Vehicle Equipment Cooling Control Under Thermal System Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling systems in vehicles are oversized due to sizing based only on maximum operating points, leading to performance degradation or unavailability when cooling control equipment fails, as they do not account for thermal constraints beyond maximum load conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that regulates the flow of heat transfer fluid based on instantaneous temperature, switching to maximum flow control when a failure is detected to maintain optimal operation and prevent overheating, ensuring the first equipment remains fully available and operational.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling system is sized based on maximum operating points, then the equipment can withstand maximum thermomechanical stresses, but the system becomes oversized for most vehicle usage scenarios and performance degrades when cooling control equipment fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic flow rate adjustment based on real-time temperature monitoring. The control method continuously adapts the cooling fluid flow rate according to instantaneous temperature measurements, switching between regulated mode (normal operation) and maximum flow mode (failure detection), thereby optimizing cooling performance across varying operating conditions without requiring oversized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback control mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor equipment temperature and feed this information back to the control unit. The controller adjusts the pump flow rate based on temperature feedback, ensuring optimal cooling while preventing overheating even when control equipment fails, thus maintaining equipment availability and vehicle autonomy
2Reliability
If the cooling system is oversized for maximum load conditions, then equipment reliability is ensured at full load, but the system operates inefficiently during normal operation and cannot adapt to control equipment failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling fluid flow rate based on real-time temperature measurements and operating conditions. During normal operation, the flow rate is optimized for current thermal loads rather than maintaining maximum flow, reducing energy consumption. When control equipment fails or temperatures rise above thresholds, the system automatically increases flow rate to maintain reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the cooling system based on detected conditions. The control method adjusts flow rate parameters dynamically - operating in regulated mode with optimized flow rates during normal conditions and switching to maximum flow mode when temperatures exceed thresholds or control failures are detected, thereby balancing energy efficiency with reliability
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 cooling processes, maintains equipment availability, and improves vehicle autonomy by ensuring the first equipment operates optimally even when cooling control equipment fails, with a safety margin to prevent overheating.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal system comprising a heat transfer fluid cooling the first equipment
Implementation Method 2
regulating the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid in a thermal system
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The disclosed cooling method for a first piece of equipment of a motor vehicle involves controlling the flow rate of the heat-transfer fluid of a thermal system comprising a second piece of equipment for controlling this cooling, and comprises a step (201, 202, 203, 204) of determining an instantaneous temperature of the first equipment, and a step of controlling the flow rate of the heat-transfer fluid depending on the instantaneous temperature when it is lower than a first predetermined threshold depending on the first equipment, and a step (200) of detecting a failure of the second equipment, such that, in the event that the failure is detected, the method comprises a step (601) of monitoring the instantaneous temperature which, if this exceeds a second predetermined threshold higher than the first threshold, controls the flow rate of the fluid at its maximum.