocharger 1 pressurizes and compresses intake air. The cooling portion 2 cools the intake air of the turbocharger 1. On an upper side (+Z side) of the engine 100, at least a portion of the cooling portion 2 is placed on one side (+X side) in an output shaft direction with respect to the turbocharger 1.