Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a coolant unit with at least one porous media in a vehicle.

Background of the invention

[0002] Departronic system uses electronics-based diesel injection to burn the particles accumulated in particulate filter. Departronic system (DPM) used coolant supply to keep the system in controlled temperature. During vehicle shutdown, probability of higher heat from exhaust system could reach DPM module & it will affect the components thermal protection limit. Once the vehicle comes to halt condition, coolant supply also gets stopped & it increases the thermal risk. To avoid such risk, an added concept with porous material is considered which can act as a proxy & extended cooling while the coolant supply is stopped. Concept looks technically feasible & manufacturing possibility also seen. Cost advantage yet to be explored. Recommended to file an invention report as this concept is new for such application.

[0003] A US patent application 20050082037 discloses a porous media cold plate . A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device including a base having a recess with a base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening. A porous core is positioned within the recess of the base, and has a core coolant inlet opening and a core coolant outlet opening that are arranged in corresponding relation with base coolant inlet opening and a base coolant outlet opening so as to be in fluid communication. A porous gasket is pinched between the porous core and the base.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a coolant unit mounted on an exhaust path in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a coolant unit mounted on an exhaust path in a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The coolant unit 10 comprises a coolant tank 12 filled with a cooling liquid and multiple coolant channels 14 formed on a coolant body 16. The coolant channels 14 are in fluid communication with the coolant tank 12. The coolant unit 10 comprises a flow path 18 for circulating the cooling liquid in and out of the multiple coolant channels 14 for absorbing heat. The coolant unit 10 comprises at least one porous media 20 positioned in proximity to the multiple coolant channels 14 . The at least one porous media 20 being in fluid communication with the coolant tank 12 via a bypass path 22.

[0006] Further the construction of the coolant unit in the exhaust path is explained in detail. The injector 28 present in the vehicle, is highly heated during the operational state of the vehicle. The heat generated around the injector 28 is dissipated into the surrounding and the cooling oil flowing through the coolant channels 14 absorbs the heat and the heated coolant liquid is flown back into the coolant tank 12 after dissipation of heat . The coolant tank 12 comprises a pump 24 to circulate the coolant liquid in and out of the coolant unit 10. The present invention additionally provides the porous media 20 to absorb the heat and to quickly cool down the injector 28 and the engine components .

[0007] The coolant body 16 is connected to the coolant tank 12 via an inlet 18(a)and an outlet 18(b) of the flow path 18 for circulating the coolant liquid in and out of the coolant channels 14. At least one porous media 20 is positioned in proximity to the coolant channels 14. The porous media 20 is chosen from a group of porous media comprising metal, fiber, ceramics, zeolite, carbon.
[0008] However, it is to be noted that, the porous media 20 is not restricted to above disclosed list, but can be any other material that is used to efficiently removing /absorbing heat from the injector body, which is known to a person skilled in the art. According to one embodiment of the invention, the multiple coolant channels 14 and the at least one porous media 20 is positioned on either side of the injector body 28.

[0009] An additional inlet bypass path 22(a) and an outlet bypass path 22(b) of the bypass path 22 is made from the coolant body 16 connecting the coolant tank 12 for circulation of the coolant liquid. During the operational state of the vehicle, the coolant liquid is pumped via the inlet bypass path 22(a) and the outlet bypass path 22(b) for circulating the liquid via the at least one porous media 20. The at least one porous media 20 is made removable and replaceable as per the requirement of the user. The coolant body 16 comprises a cut-section 26 for accommodating the porous media 20 and the dimensions of the porous media 20 is made based on at least one vehicle parameter.

[0010] The at least one vehicle parameter can be an engine speed, engine capacity and the like. For instance, the porous media 20 will be larger in dimensions for heavy duty vehicles when compared to the passenger vehicles. The dimensions of cut-section 26 in the coolant body 16 is made corresponding to the dimensions of the porous media 20. The at least one porous media 20 is made in such a way that, a larger surface area is available for absorbing heat from the injector 28 of the vehicle.

[0011] A method of working of the coolant unit 10 that is mounted on the exhaust path 11 is explained in detail. The coolant liquid from the coolant tank 12 is pumped into the coolant body 16 by the pump 24 via the inlet 18(a) and the inlet bypass path 22(a). The cooling liquid circulated via the inlet 18(a) absorbs heat generated from the injector 28 during the operating state of the vehicle , through the multiple coolant channels 14. The cooling liquid circulated via the inlet bypass path 22(a) enters the porous media 20 and absorbs the heat from the injector 28. Due to the larger surface area of the porous media 20, the pressure drop will be higher in the porous media 20 and more heat is absorbed inside.

[0012] Once the heat is absorbed, the cooling liquid is made to flow out of the coolant body 16 from the outlet 18(b) and the outlet bypass path 22(b), back into the coolant tank 12. The coolant liquid from the multiple coolant channels 14 will flow back to the coolant tank 12 via the outlet flow path 18(b) and from the porous media 20 via the outlet bypass path 22(b). During this process, the heated cooling liquid is cooled down using a radiator (not shown) before filling back into the coolant tank 12. The inlet 18(a) and the inlet bypass path 22(a) is made at a higher altitude than the outlet 18(b) and the outlet bypass path 22(b) ,such that, the cooling liquid will flow out of the coolant body 16 without much hassle.

[0013] With the above disclosed coolant unit 10, the unused solid volume in the coolant body 16 is effectively used. Unlike the coolant channels 14, the porous media 20 is not made hollow, by which one can avoid hampering the coolant body 16 robustness. The cooling capacity of the coolant unit 10 is improved exceptionally with the additional absorption medium in the form of porous media 20. The above design provides a low-cost effective solution. According to one embodiment of the invention, one porous media 20 is positioned on each side of the injector 28, however, multiple porous media 20 can be used to absorb the heat generated based on the requirement.

[0014] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim:

1. A coolant unit (10) mounted on an exhaust path (11) in a vehicle, said coolant unit comprising :
- a coolant tank (12) filled with a cooling liquid;
- multiple coolant channels (14) formed on a coolant body (16) , said coolant channels (14) are in fluid communication with said coolant tank (12);
- a flow path (18) for circulating said cooling liquid in and out of said multiple coolant channels (14) for absorbing heat;
characterized in that :
- at least one porous media (20) positioned in proximity to said multiple coolant channels (14) , said at least one porous media (20) being in fluid communication with said coolant tank (12) via a bypass path (22).

2. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pump (24) is positioned in said coolant tank (12) for circulating said cooling liquid in said flow path (18) and said bypass path (22).

3. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cut-section (26) is made in said coolant body (16) for positioning said at least one porous media (20).

4. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein dimensions of said at least one porous media (20) is based on at least one vehicle parameter .

5. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one porous media (20) is made in such a way that, a larger surface area is available for absorbing heat from an injector (28) said vehicle.
6. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one porous media (20) and said multiple coolant channels (24) are positioned on each side of said injector (28) for absorption of heat produced during an operating state of said vehicle.

7. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inlet bypass path (22(a)) and an outlet bypass path (22(b)) are made for circulating said coolant liquid via said at least one porous media (20).

8. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one porous media (20) is made removable and replaceable.

9. The coolant unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one porous media (20) is chosen from a group of porous media comprising metal, fiber, ceramics, zeolite, carbon.