Wheel Torque Component Air Cooling for Heavy-Duty Brake Heat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicles, particularly electric and fuel cell electric vehicles, face challenges with braking systems that generate excessive heat, straining the cooling system and requiring larger cooling system components.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a pressurized air flow and a control unit to selectively direct the air flow to wheel torque generating components based on temperature comparisons, allowing for efficient temperature control and potentially downsizing other vehicle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If braking energy is placed in the cooling system, then the braking capacity is improved, but the cooling system becomes strained and requires larger components
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system is segmented into multiple independent braking components (friction brakes, retarders, electric brakes) that can operate simultaneously or independently. This allows the braking capacity to be distributed across different components, with each component generating less heat that needs to be managed by the cooling system, thereby reducing cooling system strain and size requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple braking components and the cooling system. It monitors temperatures and braking demands, selectively activating appropriate braking components and regulating cooling system operation to optimize heat management while reducing overall cooling system size requirements.
2Power
If a water cooled brake resistor is used, then the braking capacity is improved, but the strain on the cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The braking power is segmented across multiple components including friction brakes, retarders, and electric brakes. By distributing the braking energy dissipation across these components, the thermal load on the cooling system is reduced, allowing for lower energy consumption by the cooling system while maintaining adequate braking capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operating parameters of different braking components based on real-time conditions such as temperature, braking demand, and vehicle speed. This allows optimization of heat generation and cooling requirements, reducing the energy consumption of the cooling system while maintaining braking performance.
3Weight of moving object
If the cooling system is downsized, then the vehicle weight is reduced, but the ability to manage brake cooling is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the braking system into multiple components with different heat generation characteristics, the peak thermal load on the cooling system is reduced. This allows the cooling system to be downsized while maintaining adequate cooling capability through coordinated operation of multiple braking components that collectively manage heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs preliminary assessment of braking demands and temperature conditions to proactively activate appropriate braking components before excessive heat is generated. This preventive approach allows the downsized cooling system to operate within its reduced capacity while maintaining brake cooling reliability through intelligent control of multiple braking components.
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 solution effectively reduces the strain on the cooling system by only directing pressurized air to components when necessary, improving the braking capacity and reducing the risk of overheating in heavy-duty vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a flow creating device configured to provide a pressurized air flow through said fluid conduit... selectively direct the pressurized air flow to the wheel torque generating component so as to control the temperature of the wheel torque generating component
Data Source
AI summary
A system for use in connection with a wheel torque generating component in a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising a fluid conduit, a flow creating device configured to provide a pressurized air flow through the fluid conduit, a flow directing device enabling the pressurized air flow to be directed from the fluid conduit to the wheel torque generating component so as to control the temperature of the wheel torque generating component, and a control unit configured to compare a determined first temperature of the pressurized air flow with a determined second temperature of the wheel torque generating component, wherein the control unit is configured to, based on the comparison of the first temperature and the second temperature, selectively control the flow directing device to direct the pressurized air flow to the wheel torque generating component. The invention also relates to a method.