EP3680464A1 - Improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine - Google Patents
Improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3680464A1 EP3680464A1 EP20151297.7A EP20151297A EP3680464A1 EP 3680464 A1 EP3680464 A1 EP 3680464A1 EP 20151297 A EP20151297 A EP 20151297A EP 3680464 A1 EP3680464 A1 EP 3680464A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pump
- cooling system
- opening
- heat exchanger
- fluidly connected
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 72
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 239000012809 cooling fluid Substances 0.000 description 32
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 17
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P3/00—Liquid cooling
- F01P3/20—Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P7/00—Controlling of coolant flow
- F01P7/14—Controlling of coolant flow the coolant being liquid
- F01P7/16—Controlling of coolant flow the coolant being liquid by thermostatic control
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P2060/00—Cooling circuits using auxiliaries
- F01P2060/04—Lubricant cooler
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P2060/00—Cooling circuits using auxiliaries
- F01P2060/06—Retarder
Definitions
- the present invention concerns a cooling system, in particular an improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
- the internal combustion engine of a vehicle needs to be cooled for maintaining its temperature in a predetermined allowable range.
- a cooling system configured to circulate a cooling fluid, e.g. water-glycol mixture, though, essentially, an internal combustion engine in which such cooling fluid is heated and a radiator in which the cooling fluid is cooled in a cycle.
- a cooling fluid e.g. water-glycol mixture
- the cooling circuit may be also configured to allow the circulation of the cooling fluid in other modules such as an EGR, i.e. Exhaust Gas Recirculation, Cooler, an oil cooler or an Intarder®(i.e. a hydrodynamic brake cooler).
- EGR Exhaust Gas Recirculation
- Cooler an oil cooler
- Intarder® i.e. a hydrodynamic brake cooler
- the circulation of the cooling fluid in engine and/or other modules is driven by a pump, such as an electric water pump or conventional belt-driven water pump.
- the cooling system typically comprises all the aforementioned elements fluidically connected in series one with respect to the other. Therefore, supposing, for sake of example, that EGR cooler is in fluidic series with oil cooler and that only the latter needs high flow of cooling fluid while the EGR cooler simply needs a low flow of cooling fluid, the pump would however supply to both modules the highest needed flow of cooling fluid. In this way, the pump works the most of the time at a high demand level, thereby having a high energy consumption, and increasing fuel consumption of the vehicle/engine.
- An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above mentioned needs, in an economic and optimized way.
- Figure 1 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for an internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle; the cooling system 1 is configured to circulate a cooling fluid, e.g. water-glycol mixture, as described in the following so as to maintain the temperature of engine 2 and/or other modules within a comprised range of temperature.
- a cooling fluid e.g. water-glycol mixture
- Cooling system 1 essentially comprises a pump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and a second openings 3a, 3b of this latter and a heat exchanger, such as a radiator 4, configured to cool the cooling fluid flowing through this latter between a first and a second openings 4a, 4b of this latter.
- cooling system 1 further comprises an oil cooler 5 fluidly connected to pump 3 and to engine 2; in particular, pump output 3a is fluidly connected to a first opening 5a of oil cooler 5 and engine 2 is fluidly connected to a second opening 5b of oil cooler 5. Therefore, according to the above, oil cooler 5 and engine 2 are fluidly connected in series, the engine 2 being placed downstream with respect to oil cooler 5.
- pump 3 is an electric pump.
- an as known in the art engine 2 comprises essentially a block portion 7, a liner portion 8 and a head portion 9 fluidly connected one between the other in series between a first opening 2a and a second opening 2b for the cooling fluid.
- second opening 5b of oil cooler 5 is fluidly connected to first opening 2a of engine 2.
- Cooling system 1 preferably further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid from engine 2 towards either radiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold.
- valve means 10 may comprise a thermostatic switch valve, which can be controlled electrically or mechanically as known.
- valve means 10 comprises a first opening 10a fluidly connected to second opening 2b of engine 2, a second opening 10b fluidly connected to first opening 4a of radiator 4 and a third opening 10c fluidly connected to a third opening 3c of pump 3. Therefore, if temperature of cooling fluid is lower than the preset threshold, this latter will return directly to pump 3 without passing into radiator 4, while, if temperature of cooling fluid is higher than the preset threshold, this latter will pass through radiator 4 to decrease its temperature before returning to pump 3 via openings 4b, 3a.
- Cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel to engine 2 between pump 3 and valve means 10.
- EGR cooler 11 is fluidly connected in parallel to the series of oil cooler 5 and engine 2.
- EGR cooler 11 comprises a first opening 11a fluidly connected to second opening 3b of pump 3 upstream with respect to first opening 5a of oil cooler 5, and a second opening 11b fluidly connected to a fourth opening 10d of valve means 10.
- cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from engine 2 and/or the remaining operative module, in the present case the EGR cooler 11.
- Valve means 12 may regulate such flow between predetermined maximum and minimum values, e.g. a total free flow and a zero flow.
- cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12a fluidly interposed between second opening 11b of EGR cooler 11 and fourth opening 10d of valve means 10. Further system may further comprise flow control means 12b fluidly interposed between second opening 2b of engine 2 and first opening 10a of valve means 10 and/or Advantageously, flow control means 12 may be realized among any known typology of valves (gate valves, butterfly valves etc..) and may be actuated mechanically, electrically or hydraulically as known.
- flow control means 12 are electrically actuated valves, in particular they may be electrically connected to an electronic control unit (ECU), not shown, comprising elaboration means configured to acquire data related to engine 2 and operative modules 5, 11 operation and to control the status of flow control means 12 accordingly as described in the following. More preferably, such control unit is the ECU of the vehicle.
- ECU electronice control unit
- Cooling fluid starts its path from second opening 3b of pump 3 and directed partially to EGR cooler 11 and the remaining portion to oil cooler 5. From this latter, the cooling fluid passes through base 7, lines 8 and head 9 of engine 2 and flows out from this latter by second opening 2b. Fluid passing into EGR cooler 11 flows out from this latter by second opening 11b. Both parallel branches of cooling fluid coming from openings 2b, 11b flow to respectively openings 10a, 10d of valve means 10.
- openings 2b, 11b flow to respectively openings 10a, 10d of valve means 10.
- flow control means 12a, 12b will be controlled to reduce the flow of cooling fluid which can pass from opening 2b to opening 10a and/or from opening 11b to opening 10d.
- the reduced cooling flow necessity may be based on operative information of engine 2 or modules 5, 11 or on it may be based on temperature measures of fluid flowing inside such elements 5, 11 thanks to sensors, not shown, carried by these elements and electrically connected to the electronic control unit.
- FIG. 2 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for an internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- cooling system 1 essentially comprises a pump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and a second openings 3a, 3b of this latter and a radiator 4 configured to cool the cooling fluid flowing through this latter between a first and a second openings 4a, 4b of this latter.
- cooling system 1 does not comprise the oil cooler 5 which is substituted by an oil cooler 5 configured as a separate air-to-oil cooler, as known in the art. It has to be noted that An air-to-oil cooler may be feasible, considering reduced oil flows and higher operating oil temperatures on friction-optimized engines.
- second opening 3b of pump 3 is fluidly connected to first opening 2a of engine 2.
- cooling system 1 further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid from engine 2 towards either radiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold.
- Valve means 10 comprises a first opening 10a fluidly connected to second opening 2b of engine 2, a second opening 10b fluidly connected to first opening 4a of radiator 4 and a third opening 10c fluidly connected to a third opening 3c of pump 3.
- cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel to engine 2 between pump 3 and valve means 10.
- EGR cooler 11 operative module, such as in the present case an EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel to engine 2 between pump 3 and valve means 10.
- EGR cooler 11 comprises a first opening 11a fluidly connected to second opening 3b of pump 3 upstream with respect to first opening 5a of oil cooler 5, and a second opening 11b fluidly connected to a fourth opening 10d of valve means 10.
- cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from engine 2 and/or the remaining operative module, in the present case the EGR cooler 11, similarly to what described for embodiment of figure 1 and not repeated for sake of brevity.
- Cooling system 1 may comprise a further valve means 13 configured for divide fluid flow between engine 2 and EGR cooler 11, i.e. a branching module placed upstream with respect to engine 2 and EGR cooler 11.
