Crankcase Ventilation Routing Along Charging Unit to Prevent Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles face issues with moisture freezing in the ventilation flow path connected to the crank chamber of the engine, particularly when the engine is started in cold regions, leading to blockage due to low temperatures immediately after startup.
Innovation Solution
The ventilation flow path is designed to include a specific portion that extends along the surface of the charging unit, which is heated by the charging unit's operation while the vehicle is stopped or traveling, thereby preventing moisture freezing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric heater is operated after the engine is started, then the ventilation flow path is heated to prevent moisture freezing, but the temperature of the ventilation flow path remains low immediately after engine startup, causing moisture to freeze
Solution Approach 1:
The charging unit is operated while the vehicle is stopped or before engine startup to generate heat that warms the ventilation flow path in advance. This preliminary heating action ensures that when the engine starts and blow-by gas flows through the ventilation flow path, the temperature is already above the freezing point of moisture, preventing ice formation and blockage.
2Reliability
If the charging unit is operated while the vehicle is stopped, then the ventilation flow path is preheated to suppress moisture freezing, but the vehicle cannot generate power during stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The charging unit serves dual purposes: it charges the battery when external power is supplied, and simultaneously generates heat as a byproduct that is used to warm the ventilation flow path. This self-service approach allows the system to utilize its own operational byproduct (heat) to solve the moisture freezing problem, eliminating the need for separate heating equipment.
3Reliability
If the specific portion of the ventilation flow path is disposed along the surface of the charging unit, then the charging unit's heat effectively warms the ventilation flow path, but the space arrangement becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation flow path is merged with the charging unit's spatial structure by disposing the specific portion along the charging unit's surface. This merging allows the heat generated by the charging unit to directly warm the ventilation flow path without requiring additional space for separate heating components or complex thermal management systems.
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 effectively suppresses moisture freezing in the ventilation flow path, ensuring smooth operation of the engine by maintaining the flow path temperature above freezing levels.
Implementation Method 1
The charging unit is operated by the electric power supplied from the outside via the charging inlet, and thus can be operated while the vehicle is stopped. With the operation of the charging unit while the vehicle is stopped, the charging unit generates heat.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle including a battery, a charging inlet, a charging unit (30) configured to convert electric power supplied to the charging inlet from an outside and supply the converted electric power to the battery to charge the battery, an engine (50), and a ventilation flow path (62) connected to a crank chamber of the engine (50). The ventilation flow path (62) includes a specific portion (62c) disposed along a surface of the charging unit (30).