Urea Solution Tank Cooling via Embedded Heat Exchange Pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines face challenges in maintaining the urea solution at appropriate temperatures due to freezing and vaporization issues, leading to reduced machine operability and increased nitrogen oxide emissions, as the urea solution tank is difficult to cool and heat effectively, especially in varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a urea solution tank with an embedded heat exchange pipe, additional coolant tanks, and a control system that uses first and second coolants to regulate temperature, with valves and pumps managed by a controller to supply coolants based on temperature readings, ensuring the urea solution is maintained within a set temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the urea solution tank is cooled by outside air, then the urea solution temperature decreases, but construction machines operate at the same place or move slowly making cooling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchange pipe as an intermediary between the urea solution and the engine coolant system. The heat exchange pipe allows thermal energy transfer from the urea solution to the coolant circulating through the engine, enabling efficient cooling without relying on outside air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the engine's own coolant circulation system to cool the urea solution tank. The coolant that is already circulating through the engine for its own thermal management purposes is redirected through the heat exchange pipe to simultaneously cool the urea solution, making the cooling process self-sufficient.
2Temperature
If hot air from engine or hydraulic components heats the urea solution tank, then the urea solution temperature increases, but this causes vaporization and chemical reactions leading to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange pipe acts as a thermal intermediary that intercepts heat from the urea solution before it can cause harmful effects. By continuously circulating coolant through the heat exchange pipe, the system actively removes excess thermal energy, preventing vaporization and irreversible chemical reactions that would lead to corrosion of the urea solution pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements temperature monitoring and control through the coolant circulation system. When the urea solution temperature rises due to proximity to engine or hydraulic components, the increased thermal transfer through the heat exchange pipe provides negative feedback, automatically reducing the temperature to prevent harmful vaporization and chemical degradation.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the urea solution temperature is maintained at appropriate levels, then the machine can operate continuously, but this requires active heating and cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The engine coolant system serves multiple functions: it cools the engine itself and simultaneously cools the urea solution tank through the heat exchange pipe. This multi-functional approach enables continuous operation without requiring a separate dedicated cooling system, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to operate indefinitely.
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 device effectively maintains the urea solution at optimal temperatures, preventing evaporation and solidification, ensuring continuous machine operation and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by ensuring smooth injection of the urea solution into the exhaust pipe.
Implementation Method 1
a urea solution tank storing the urea solution and provided with an embedded heat exchange pipe through which first coolant or second coolant circulates
Implementation Method 2
an engine including a cooling fan, a coolant pump, and a main cooler
Implementation Method 3
a coolant pump
Implementation Method 4
a water pump supplying the second coolant from the additional coolant tank to the heat exchange pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A device for cooling and heating a urea solution to be injected into exhaust gas discharged from an engine in order to reduce nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas includes an engine including a cooling fan, a coolant pump, and a main cooler; a urea solution tank storing the urea solution and having an embedded heat exchange pipe through which first coolant and second coolant circulates; an additional coolant tank storing the second coolant; a water pump supplying the second coolant from the additional coolant tank to the heat exchange pipe; a valve configured to be opened or closed in order to supply the first coolant and the second coolant to the heat exchange pipe through a supply line, and to move the first coolant and the second coolant, which are discharged from the heat exchange pipe through a discharge line, to rise coolant pump and the additional coolant tank, respectively and a controller for supplying the second coolant to the heat exchange pipe through the supply line when the urea solution temperature exceeds a set temperature and for supplying the first coolant to the heat exchange pipe through the supply line when the urea solution temperature is below or equal to the set temperature, and opening or closing the valve.