- the operation is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the fact that the cooling fluid flows directly from second opening 3b of pump 3 directly into engine 2 and oil cooler 5 operates independently as an oil-to air cooler without interfering, i.e. without generating pressure drops due to passage of cooling fluid through this latter in the cooling system. Except for such aspect the operation is the same, i.e. flow control means 12 may be activated, when necessary, to reduce the flow of cooling passing from the respective operative module branch.
- FIG. 3 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for an internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the invention.
- cooling system 1 essentially comprises a pump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and a second openings 3a, 3b of this latter and a radiator 4 configured to cool the fluid flowing through this latter between a first and a second opening 4a, 4b of this latter.
- cooling system 1 further comprises an oil cooler 5 fluidly connected to pump 3 and to engine 2, fluidically in series with this latter.
- cooling system 1 further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid towards either radiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold.
- valve means 10 comprises a first opening 10a fluidly connected to an operative module as described in the following, a second opening 10b fluidly connected to first opening 4a of radiator 4 and a third opening 10c fluidly connected to a third opening 3c of pump 3.
- First opening 10a of valve means 10 is not, as in figures 1 and 2 embodiments, directly connected to second opening 2b of engine 2. Indeed, it is fluidly connected to a second opening 14b of an operative module, such as an intarder® 14.
- cooling system 1 comprises further flow control means 15, having the same function of valve means 10, i.e. switching a fluid in particular coming from second opening 2b of engine 2 towards intarder 14 or directly towards first opening 10a of valve means 10.
- flow control means 15 comprises a first opening 15a fluidly connected to second opening 2b of engine 2, a second opening 15b fluidly connected to a first opening 14a of intarder 14 and a third opening 15c directly fluidly connected to first opening 10a of valve means 10. Accordingly, oil cooler 5, engine 2 and intarder 14, when fluidly connected to these latter, are fluidically in series each other between pump 3 and valve means 10.
- cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel to engine 2 between pump 3 and valve means 10.
- EGR cooler 11 is fluidly connected in parallel to the series of engine 2, oil cooler 5 and intarder 14.
- EGR cooler 11 comprises a first opening 11a fluidly connected to second opening 3b of pump 3 upstream with respect to first opening 5a of oil cooler 5, and a second opening 11b fluidly connected to a first opening 10a of valve means 10.
- cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from such operative module, in the present case the EGR cooler 11.
- Valve means 12 operation and typology correspond to what described for embodiment of figures 1 and 2 , therefore they are not repeated for sake of brevity.
- flow control means 12 may be activated, when necessary, to reduce the flow of cooling passing from the respective operative module branch.
- FIG. 4 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for an internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
- flow control means 12 which are not present and by an additional pump 3'.
- pump 3' is a pump similar to pump 3 comprising a first opening 3a' fluidly connected to second opening 4b of radiator 4 and a second opening 3b' fluidly connected to first opening 11a of EGR cooler 11.
- first opening 3a of pump 3 is fluidly connected to second opening 5b of radiator 4 and second opening 3b of pump 3 is fluidly connected to only first opening 5a of oil cooler 5.
- radiator 4 and valve means 10 two different pressure sources are provided, in parallel with each other between radiator 4 and valve means 10 to an operative module, e.g. EGR cooler, and engine 2, in particular the series of engine 2 and oil cooler 5.
- EGR cooler e.g. EGR cooler
- engine 2 e.g. EGR cooler
- Cooling fluid starts two independent paths from second opening 3b of pump 3 to oil cooler 5/engine 2 and from second opening 3b' of pump 3' to EGR cooler 11.
- cooling fluid passes through base 7, lines 8 and head 9 of engine 2 and flows out from this latter by second opening 2b.
- the cooling system 1 according to the invention, the fuel consumption of the system decreases and, at the same time, cavitation is reduced in critical components.
- Such main effect is achieved thanks to the use of two separate parallel branches, one passing through at least engine 2 assembly and the remaining passing through at least an operative module, such as EGR cooler 11.
- the cooling system performance can hence be optimally adapted to the needs of specific components to reduce the total power required to pump the coolant in the engine.
