This invention is related to an external system for conditioning multiple
vehicular engines'.temperature. The system can be implemented for attending
multitude of vehicles simultaneously.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
During the vehicular development stages, the Engine ECU is required to be
calibrated and fine-tuned at different operating temperature conditions ( subzero
to warmed-up ).
Now reference may be made to KR2020100003562U disclosing cooling system
' inbuilt into the vehicle for engine utilizing Freon as refrigerant. The system
makes use of evaporative heat of refrigerant for dissipating heat. Its
disadvantage is that it does not provide multiple level cooling to bring the
coolant temperature down. Again, cooling of the engine takes place in dynamic
condition of vehicle. Further, it is not applicable for multiple vehicle's coolant
temperature conditioning during soaking also without consuming any electrical
power from the electrical storage and generation devices mounted on the
vehicle. •
For cooling of the engine by ambient air, there is known to be provided an
external blower which is placed in front of the vehicle or above the engine cabin
for force cooling the engine by ambient air. In this regard, reference may be
made to fig 1 indicating said blower fan (1A) facing the engine (2A) so as to
force cool the engine during development trials. This blower takes away the
heat of engine at very slow rate because of heat transfer from the source to the
sink involves multiple complex geometries therebetween.
The above discussed existing system cools the engine from its outer surface to
inner surface. Therefore the cooling of engine oil, coolant, internal engine
parts etc does not take place uniformly. Also it consumes lot of time and energy
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and therefore expensive. The desired temperature of oil, coolant and engine
can't be. achieved as it can't go below ambient temperature. Further, soaking of
only one vehicle can be carried out by means of the existing system in one go.
The aforesaid drawbacks can be listed hereinbelow:
Longer Soaking time of vehicular engine's resulting in increased
development time of product.
Soaking of multiple vehicles is not possible in the existing system.
Very poor heat transfer efficiency, resulting in higher consumption of
energy.
In view of the above, there is a requirement for accelerating the vehicle soaking
time, so that it is possible to undertake multiple development activities and
deliver the same without any loss of time and enhanced product quality
control. Hence, the instant invention introduces an external system for
conditioning vehicular engine's temperature, which can address the
shortcomings of the prior art(s).
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to propose an external system for conditioning
multiple vehicular engines' temperature, which overcomes disadvantages
associated with the prior art (s).
Another object of this invention is to propose an external system for
conditioning multiple vehicular engines' temperature, which reduces soaking
time and vehicular development time.
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Further object of this invention is to propose an external system for.
conditioning multiple vehicular engines' temperature, which is cost effective
and flexible by attending multiple vehicles simultaneously.
Yet another object of this invention is to propose an external system for
conditioning multiple vehicular engines' temperature, which maintains uniform
temperature of coolant, engine oil and engine.
Still yet another object of this invention is to propose an external system for
conditioning multiple vehicular engines' temperature, which achieves cooling
faster, wherein temperature of engine oil, coolant and engine can be achieved
below ambient temperature.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
s
According to this invention there is provided an external system0 for
conditioning multiple vehicular engines' temperature comprising first heat
exchanger in flow communication with a cool storage through second heat
exchanger, wherein said second heat exchanger and cool storage, each of
which is connected to reservoir of coolant to discharge cooled coolant into
vehicular engine connected to the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: Conventional System to soak the.vehicle for calibration of engine
ECU.
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Fig. 2 shows: System of Present invention for simultaneous soak of multiple
vehicles for vehicular engine.
Fig. 3 shows: Schematic diagram of external system for conditioning multiple
vehicular engines' temperature according to present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The instant invention makes a disclosure regarding an external system for
conditioning vehicular engine's temperature, wherein said external system
constitutes a test equipment so as to enhance efficiency by reducing vehicular
development time along with reduced carbon foot prints.
The present invention deals with the Vehicular engines which require
accelerated / forced cooling for carrying out development activities on test
vehicles during the vehicular development phases of new vehicle. In this
system the vehicular engines are cooled through forced circulation of a cooler
engine coolant as shown in the Figure 2, resulting in higher cooling efficiency
of the system and lower development time. Here, the system (1') is coupled with
a plurality of vehicular engines (2', 3', 4') for conditioning of the same
simultaneously. The heat of the engine is dissipated through forced coolant
circulation rather than the forced air circulation unlike prior art.
Now, reference may be made to fig 3 illustrating. engine conditioning unit
(external system) (A) of the present invention, which is coupled, with vehicular
engine (B) by means of quick coupler (C).So that hot coolant of the engine is
pressurized out and circulated through a plurality of coo,ling units forming
multiple stages of the conditioning.unit. The forced/pressurized flow is
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provided so as to avoid formation of air pockets inside the engine block and
head geometry.
The hot engine coolant of vehicle flows through respective inlet (1) installed
with a temperature sensor (2) for measuring temperature of the engine coolant
flow. Here multitude of inlets (1) are provided for conditioning a plurality of
vehicular engines simultaneously.
