Engine cooling system with overload handling capability
First Claim
1. An engine cooling system for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine;
- said engine cooling system comprising;
(a) an engine adapted for transferring waste heat into said liquid coolant;
(b) a radiator adapted for transferring said waste heat from said liquid coolant to ambient air;
(c) a water pump arranged to circulate said coolant between said engine and said radiator;
(d) an auxiliary line with an auxiliary valve for selectively flowing said liquid coolant therethrough; and
(e) phase change material (PCM) in thermal communication with said liquid coolant in said auxiliary line for transiently absorbing said waste heat from said liquid coolant;
wherein;
said cooling system is arranged to maintain the temperature of said liquid coolant near a predetermined normal operating temperature T0; and
said PCM has a melting temperature Tmelt which is higher than said predetermined normal operating temperature T0.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooling system for an internal combustion engine incorporating a heat accumulator to temporarily store heat during peak heat loads. In automotive vehicles, the heat accumulator may store excess heat generated during vehicle acceleration or hill climbing and it may dissipate stored heat during vehicle cruise, deceleration, or engine idle. The heat accumulator contains phase change material with a solid-to-liquid transition temperature higher than the normal operating temperature of the cooling system. The invention enables reducing the size and weight of engine cooling system without compromising its performance. This is particularly important for improving fuel economy and reduction of emission in automotive vehicles. In addition, the invention enables reducing the coolant inventory in the system thereby allowing for faster engine warm-up and reduced emissions of harmful pollutants during a cold engine start. The invention may be also used for thermal management of engine oil, transmission fluid, or hydraulic fluid.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An engine cooling system for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine;
- said engine cooling system comprising;
(a) an engine adapted for transferring waste heat into said liquid coolant; (b) a radiator adapted for transferring said waste heat from said liquid coolant to ambient air; (c) a water pump arranged to circulate said coolant between said engine and said radiator; (d) an auxiliary line with an auxiliary valve for selectively flowing said liquid coolant therethrough; and (e) phase change material (PCM) in thermal communication with said liquid coolant in said auxiliary line for transiently absorbing said waste heat from said liquid coolant; wherein; said cooling system is arranged to maintain the temperature of said liquid coolant near a predetermined normal operating temperature T0; and said PCM has a melting temperature Tmelt which is higher than said predetermined normal operating temperature T0. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- said engine cooling system comprising;
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8. An automotive vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, said vehicle comprising:
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(a) an engine generating fluctuating amounts of waste heat;
said engine being adapted for transferring said waste heat to a liquid coolant;(b) a radiator adapted for transferring average amount of said waste heat from said liquid coolant to ambient air but not the peaks of said fluctuating amount; (c) a water pump arranged to circulate said liquid coolant between said engine and said radiator; (d) an auxiliary line with an auxiliary valve for selectively flowing said liquid coolant therethrough; and (e) phase change material (PCM) placed in thermal communication with said liquid coolant in said auxiliary line;
said PCM arranged to absorb heat from said liquid coolant during said peaks;wherein; said cooling system is arranged to maintain the temperature of said liquid coolant near a predetermined normal operating temperature T0; and said PCM has a melting temperature Tmelt which is higher than said predetermined normal operating temperature T0. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An engine cooling system for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine;
- said engine cooling system comprising an engine, a radiator, an auxiliary line, an auxiliary valve installed in said auxiliary line, a heat accumulator installed in said auxiliary line, and a water pump;
said water pump being arranged to circulate said liquid coolant between said engine and said radiator;
said engine cooling system arranged to maintain the temperature of said liquid coolant near a predetermined normal operating temperature T0;
said auxiliary valve arranged to control the flow of said liquid coolant through said auxiliary line and through said heat accumulator in accordance with temperature of said coolant;
said heat accumulator comprising a phase change material (PCM) having a melting temperature Tmelt at least 5 degrees Centigrade higher than said normal operating temperature T0; and
said PCM being in a thermal contact with said liquid coolant inside said auxiliary line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
- said engine cooling system comprising an engine, a radiator, an auxiliary line, an auxiliary valve installed in said auxiliary line, a heat accumulator installed in said auxiliary line, and a water pump;
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19. A method for cooling an internal combustion engine (ICE);
- said method comprising the acts of;
(a) providing an ICE adapted for being cooled by a liquid coolant; (b) providing a radiator adapted for transferring heat from said liquid coolant to ambient air; (c) providing a phase change material (PCM) selected from the group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) and cross-linked high-density polyethylene (HDPEX);
said PCM being in thermal communication with said liquid coolant;said PCM having a melting temperature Tmelt and a solidification temperature Tsolid; (d) operating said ICE; (e) circulating said liquid coolant between said ICE and said radiator; (f) maintaining said liquid coolant at a predetermined operating temperature T0 which is at least 5 degrees Centigrade lower than said melting temperature Tmelt of said PCM; (g) increasing the output of said ICE; (h) allowing the temperature of said liquid coolant to rise above said melting temperature Tmelt of said PCM; (i) transferring heat from said liquid coolant to said PCM; (j) melting at least a portion of said PCM; (k) reducing the ICE output; (l) allowing the temperature of said liquid coolant to decrease to a value lower than said solidification temperature Tsolid of said PCM; (m) transferring heat from said PCM to said liquid coolant; and (n) solidifying said PCM. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- said method comprising the acts of;
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22. A heat accumulator for use in a liquid cooling system;
- said liquid cooling system being arranged to flow a liquid coolant at a normal operating temperature T0;
said accumulator adapted for flowing said liquid coolant therethrough;
said heat accumulator being configured as a coolant transfer line for said liquid cooling system;
said accumulator comprising a PCM with a melting temperature Tmelt and a solidification temperature Tsolid;
said melting temperature Tmelt being higher than said normal operating temperature T0; and
said solidification temperature Tsolid being higher than said normal operating temperature T0. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- said liquid cooling system being arranged to flow a liquid coolant at a normal operating temperature T0;
Specification