- Other components can be isolated as parallel branches in a similar manner if necessary, see e.g. figure 3 embodiment, allowing more flexibility in the delivery of sufficient coolant flow at required pressures to each component or engine sub-system.
- Operative module in parallel to engine 2 assembly may be obviously any module, not specifically EGR cooler 11. Further components can be isolated as separate branches for independent flow control via a separate valve or separate pump.
- radiator 4 may be substituted by any known typology of heat exchanger.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Exhaust-Gas Circulating Devices (AREA)
- Cylinder Crankcases Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
- Valve-Gear Or Valve Arrangements (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no.
102019000000559 filed on January 14, 2019 - The present invention concerns a cooling system, in particular an improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
- The internal combustion engine of a vehicle needs to be cooled for maintaining its temperature in a predetermined allowable range.
- It is known to provide a cooling system configured to circulate a cooling fluid, e.g. water-glycol mixture, though, essentially, an internal combustion engine in which such cooling fluid is heated and a radiator in which the cooling fluid is cooled in a cycle.
- The cooling circuit may be also configured to allow the circulation of the cooling fluid in other modules such as an EGR, i.e. Exhaust Gas Recirculation, Cooler, an oil cooler or an Intarder®(i.e. a hydrodynamic brake cooler).
- The circulation of the cooling fluid in engine and/or other modules is driven by a pump, such as an electric water pump or conventional belt-driven water pump.
- However, the cooling system typically comprises all the aforementioned elements fluidically connected in series one with respect to the other. Therefore, supposing, for sake of example, that EGR cooler is in fluidic series with oil cooler and that only the latter needs high flow of cooling fluid while the EGR cooler simply needs a low flow of cooling fluid, the pump would however supply to both modules the highest needed flow of cooling fluid. In this way, the pump works the most of the time at a high demand level, thereby having a high energy consumption, and increasing fuel consumption of the vehicle/engine.
- At the same time, it is necessary to maintain the pressure level at a predetermined minimum level so as to avoid cavitation phenomenon. Cavitation implies the formation of vapor cavities in a fluid, i.e. bubbles, which may lead to serious damage to the cooling circuit/engine components upon implosion. Engine liners are the most sensible components to such problem due to their particular operative modes. Also EGR cooler is susceptible to problems caused by local boiling in particular when the temperature of the coolant increases sufficiently to cause boiling; in this case, increased coolant flow and increased coolant pressure is necessary to avoid boiling.
- Therefore, the need is felt to reduce the energy consumption of a cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine while avoiding cavitation phenomenon and other potential problems such as local boiling in the EGR cooler.
- An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above mentioned needs, in an economic and optimized way.
- The aforementioned aim is reached by a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle as claimed in the appended set of claims.
- For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
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Figure 1 is schematic view of a first embodiment of a cooling system according to a first embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cooling system according to a second embodiment of the invention; -
Figure 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cooling system according to a third embodiment of the invention; and -
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a cooling system according to a fourth, alternative, embodiment of the invention. -
Figure 1 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for aninternal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle; the cooling system 1 is configured to circulate a cooling fluid, e.g. water-glycol mixture, as described in the following so as to maintain the temperature ofengine 2 and/or other modules within a comprised range of temperature. - Cooling system 1 essentially comprises a
pump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and asecond openings radiator 4, configured to cool the cooling fluid flowing through this latter between a first and asecond openings figure 1 , cooling system 1 further comprises anoil cooler 5 fluidly connected topump 3 and toengine 2; in particular,pump output 3a is fluidly connected to a first opening 5a ofoil cooler 5 andengine 2 is fluidly connected to a second opening 5b ofoil cooler 5. Therefore, according to the above,oil cooler 5 andengine 2 are fluidly connected in series, theengine 2 being placed downstream with respect tooil cooler 5. Preferablypump 3 is an electric pump. - In particular, according to all the disclosed embodiments an as known in the
art engine 2 comprises essentially ablock portion 7, aliner portion 8 and ahead portion 9 fluidly connected one between the other in series between afirst opening 2a and a second opening 2b for the cooling fluid. - Therefore, according to the described configuration, second opening 5b of
oil cooler 5 is fluidly connected tofirst opening 2a ofengine 2. - Cooling system 1 preferably further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid from
engine 2 towards eitherradiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold. Accordingly, valve means 10 may comprise a thermostatic switch valve, which can be controlled electrically or mechanically as known. - According to the disclosed configuration, valve means 10 comprises a first opening 10a fluidly connected to second opening 2b of
