Vehicle Coolant Circuit Central Evaluation Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles face challenges in reducing fuel consumption while maintaining comfort, as existing heat distribution methods in coolant circuits do not efficiently allocate heat between engine, transmission, and interior heating, leading to potential overheating and increased fuel use.
Innovation Solution
A central evaluation device connects control units of the cooling circuit to prioritize and weight heat demand signals, ensuring optimal heat distribution by generating control signals for actuators, prioritizing occupant heating requests over engine and transmission heating, and utilizing standard vehicle components like pumps and valves to manage coolant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heat is distributed to heat the vehicle interior, then occupant comfort is improved, but the engine and transmission may overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic heat distribution by making the coolant flow paths adjustable through actuators (valves, pumps). The system dynamically redirects coolant flow between the engine, transmission, and heater based on real-time thermal demands, allowing the heat distribution strategy to adapt continuously rather than following fixed flow paths
Solution Approach 2:
The control units receive thermal demand signals from the engine control unit, transmission control unit, and air conditioning control unit, evaluate these signals centrally, and generate control signals for actuators. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that heat distribution decisions are based on actual thermal conditions and demands, preventing overheating while maintaining comfort
2Use of energy by moving object
If coolant flow is directed to the engine and transmission for heating, then fuel consumption is reduced through friction minimization, but the vehicle interior heating capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts coolant flow distribution to optimize the balance between heating the powertrain components (to reduce friction and fuel consumption) and providing sufficient heat to the interior. The actuators enable continuous adjustment of flow paths based on evaluated thermal demands from all control units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the coolant circuit by using actuators to adjust flow rates and distribution paths. The central evaluation device modifies these parameters dynamically based on the weighted and prioritized thermal demand signals, allowing optimization of both fuel consumption and interior heating capacity
3Productivity
If a central evaluation device is implemented to optimize heat distribution, then thermal management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central evaluation device serves multiple functions: it receives thermal demand signals from multiple control units (engine, transmission, air conditioning), evaluates and prioritizes these demands, and generates control signals for multiple actuators. This multi-functional approach consolidates control logic into a single device, improving thermal management efficiency while managing system complexity through functional integration
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 approach optimizes thermal management, reducing fuel consumption by minimizing friction and ensuring adequate heating, while protecting components from overheating, thus balancing consumption reduction with available heating capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the waste heat in the internal combustion engine can be transferred to the heater and/or to the transmission via a coolant circuit
Implementation Method 2
heat generated in an internal combustion engine
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle having a coolant circuit (1), in which actuators (33, 35, 39, 41, 43) are connected for distributing heat which is generated, in particular, in an internal combustion engine (3) to at least one first assembly (3), for instance the internal combustion engine, and a second assembly (5), for instance a heater, wherein the first assembly (3) is assigned a first control unit (45) for generating a first requirement signal (BM) which corresponds to the heating or cooling requirement of the first assembly (3), and the second assembly (5) is assigned a second control unit (47) for generating a second requirement signal (BK) which corresponds to the heating or cooling requirement of the second assembly (5). According to the invention, the first and second control units (45, 47) are assigned a central evaluation device (50) which evaluates the requirement signals (BM, BK), in particular in a weighted and/or prioritized manner, and, using this as a basis, generates control signals (SM, SK) for the actuators (33, 35, 39, 41, 43) of the coolant circuit (1).