Methods and systems for cooling in a vehicle

• US 8,684,117 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Leute, Scott, Allen, Patrick, Ptacek, Todd Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/163,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20120318163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 165/271, 165/296, 165/41, 165/44, 165/96, 165/100, 165/101, 165/102, 165/103
• US Class Current: 180/68.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/02 Dynamic electric resistor braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 17/04 Arrangement or disposition of driving cabins, footplates or engine rooms; Ventilation thereof driving cabins and accessories B61D
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 5/02 Arrangement or disposition of intakes and apparatus for supplying, circulating, and filtering air for combustion and engine-cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2001/005 Cooling engine rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system. One example method includes, during directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system, and directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system.

Claims

1. A method for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system, comprising:

directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system; and

directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system, wherein directing airflow from the airflow generating device to cool the component of the power dissipation system includes increasing the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system when an engine load is less than a threshold, and directing airflow from the airflow generating device to cool the component of the engine system includes increasing the airflow to the component of the engine system when the engine load is greater than the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool the component of the power dissipation system further includes increasing the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system when a temperature of the component of the power dissipation system is greater than a first threshold temperature, and directing airflow from the airflow generating device to cool the component of the engine system includes increasing the airflow to the component of the engine system when a temperature of the component of the engine system is greater than a second threshold temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the engine system is one of an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-oil heat exchanger, or an air-to-water heat exchanger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the power dissipation system comprises a plurality of resistive elements which dissipate electrical energy generated during dynamic braking of the vehicle as heat.

5. A method for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system, comprising:

directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system; and

directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system, wherein the airflow generating device is coupled between the component of the engine system and the component of the power dissipation system via a plenum, and directing the airflow includes adjusting a plurality of adjustable vanes in the plenum.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of adjustable vanes direct the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system while in a first position, and the plurality of adjustable vanes direct the airflow to the component of the engine system while in a second position.

7. A method for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system, comprising:

directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system; and

directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system, wherein distinct portions of the airflow are selectively directed from the airflow generating device to cool at least one of the components of the power dissipation system or the component of the engine system based on an operating condition of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein based on the operating condition, the airflow portions are selectively directed from the airflow generating device:

in a first mode, to cool the component of the power dissipation system only;

in a second mode, to cool the component of the engine system only; and

in a third mode, respective portions are directed to cool the component of the power dissipation system and the component of the engine system.

9. A system, comprising:

an engine system;

a power dissipation system;

an airflow generating device coupled between a component of the engine system and a component of the power dissipation system via a plenum, the plenum including a plurality of adjustable vanes operable to adjust an airflow between the component of the power dissipation system and the component of the engine system; and

a control module configured to operate the vanes, for adjusting the airflow, responsive to operating conditions.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is positioned in a vehicle, and wherein the component of the power dissipation system comprises a plurality of resistive elements which dissipate electrical energy generated during dynamic braking of the vehicle as heat.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to operate the vanes for increasing the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system and correspondingly decreasing the airflow to the component of the engine system when a temperature of the component of the power dissipation system is greater than a threshold temperature.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second plenum, wherein the airflow generating device is positioned between the two plenums, and wherein the airflow generating device includes two fans and a double-ended motor which provides power to the two fans, each of the two fans directing airflow to a respective one of the two plenums.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the component of the engine system is one of an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-oil heat exchanger, and an air-to-water heat exchanger.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured to operate the vanes for increasing the airflow to the heat exchanger of the engine system and correspondingly decreasing the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system when a temperature of air, oil, or water passing through the heat exchanger is greater than a threshold temperature.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of adjustable vanes are operable to a first position to increase the airflow to the component of the power dissipation system, and the plurality of adjustable vanes are to a second position to increase the airflow to the component of the engine system.

16. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

an airflow guidance device comprising a plenum and at least one adjustable vane, wherein the plenum has an interior, an input, and first and second outputs, and wherein the at least one adjustable vane is connected to the plenum in the interior between the input and the first and second outputs; and

a control module configured to operate the at least one adjustable vane, based on operating conditions of a vehicle, to a first position of the at least one adjustable vane and to a second position of the at least one adjustable vane, wherein in the first position the at least one adjustable vane is configured to direct airflow entering the input to the first output and wherein in the second position the at least one adjustable vane is configured to direct the airflow to the second output.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the operating conditions comprise a temperature of a component of a power dissipation system of the vehicle and a temperature of a component of an engine system of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising first ducting configured to fluidly couple the first output with the component of the power dissipation system of the vehicle and second ducting configured to fluidly couple the second output with the component of the engine system of the vehicle.

19. A dynamic braking package for a vehicle, comprising:

the system of claim 16;

a plurality of resistive elements configured to dissipate electrical energy as heat; and

first ducting fluidly coupling the first output with the plurality of resistive elements.