Very Low Water Heat Transfer Fluid for Engine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water-glycol heat transfer fluids face challenges in maintaining liquid state at high heat densities in engines, leading to localized boiling and reduced heat transfer efficiency due to their low boiling points and high viscosities at low temperatures, while non-aqueous fluids have higher boiling points but higher viscosities.
Innovation Solution
Formulating a very low water (VLW) heat transfer fluid comprising ethylene glycol, additional polyhydric alcohols, and small amounts of water (5-10%) with corrosion inhibitors, which achieves a higher atmospheric boiling point and lower viscosity, maintaining stability at -40°C or below, similar to non-aqueous fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-glycol heat transfer fluid is used to improve heat transfer efficiency, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the fluid boils at low temperatures reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the heat transfer fluid by using a specific ratio of water (5-10%) to ethylene glycol (90-95%), creating a VLW fluid that achieves both high heat transfer efficiency and elevated boiling point (136-154°C) through optimized composition parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite heat transfer fluid by combining water and ethylene glycol in a specific ratio, where the composite material exhibits properties superior to either component alone - maintaining the heat transfer efficiency of water while achieving the high boiling point of glycol
2Temperature
If non-aqueous heat transfer fluid is used to raise boiling point, then boiling point is raised, but viscosity increases reducing heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of water content to a very low level (5-10%), which is sufficient to reduce viscosity dramatically while maintaining the high boiling point characteristic of non-aqueous fluids, creating an optimal balance between these two properties
3Force
If water content is increased to lower viscosity, then viscosity is reduced, but boiling point decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by adding a small but significant amount of water (5-10%) - not enough to make the fluid predominantly aqueous and lose the high boiling point, but sufficient to achieve the desired viscosity reduction and improve low-temperature fluidity
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 VLW heat transfer fluid provides improved heat transfer efficiency by maintaining liquid contact with hot metal surfaces and reducing viscosity, achieving boiling points higher than traditional aqueous coolants with lower viscosities compared to non-aqueous fluids, while maintaining stability in supercooling conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the heat transfer fluid absorbs heat that is produced by the internal combustion engine and releases the absorbed heat to a lower temperature environment
Implementation Method 2
having a circulating liquid engine cooling system using the heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 3
maintaining stability at -40°C or below, similar to non-aqueous fluids
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A very low water (VLW) heat iransfer fluid, having an atmospheric boiling point of about 148°C (about 300°F) and a low temperature operating limit (LTOL) of -40°C or below, comprised of one or more polyliydric alcohols, one or more corrosion inhibitors, and between 5% and 10% water. The heat transfer fluid retains many of the features of a non-aqueous heat- transfer fluid, while providing a substantially lower viscosity. The heat transfer fluid is suitable for use in internal combustion engines as an engine coolant and in other heat transfer applications.