Utility Vehicle Powertrain Cooling for Charged Intake Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle powertrain assemblies face challenges in efficiently managing the temperature of pre-combustion air and engine components, leading to potential power output reductions and increased emissions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle powertrain assembly featuring a cooling assembly with a first cooling circuit to regulate the engine temperature and a second cooling circuit to cool intake air, utilizing heat exchangers positioned strategically along the frame to optimize airflow and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a forced-air inducer (supercharger or turbocharger) is used to compress pre-combustion air, then the power output of the powertrain assembly is increased, but the temperature of the intake air increases
Solution Approach 1:
An intercooler is introduced as an intermediary component between the forced-air inducer and the engine. The intercooler uses ambient air to cool the compressed intake air, reducing its temperature before it enters the engine. This mediator component allows the system to maintain the power benefits of compression while mitigating the harmful temperature increase.
2Temperature
If an intercooler is added to cool the charged air, then the intake air temperature is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools both the engine components and the intake air through integrated cooling circuits. By combining these cooling functions into a single multi-functional assembly, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate cooling systems for each component.
3Device complexity
If the temperature of pre-combustion air is not controlled, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power output decreases and emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is designed to utilize ambient air as a free cooling medium, allowing the system to cool the intake air and engine components without requiring additional energy input or complex active cooling mechanisms. The forced convection through the heat exchangers enables the system to self-regulate temperatures using the vehicle's own motion and ambient conditions.
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 proposed solution effectively maintains optimal temperatures for both the engine and intake air, enhancing power output, reducing emissions, and improving overall vehicle performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first cooling circuit configured to alter a temperature of the engine
Implementation Method 2
a second cooling circuit configured to alter a temperature of intake air received within the engine
Implementation Method 3
compressing the pre-combustion air may increase the temperature of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. The powertrain assembly includes an engine, a shiftable transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a charger. Additionally, the utility vehicle may include a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and the charger.