engine 2, a second opening 10b fluidly connected to first opening 4a ofradiator 4 and a third opening 10c fluidly connected to a third opening 3c ofpump 3. Therefore, if temperature of cooling fluid is lower than the preset threshold, this latter will return directly topump 3 without passing intoradiator 4, while, if temperature of cooling fluid is higher than the preset threshold, this latter will pass throughradiator 4 to decrease its temperature before returning to pump 3 viaopenings - Cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an
EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel toengine 2 betweenpump 3 and valve means 10. In particular, according to the disclosed embodiment, EGRcooler 11 is fluidly connected in parallel to the series ofoil cooler 5 andengine 2. - In particular, EGR
cooler 11 comprises a first opening 11a fluidly connected to second opening 3b ofpump 3 upstream with respect to first opening 5a ofoil cooler 5, and a second opening 11b fluidly connected to a fourth opening 10d of valve means 10. - According to a first aspect of the invention, cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from
engine 2 and/or the remaining operative module, in the present case theEGR cooler 11. Valve means 12 may regulate such flow between predetermined maximum and minimum values, e.g. a total free flow and a zero flow. - In particular, cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12a fluidly interposed between second opening 11b of
EGR cooler 11 and fourth opening 10d of valve means 10. Further system may further comprise flow control means 12b fluidly interposed between second opening 2b ofengine 2 and first opening 10a of valve means 10 and/or Advantageously, flow control means 12 may be realized among any known typology of valves (gate valves, butterfly valves etc..) and may be actuated mechanically, electrically or hydraulically as known. - Preferably, flow control means 12 are electrically actuated valves, in particular they may be electrically connected to an electronic control unit (ECU), not shown, comprising elaboration means configured to acquire data related to
engine 2 andoperative modules - The operation of the above described first embodiment is the following.
- Cooling fluid starts its path from second opening 3b of
pump 3 and directed partially toEGR cooler 11 and the remaining portion tooil cooler 5. From this latter, the cooling fluid passes throughbase 7,lines 8 andhead 9 ofengine 2 and flows out from this latter by second opening 2b. Fluid passing into EGRcooler 11 flows out from this latter by second opening 11b. Both parallel branches of cooling fluid coming fromopenings pump 3, otherwise fluid will, partially or totally, flow toradiator 4. In this latter element cooling fluid is cooled and flows again inpump 3 to close its path. - According to the invention, if the control unit/user detects, a reduced necessity of flow into
engine 2 orEGR cooling module 11, flow control means 12a, 12b will be controlled to reduce the flow of cooling fluid which can pass from opening 2b to opening 10a and/or from opening 11b to opening 10d. In this way, the request of flow of cooling fluid topump 3 will be reduced, while guaranteeing a correct cooling of the interested module, and, consequently, power consumption ofpump 3 will be reduced. The reduced cooling flow necessity may be based on operative information ofengine 2 ormodules such elements -
Figure 2 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for aninternal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention. Similarly to first embodiment infigure 1 , cooling system 1 essentially comprises apump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and asecond openings radiator 4 configured to cool the cooling fluid flowing through this latter between a first and asecond openings - In the present embodiment cooling system 1 does not comprise the
oil cooler 5 which is substituted by anoil cooler 5 configured as a separate air-to-oil cooler, as known in the art. It has to be noted that An air-to-oil cooler may be feasible, considering reduced oil flows and higher operating oil temperatures on friction-optimized engines. - According to the embodiment, second opening 3b of
pump 3 is fluidly connected to first opening 2a ofengine 2. - Similarly to first embodiment, cooling system 1 further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid from
engine 2 towards eitherradiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold. Valve means 10 comprises afirst opening 10a fluidly connected tosecond opening 2b ofengine 2, asecond opening 10b fluidly connected tofirst opening 4a ofradiator 4 and athird opening 10c fluidly connected to athird opening 3c ofpump 3. - Similarly to first embodiment, cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an
EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel toengine 2 betweenpump 3 and valve means 10. - In particular,
EGR cooler 11 comprises afirst opening 11a fluidly connected tosecond opening 3b ofpump 3 upstream with respect tofirst opening 5a ofoil cooler 5, and asecond opening 11b fluidly connected to afourth opening 10d of valve means 10. - According to a further aspect of the invention, cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from
engine 2 and/or the remaining operative module, in the present case theEGR cooler 11, similarly to what described for embodiment offigure 1 and not repeated for sake of brevity. - Cooling system 1 may comprise a further valve means 13 configured for divide fluid flow between
engine 2 andEGR cooler 11, i.e. a branching module placed upstream with respect toengine 2 andEGR cooler 11. - The operation of the above described second embodiment is the following.
- The operation is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the fact that the cooling fluid flows directly from
second opening 3b ofpump 3 directly intoengine 2 andoil cooler 5 operates independently as an oil-to air cooler without interfering, i.e. without generating pressure drops due to passage of cooling fluid through this latter in the cooling system. Except for such aspect the operation is the same, i.e. flow control means 12 may be activated, when necessary, to reduce the flow of cooling passing from the respective operative module branch. -
Figure 3 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for aninternal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the invention. Similarly to embodiments offigure 1 and2 , cooling system 1 essentially comprises apump 3 configured to increase the pressure of a fluid passing through this latter between a first and asecond openings radiator 4 configured to cool the fluid flowing through this latter between a first and asecond opening - Similarly to first embodiment, cooling system 1 further comprises an
oil cooler 5 fluidly connected to pump 3 and toengine 2, fluidically in series with this latter. - Always similarly to first and second embodiments, cooling system 1 further comprises valve means 10 configured to allow the passage of cooling fluid towards either
radiator 4 or to pump 3 according to a predefined temperature threshold. According to the disclosed configuration, valve means 10 comprises afirst opening 10a fluidly connected to an operative module as described in the following, asecond opening 10b fluidly connected tofirst opening 4a ofradiator 4 and athird opening 10c fluidly connected to athird opening 3c ofpump 3. - First opening 10a of valve means 10 is not, as in
figures 1 and2 embodiments, directly connected tosecond opening 2b ofengine 2. Indeed, it is fluidly connected to asecond opening 14b of an operative module, such as anintarder® 14. - According to the described configuration, cooling system 1 comprises further flow control means 15, having the same function of valve means 10, i.e. switching a fluid in particular coming from
second opening 2b ofengine 2 towardsintarder 14 or directly towardsfirst opening 10a of valve means 10. - Accordingly, flow control means 15 comprises a
first opening 15a fluidly connected tosecond opening 2b ofengine 2, asecond opening 15b fluidly connected to afirst opening 14a ofintarder 14 and athird opening 15c directly fluidly connected tofirst opening 10a of valve means 10. Accordingly,oil cooler 5,engine 2 andintarder 14, when fluidly connected to these latter, are fluidically in series each other betweenpump 3 and valve means 10. - According to an aspect of the invention, cooling system 1 further comprises at least an operative module, such as in the present case an
EGR cooler 11, fluidly interposed in parallel toengine 2 betweenpump 3 and valve means 10. In particular, according to the disclosed embodiment,EGR cooler 11 is fluidly connected in parallel to the series ofengine 2,oil cooler 5 andintarder 14. - In particular,
EGR cooler 11 comprises afirst opening 11a fluidly connected tosecond opening 3b ofpump 3 upstream with respect tofirst opening 5a ofoil cooler 5, and asecond opening 11b fluidly connected to afirst opening 10a of valve means 10. - According to a further aspect of the invention, cooling system 1 comprises flow control means 12 configured to reduce the flow of fluid into valve means 10 coming from such operative module, in the present case the
EGR cooler 11. Valve means 12 operation and typology correspond to what described for embodiment offigures 1 and2 , therefore they are not repeated for sake of brevity. - The operation of the above described third embodiment is the following.
