Multi-Zone Heat Exchanger for Use in a Vehicle Cooling System

• US 20110073285A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Rajaie, Rick H., Benoit, Ryan J.
• Application Number:
  US12/569,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.28
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2050/24 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/164 by varying pump speed
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/165 characterised by systems with two or more loops
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0417 with particular circuits for the same heat exchange medium, e.g. with the heat exchange medium flowing through sections having different heat exchange capacities or for heating/cooling the heat exchange medium at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0443 Combination of units extending one beside or one above the other F28D1/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0094 for recooling the engine coolant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86911 Sequential distributor or collector type

Abstract

A multi-zone cooling system and method of operation employs a multi-zone heat exchanger that is used to cool fluids in multiple cooling loops in a vehicle. The multi-zone heat exchanger has a zone that can be used by one or the other of the cooling loops when needed during peak operating conditions for the component requiring peak cooling.

Claims

1. A multi-zone cooling system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a multi-zone heat exchanger having a first zone, a second zone and a third zone, a first valve between the first zone and the second zone configured to selectively allow flow of a fluid from the first zone to the second zone and a second valve between the third zone and the second zone configured to selectively allow flow of the fluid from the third zone to the second zone, a zone one fluid inlet, a zone one fluid outlet, a zone three fluid inlet, a zone three fluid outlet, a first zone two fluid outlet and a second zone two fluid outlet;

a first cooling loop including a first valve assembly having a first inlet for receiving fluid flow from the zone one fluid outlet, a second inlet for receiving fluid flow from the first zone two fluid outlet and a valve outlet, the first valve assembly controllable to selectively block fluid flow from one or the other of the first inlet and the second inlet; and

a second cooling loop including a second valve assembly having a third inlet for receiving fluid flow from the zone three fluid outlet, a fourth inlet for receiving fluid flow from the second zone two fluid outlet and a valve outlet, the second three way valve assembly controllable to selectively block fluid flow from one or the other of the third inlet and the fourth inlet.

2. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first cooling loop includes a first pump controllable to selectively pump the fluid through the first cooling loop.

3. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 2 wherein the second cooling loop includes a second pump controllable to selectively pump the fluid through the second cooling loop.

4. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first loop includes an internal combustion engine through which fluid flow is directed.

5. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the second loop includes a traction power inverter module through which fluid flow is directed.

6. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the fluid in the first loop is a liquid coolant and the fluid in the second loop is a liquid coolant that is the same composition as the liquid coolant in the first loop.

7. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 including a controller that is configured to controllably switch the first and second three way valves valve assemblies.

19. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first valve assembly is a first three-way valve and the second valve assembly is a second three-way valve.

20. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 1 wherein the first valve is a one-way check valve and the second valve is a one-way check valve.

8. A multi-zone cooling system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a multi-zone heat exchanger having a first zone, a second zone and a third zone;

a first cooling loop configured to provide a flow of a fluid through a first vehicle component for cooling the first vehicle component, the first cooling loop configured to direct fluid flow from the first cooling loop into the first zone;

a second cooling loop configured to provide a flow of the fluid through a second vehicle component for cooling the second vehicle component, the second cooling loop configured to direct fluid flow from the second cooling loop into the third zone;

at least a first valve configured to selectively allow for fluid flow from one or the other of the first zone and the second zone into the first cooling loop;

at least a second valve configured to selectively allow for fluid flow from one or the other of the third zone and the second zone into the second cooling loop; and

a controller controllably engaging the first and second valves to control switching of the first and second valves.

9. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 8 including a third valve that blocks fluid flow from the second zone into the first zone.

10. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 9 including a fourth valve that blocks the fluid flow from the second zone into the third zone.

11. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 8 wherein the first cooling loop includes a first pump controllable to selectively pump the fluid through the first cooling loop.

12. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 11 wherein the second cooling loop includes a second pump controllable to selectively pump the fluid through the second cooling loop.

13. The multi-zone cooling system of claim 8 wherein the fluid in the first loop is a liquid coolant and the fluid in the second loop is a liquid coolant that is the same composition as the liquid coolant in the first loop.

14. A method of operating a multi-zone cooling system in a vehicle including a first cooling loop for providing cooling for a first vehicle component and a second cooling loop for providing cooling for a second vehicle component, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) directing fluid flow from the first cooling loop into a first zone of a multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the first cooling loop from the first zone during a first operating condition for the first vehicle component;

(b) directing fluid flow from the second cooling loop into a third zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the second cooling loop from the third zone during a first operating condition for the second vehicle component;

(c) directing fluid flow from the first cooling loop into the first zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger, from the first zone to a second zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the first cooling loop from the second zone during a first cooling loop peak operating condition where peak cooling for the first vehicle component is needed;

(d) while performing step (c), directing fluid flow from the second cooling loop into the third zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the second cooling loop from the third zone during the first operating condition for the second vehicle component;

(e) directing fluid flow form the second cooling loop into the third zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger, from the third zone to the second zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the second cooling loop from the second zone during a second cooling loop peak operating condition where peak cooling for the second vehicle component is needed; and

(f) while performing step (e), directing fluid flow from the first cooling loop into the first zone of the multi-zone heat exchanger and back into the first cooling loop from the first zone during the first operating condition for the first vehicle component.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein step (c) further comprises increasing a speed of a first pump in the first cooling loop to increase the fluid flow during the first cooling loop peak operating condition.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein step (e) further comprises increasing a speed of a second pump in the second cooling loop to increase the fluid flow during the second cooling loop peak operating condition.

17. The method of claim 14 including providing a first one-way check valve between the first zone and the second zone thereby blocking fluid flow from the second zone into the first zone.

18. The method of claim 14 including providing a second one-way check valve between the third zone and the second zone thereby blocking fluid flow from the second zone into the first zone.