Rear axle lubrication oil temperature control using exhaust heat recovery and a thermal battery
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising;
- responsive to a first condition, where the first condition includes a rear axle lubrication oil temperature that is above a threshold temperature and a thermal battery system outlet temperature that is less than an exhaust gas heat exchanger outlet temperature, recovering exhaust gas heat at an exhaust gas heat exchanger via coolant in a coolant loop and storing the recovered exhaust gas heat in a thermal battery system via the coolant; and
responsive to a second condition, where the rear axle lubrication oil temperature is below the threshold temperature in the second condition, transferring heat from the thermal battery system to rear axle lubrication oil via the coolant at a rear-axle heat exchanger, wherein the coolant in the coolant loop is maintained separate from engine coolant in an engine coolant system.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for regulating the temperature of rear axle lubrication oil. In one example, a rear axle coolant system may include a coolant loop with a plurality of valves and sensors, regulating the coolant flow in heat exchange relationship with an exhaust gas heat recovery and storage system to deliver warm coolant to a rear axle heat exchanger to warm the rear axle lubrication oil. The method may regulate the components of the rear axle coolant system through a controller, receiving sensor input from the components of the coolant system.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method, comprising;
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responsive to a first condition, where the first condition includes a rear axle lubrication oil temperature that is above a threshold temperature and a thermal battery system outlet temperature that is less than an exhaust gas heat exchanger outlet temperature, recovering exhaust gas heat at an exhaust gas heat exchanger via coolant in a coolant loop and storing the recovered exhaust gas heat in a thermal battery system via the coolant; and responsive to a second condition, where the rear axle lubrication oil temperature is below the threshold temperature in the second condition, transferring heat from the thermal battery system to rear axle lubrication oil via the coolant at a rear-axle heat exchanger, wherein the coolant in the coolant loop is maintained separate from engine coolant in an engine coolant system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A rear axle coolant system, comprising:
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an exhaust heat recovery system to transfer heat from an engine exhaust system to a coolant in a coolant loop via an exhaust gas heat exchanger; a rear-axle heat exchanger to transfer heat between the coolant and rear axle lubrication oil; a thermal battery system positioned intermediate the exhaust heat recovery system and the rear-axle heat exchanger, the thermal battery system configured to store excess heat from the exhaust heat recovery system; and a controller storing instructions executable to; responsive to a first condition, where the first condition includes a rear axle lubrication oil temperature that is above a threshold temperature and a thermal battery system outlet temperature that is less than an exhaust gas heat exchanger outlet temperature, recover exhaust gas heat at the exhaust gas heat exchanger via the coolant in the coolant loop via the exhaust heat recovery system and store the recovered exhaust gas heat in the thermal battery system via the coolant and responsive to a second condition, where the rear axle lubrication oil temperature is below the threshold temperature in the second condition, transfer heat from the thermal battery system to rear axle lubrication oil via the coolant at the rear-axle heat exchanger, wherein the coolant in the coolant loop is maintained separate from engine coolant in an engine coolant system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification