Vehicle Cooling Device Pump Control for Low Temperature Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle cooling devices, the high viscosity of coolant at low temperatures reduces the flow rate, leading to inefficient cooling of the intercooler and inverter circuit, especially in hybrid electric vehicles where the pump operates even at low coolant temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cooling device with a controller that adjusts the pump's discharge amount based on the requested flow rate and coolant temperature, using a control process that increases the drive duty cycle when the coolant temperature is lower than a reference temperature to maintain adequate coolant flow, thereby preventing a decrease in cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the pump operates to cool the inverter circuit when coolant temperature is low, then the inverter circuit can be cooled, but the coolant flow rate becomes lower than expected due to high coolant viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The pump control amount is dynamically adjusted based on real-time coolant temperature feedback. When coolant temperature is low (high viscosity condition), the control amount is increased to compensate for reduced flow rate, ensuring adequate cooling performance is maintained despite changing fluid properties
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors coolant temperature and uses this feedback to adjust pump operation. The control amount is derived based on the relationship between coolant temperature and viscosity, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal cooling performance across varying temperature conditions
2Productivity
If the pump control amount is increased to maintain flow rate at low temperatures, then adequate coolant flow is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump control amount is dynamically adjusted based on real-time coolant temperature feedback. When coolant temperature is low (high viscosity condition), the control amount is increased to compensate for reduced flow rate, ensuring adequate cooling performance is maintained despite changing fluid properties
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pump operation parameter (control amount) based on coolant temperature conditions. By adjusting the control amount according to the temperature-flow rate relationship, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining adequate flow rate and minimizing energy consumption
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 solution ensures a sufficient coolant flow rate to the intercooler and inverter circuit, even at low temperatures, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency and preventing deviations between actual and requested flow rates, thus enhancing the overall cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
an intercooler configured to cool air supercharged by the forced-induction device
Implementation Method 2
an electric pump configured to operate to circulate the coolant in the circulation circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device is employed in a vehicle including an internal combustion engine provided with a forced-induction device and an intercooler. The cooling device includes a circulation circuit configured to circulate coolant supplied to the intercooler, an electric pump configured to operate to circulate the coolant in the circulation circuit, and processing circuitry configured to control a discharge amount of the coolant of the pump. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a control amount deriving process of deriving a control amount of the pump based on a requested flow rate and a coolant temperature, and an operation process of causing the pump to operate based on the control amount when the requested flow rate is larger than 0.