Variable Cooling Air Flap for Vehicle Drag and Thermal Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling air feeding apparatuses for motor vehicles lack the ability to efficiently regulate airflow to the cooler, leading to suboptimal cooling performance, increased drag resistance, and inefficient energy use, particularly in varying driving conditions and cooling demands.
Innovation Solution
A cooling air feeding apparatus with a throughflow opening featuring a variable throughflow cross section, adjustable via a closing element such as a pivoting flap, allowing for complete or partial opening/closure to optimize airflow and reduce drag resistance, while being controlled by a regulating device to adapt to driving states and cooling requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the throughflow opening is kept open to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but drag resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element is designed to be movable between multiple positions (fully open, fully closed, and intermediate positions) to dynamically adjust the throughflow cross section. This allows the system to adapt the opening degree based on driving conditions, optimizing the balance between cooling efficiency and drag resistance reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of the throughflow cross section area by adjusting the closing element position. This parameter change enables continuous optimization of airflow quantity, allowing the system to achieve both high cooling efficiency when needed and low drag resistance when cooling demands are reduced.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the throughflow opening is kept closed to reduce drag resistance, then drag resistance is reduced, but cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable closing element enables dynamic switching between closed and open states, allowing the system to maintain low drag resistance during normal operation while quickly transitioning to high cooling performance when thermal demands increase.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the throughflow cross section parameter from minimal (closed) to maximal (open), the system can optimize aerodynamic performance while maintaining the capability for effective cooling when required.
3Temperature
If multiple throughflow openings are provided to improve cooling performance, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing element is divided into multiple independent closing portions, each capable of independently adjusting its position to control airflow through different regions of the throughflow opening. This segmentation allows for nuanced control of cooling airflow while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing element structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both an aerodynamic surface and a flow control mechanism. The same structural component enables both drag reduction and cooling control, reducing the need for separate specialized components.
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 solution enhances cooling efficiency, reduces heat losses, minimizes drag resistance, and optimizes the performance of the cooler and drive unit by adjusting airflow based on driving conditions, thereby improving the overall efficiency and visual appearance of the motor vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
the throughflow opening is configured with a variable throughflow cross section with the aid of a closing element
Implementation Method 2
via which air from surroundings of the motor vehicle can be fed to the cooler
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling air feeding apparatus is for a motor vehicle, which has a motor vehicle body and a drive train, the drive train being assigned a cooler, and at least the cooler being arranged in a rear region of the motor vehicle body. The cooling air feeding apparatus has a throughflow opening, which is in the rear region and which is configured to receive air from surroundings of the motor vehicle and to feed the received air to the cooler. In order to regulate a driving state of the motor vehicle, the throughflow opening is configured with a variable throughflow cross section with the aid of a closing element, which is assigned to the cooling air feeding apparatus. The throughflow opening is configured to be controllably closed individually completely or partially and to be opened completely.