Stacked Heat Exchanger Cooling System with Venturi Air Mover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine cooling systems face challenges in managing space constraints in the engine compartment, particularly when multiple components such as superchargers and radiators need cooling, which can compromise operator visibility due to increased compartment size.
Innovation Solution
The engine cooling system employs a stacked configuration of heat exchangers with a venturi and an air mover to efficiently cool multiple fluids, allowing for a compact design that reduces the engine compartment size while maintaining effective cooling, by using a venturi nested with the drive shaft and incorporating a reversible hydraulic motor with a fan blade within the venturi.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heat exchangers are added to cool additional components (supercharger, radiator, hydraulic fluid), then cooling capability is improved, but engine compartment size increases and operator visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air mover is enclosed within the venturi structure, and the venturi itself is nested within the drive shaft housing. This nesting arrangement allows multiple components to occupy the same spatial envelope, enabling the cooling system to fit within a compact engine compartment while maintaining the ability to cool multiple components including the radiator, charge air cooler, and hydraulic fluid cooler
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a two-dimensional lateral arrangement of heat exchangers to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. The heat exchangers are arranged vertically in layers, with air flowing through them in sequence. This vertical stacking allows multiple heat exchangers to be accommodated within a smaller horizontal footprint, reducing the overall engine compartment size while maintaining cooling capability for multiple components
2Productivity
If a traditional fan arrangement is used between heat exchangers, then air flow through heat exchangers is achieved, but the fan occupies additional space and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The air mover function is merged with the venturi structure by enclosing the air mover within the venturi housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate fan mounts, additional air ducts, and external fan protections, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective air flow through all stacked heat exchangers
Solution Approach 2:
The venturi structure serves multiple functions: it acts as the housing for the air mover, provides the aerodynamic pathway for air flow, and serves as a structural component of the cooling system. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed, simplifying the overall system design while ensuring proper air flow through the heat exchangers
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 enables a smaller engine compartment, improving operator visibility while maintaining effective cooling for multiple heat exchangers, including a radiator, charge air cooler, and hydraulic fluid cooler, and allows for the integration of additional components like clean emission modules.
Implementation Method 1
A venturi is located between the stacked heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
An air mover is mounted to the venturi and located within the venturi. The air mover is configured to move air through the stacked heat exchanger and through the third heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a first heat exchanger receiving a first fluid and a second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid. The second heat exchanger is located adjacent the first heat exchanger, thereby creating a stacked heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
An engine cooling system includes a first heat exchanger receiving a first fluid and a second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid. The second heat exchanger is located adjacent the first heat exchanger, thereby creating a stacked heat exchanger. The engine cooling system also includes a third heat exchanger receiving a third fluid. The third heat exchanger is located apart from the stacked heat exchanger. A venturi is located between the stacked heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger. An air mover is mounted to the venturi and located within the venturi. The air mover is configured to move air through the stacked heat exchanger and through the third heat exchanger. In a specific embodiment, the engine cooling system is incorporated into a vehicle, such as a skidder vehicle.