Vehicle Cooling System Nonreturn Valve Common Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling systems with separate high and low temperature cooling circuits require complex constructions and risk efficiency loss due to potential coolant mixing when using a common compensation tank.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system where a nonreturn valve in a coupling line between the high and low temperature circuits allows venting via a common cooling water compensation tank only in defined operating states, preventing coolant mixing and maintaining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate compensation tanks are provided for high temperature and low temperature cooling circuits, then the efficiency of the cooling circuits is maintained, but the construction of the cooling system becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate compensation tanks into a single common compensation tank that serves both the high temperature cooling circuit and the low temperature cooling circuit. This merging reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall construction while maintaining the functional separation needed for efficient cooling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-return valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the coupling line between the high temperature and low temperature cooling circuits. This valve acts as a mediator that allows the common compensation tank to serve both circuits while preventing harmful backflow, thus maintaining circuit efficiency without requiring separate tanks.
2Device complexity
If a common compensation tank is provided for both cooling circuits, then the construction of the cooling system is simplified, but the efficiency of the cooling system is limited due to risk of coolant mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The non-return valve serves as a protective intermediary that enables the use of a common compensation tank while preventing the harmful mixing of coolant between the high temperature and low temperature circuits. This allows the system to benefit from simplified construction without sacrificing cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-return valve is positioned in the coupling line to preemptively prevent backflow of coolant from the high temperature circuit into the low temperature circuit. This preliminary protective measure eliminates the risk of efficiency loss before it can occur, enabling safe use of the common compensation tank.
3Reliability
If the high temperature cooling circuit is decoupled thermally from the low temperature cooling circuit, then the efficiency of the cooling circuits is ensured, but the construction becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into functionally separate high temperature and low temperature circuits that share a common compensation tank. The non-return valve creates a logical segmentation point that allows thermal decoupling while maintaining physical integration through the common tank, balancing efficiency and construction simplicity.
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 configuration simplifies the cooling system construction, reduces complexity, and maintains high efficiency by ensuring separate thermal operation of the circuits, especially during critical vehicle states.
Implementation Method 1
The nonreturn valve is opened or closed depending on the pressure ratio between the high temperature cooling circuit of the cooling system and the low temperature cooling circuit of the cooling system
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system (10) for a vehicle has a high temperature cooling circuit (11) for cooling a drive assembly (13) and an exhaust gas turbocharger (14) and has a low temperature cooling circuit (12) for cooling a charge air cooler (19). The high temperature cooling circuit (11) and the low temperature cooling circuit (12) are coupled via a coupling line (25), into which a nonreturn valve (26) is connected. The nonreturn valve (26) is opened or closed depending on the pressure ratio between the high temperature cooling circuit (11) and the low temperature cooling circuit (12). The high temperature cooling circuit (11) and the low temperature cooling circuit (12) can be vented via a common cooling water compensation tank (21) only in defined operating states when the nonreturn valve (26) of the coupling line (25) is open.