- The operation is substantially the same as the first embodiment except for the fact that from opening 2b flow of cooling may be divided to flow into
intarder 14, if necessary (e.g., during vehicle braking). Except for such aspect the operation is the same, i.e. flow control means 12 may be activated, when necessary, to reduce the flow of cooling passing from the respective operative module branch. -
Figure 4 discloses a schematic view of a cooling system 1 for aninternal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. For sake of brevity, it may be resumed that all the elements described in first embodiments are present except for flow control means 12 which are not present and by an additional pump 3'. - In particular, pump 3' is a pump similar to pump 3 comprising a
first opening 3a' fluidly connected tosecond opening 4b ofradiator 4 and asecond opening 3b' fluidly connected tofirst opening 11a ofEGR cooler 11. - According to the above,
first opening 3a ofpump 3 is fluidly connected tosecond opening 5b ofradiator 4 andsecond opening 3b ofpump 3 is fluidly connected to only first opening 5a ofoil cooler 5. - In this way, two different pressure sources are provided, in parallel with each other between
radiator 4 and valve means 10 to an operative module, e.g. EGR cooler, andengine 2, in particular the series ofengine 2 andoil cooler 5. - The operation of the above described fourth embodiment is the following.
- Cooling fluid starts two independent paths from
second opening 3b ofpump 3 tooil cooler 5/engine 2 and fromsecond opening 3b' of pump 3' toEGR cooler 11. - From
oil cooler 5, similar to first embodiment, cooling fluid passes throughbase 7,lines 8 andhead 9 ofengine 2 and flows out from this latter bysecond opening 2b. - Fluid passing into
EGR cooler 11 flows out from this latter bysecond opening 11b. Both parallel independent branches of cooling fluid coming fromopenings openings third opening 10c ofvalve 10, otherwise fluid will, partially or totally, flow toradiator 4. In this latter element cooling fluid is cooled then flows topumps 3, 3' proportionally to their suction side. - In view of the foregoing, the advantages of the cooling system 1 for an
internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle according to the invention are apparent. - Thanks to the cooling system 1 according to the invention, the fuel consumption of the system decreases and, at the same time, cavitation is reduced in critical components.
- Such main effect is achieved thanks to the use of two separate parallel branches, one passing through at
least engine 2 assembly and the remaining passing through at least an operative module, such asEGR cooler 11. The cooling system performance can hence be optimally adapted to the needs of specific components to reduce the total power required to pump the coolant in the engine. Other components can be isolated as parallel branches in a similar manner if necessary, see e.g.figure 3 embodiment, allowing more flexibility in the delivery of sufficient coolant flow at required pressures to each component or engine sub-system. - The same effect may be obtained, alternatively as depicted in
figure 4 or in combination to theabove valves 12, with the use ofindependent pumps 3, 3' in each of the parallel branches of cooling fluid. - By replacing
oil cooler 5 with a separate element it is possible to reduce further power consumption ofpump 3. - It is clear that modifications can be made to the described cooling system 1 for an
internal combustion engine 2 of a vehicle which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims. - For example, it is clear that the described embodiments, e.g.
figure 1 andfigure 4 orfigure 4 andfigure 3 , may be combined together to defined other possible combination all linked by the idea at the base of the present invention. - Operative module in parallel to
engine 2 assembly may be obviously any module, not specificallyEGR cooler 11. Further components can be isolated as separate branches for independent flow control via a separate valve or separate pump. - Further, other elements, such as
intarder 14 or many other known in the art, could be added, in series or in parallel to the cooling circuit 1 as claimed below andradiator 4 may be substituted by any known typology of heat exchanger.
Claims (11)
- Cooling system (1) for cooling an internal combustion engine (2) for a vehicle, said cooling system (1) comprising at least a pump (3), a heat exchanger (4), an engine assembly (2) and at least one operative module (11), said pump (3) comprising a first opening (3a) fluidly connected to said heat exchanger (4), said engine assembly (2) and said at least one operative module (11) each being respectively fluidly connected to said heat exchanger (4), said pump (3) further comprising a second opening (3b) fluidly connected to respectively said engine assembly (2) and said at least one operative module (11), said engine assembly (3) and said at least one operative module (11) being placed in parallel one with respect to the other between said heat exchanger (4) and said pump (3) wherein said cooling system (1) further comprises flow control means (12) respectively fluidly interposed between said engine assembly (2) and said heat exchanger (4) said flow control means (12) being configured to reduce the flow which may pass between the aforementioned elements between predefined maximum and minimum values.
- Cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling system (1) further comprises flow control means (12) between said at least one operative module (11) and said heat exchanger (4).
- Cooling system according to claim 2, further comprising an electronic control unit configured to control the regulation of flow control means (12).
- Cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said cooling system (1) further comprises a first pump (3) fluidly connected to said engine assembly (2) and to said heat exchanger (4) and a second pump (3') fluidly connected to said operative module (11), said first and second pumps (3, 3') being operable independently one with respect to the other.
- Cooling system (1) for cooling an internal combustion engine (2) for a vehicle, said cooling system (1) comprising at least a pump (3), a heat exchanger (4), an engine assembly (2) and at least one operative module (11), said pump (3) comprising a first opening (3a) fluidly connected to said heat exchanger (4), said engine assembly (2) and said at least one operative module (11) each being respectively fluidly connected to said heat exchanger (4), said pump (3) further comprising a second opening (3b) fluidly connected to respectively said engine assembly (2) and said at least one operative module (11), said engine assembly (3) and said at least one operative module (11) being placed in parallel one with respect to the other between said heat exchanger (4) and said pump (3), wherein said cooling system (1) further comprises a first pump (3) fluidly connected to said engine assembly (2) and to said heat exchanger (4) and a second pump (3') fluidly connected to said operative module (11), said first and second pumps (3, 3') being operable independently one with respect to the other.
- Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising valve means (10) fluidly interposed between said heat exchanger (4), said pump (3), said engine assembly (2) and said operative module (11), said valve means (10) being configured to divide the flow, at least partially, coming from said engine assembly (2) and said operative module (11) between said heat exchanger (4) and said pump (3).
- Cooling system according to claim 6, wherein said valve means (10) comprise a thermostatic valve, said division being made in function of a predetermined temperature threshold.
- Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pump is an electric pump.
- Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one operative module (11) is a EGR cooler.
- Cooling system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at engine assembly (2) comprises an oil cooler (5) and an engine (2), fluidically in series one with respect the other.
- Cooling system according to claim 10, wherein said at engine assembly (2) further comprises an intarder (14) selectively fluidically in series with said oil cooler (5) and said engine (2) through flow control means (15) .
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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IT102019000000559A IT201900000559A1 (en) | 2019-01-14 | 2019-01-14 | IMPROVED COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE |
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EP3680464A1 true EP3680464A1 (en) | 2020-07-15 |
EP3680464B1 EP3680464B1 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
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EP20151297.7A Active EP3680464B1 (en) | 2019-01-14 | 2020-01-10 | Improved cooling system for an internal combustion engine |
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IT (1) | IT201900000559A1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070157893A1 (en) * | 2006-01-12 | 2007-07-12 | Puning Wei | Coolant valve system for internal combustion engine and method |
US20100147272A1 (en) * | 2008-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | Cummins Inc. | Exhaust gas recirculation cooler coolant plumbing configuration |
US20180298853A1 (en) * | 2017-04-14 | 2018-10-18 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Egr cooling apparatus |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP3800335A1 (en) * | 2019-10-01 | 2021-04-07 | FPT Industrial S.p.A. | Internal combustion engine provided with a liquid cooling system |
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2019
- 2019-01-14 IT IT102019000000559A patent/IT201900000559A1/en unknown
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2020
- 2020-01-10 EP EP20151297.7A patent/EP3680464B1/en active Active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070157893A1 (en) * | 2006-01-12 | 2007-07-12 | Puning Wei | Coolant valve system for internal combustion engine and method |
US20100147272A1 (en) * | 2008-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | Cummins Inc. | Exhaust gas recirculation cooler coolant plumbing configuration |
US20180298853A1 (en) * | 2017-04-14 | 2018-10-18 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Egr cooling apparatus |
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EP3680464B1 (en) | 2023-12-06 |
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