Further, there is provision of thermocouple (3A-3F) at the entry and exit of
each of the stages as shown to determine temperature of coolant flow into each
stage and also out of each stage. .
Initially the hot coolant from the engine is circulated through the stage l(Si)
following passage through the inlet (1) and thermocouple (3A). Stage 1
constituting heat exchanger (4) including cooling fan (4'), header and collector.
The engine coolant is cooled through the heat exchanger in stage 1.
The cooled coolant from first heat exchanger (4) flows into second heat
exchanger (5) of the system via thermocouple (3B, 3C), in which the second
heat exchanger in stage 2 (S2) is larger than the first heat exchanger. The
second heat exchanger including cooling fan (5'), header and collector is
connected to the first exchanger, which is implemented to further cool down
the coolant flow from the first heat exchanger. First and second stage are
similar in terms of working principle i.e. heat dissipation through convection.
The second heat exchanger (5) is provided in connection with a reservoir (Ri)
containing external (additional) coolant, which is . connected to another
reservoir (R2) of coolant. There is provision of temperature sensor and level
gauge in each of the reservoirs to measure temperature and level of coolant
respectively.
The coolant of first reservoir (Ri) is maintained at ambient temperature and
that of second reservoir (R2) is below ambient temperature, in which first
reservoir is in flow communication with the second reservoir.
The flow of engine coolant is allowed to pass through second reservoir from the
first reservoir in case temperature of the engine coolant is still required to be
brought down. Therefore, the.cooled engine coolant can be pumped out from
each of the reservoirs (Ri, R2). Each of the reservoirs (first and second) is
provided with two variable flow pumps. These pumps circulate the conditioned
coolant out of the system and also circulate the coolant within the system
partially or fully to meet the desired cooling characteristics.
In conjunction with the above, there is a cool storage (6), which can also be
called chiller unit in flow communication with said second heat exchanger. The
cool storage (6) is kept below ambient temperature by utilizing coolant. The
flow of cooled engine coolant takes place from the second stage to said cool
storage forming third stage through thermocouple (3D) at the exit of the second
heat exchanger and another thermocouple (3E) at the entrance of the cool
storage. Thus, the cool storage of third stage is provided to further cool the
coolant from the second stage to bring the temperature of engine coolant below
ambient temperature. This stage results in lesser time for soaking.
The cool storage of third stage is connected to both reservoirs (Ri, R2) directly,
from which the coolant is pumped out.
The engine coolant thus cooled flows back into the vehicular engine through
respective outlet (7) having temperature sensor (8) as. shown. This cooled
coolant again takes heat from the engine and flows back to external system
(conditioning unit) through the inlet as shown in the fig 3- This cycle continues
till the moment coolant in and coolant-out temperatures of the system are
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equal. An oil temperature sensor is routed with the quick coupler and hence is
made to contact with the engine oil at one end and said cooling system
controller at the other end through oil temperature sensor harness connector
(O) and oil temperature sensor harness (M) in order to measure instantaneous
temperature of the vehicular engine oil
Different stages for pressurized cooling is provided so as to reduce the effect of
thermal shock to the engine.
Further, there is a control panel (9) for user to feed desired temperature of
engine coolant to be achieved in a desired time period. The control panel is
connected to various stages by means of.harness (H). The control panel also
indicate temperature throughout the operation.
Out of three stages, atleast two stages i.e. stage 1 and stage 2 and/or stage 3
take part in the cooling process including first reservoir/ second reservoir. This
entirely depends on the requirement of accomplishing desired temperature of
engine coolant in a particular time period.
For understanding, one example can be given, according to which cooled
engine coolant from stage-1 flows directly to the third stage via second stage
without being cooled in the second stage. Thus heat exchanger in the second
stage does, not participate, which is only employed for passage of the coolant
flow into third stage from first stage.
Thereafter the coolant is discharged from the third stage through the first
reservoir and/or second reservoir as per need.
According to another example, first and second stage can be put to use
together with first/second reservoir.
Q- DELHI 38- 0 9 - 2 0 1 5 17-: 54
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In accordance with yet another example, first, second and third stage are
operational with first/ second reservoir to achieve the cooling.
This external system can be connected to multiple vehicles in one go for quick
soaking and cooling in parallel. The Control panel reads each vehicular
engine's coolant and oil temperature separately and controls the rate of heat
dissipation accordingly in order to reduce the risk of thermal shock to the test
engines. Depending upon the user defined request for desired engine
temperature and time threshold, this Cooling system selects the three available
stages in different combinations and monitors the engines oil temperature in
feedback loop in order to provide an optimum cooling. The rate .of heat
dissipation is kept low if the engine oil temperature is high, along with the flow
rate by which the cooling takes place. During all operating combinations, the
system pressure inside the water jackets is maintained lower than the defined
system pressure of the test engine.
Advantageous Features
- Reduction in development Cycle time
- Accelerated cooling of multiple vehicular engines' simultaneously.
- Lower operating cost
- Reduces over all test execution time.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims:-
E CLAIM:
1. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature comprising first heat exchanger in flow communication with
a cool storage through second heat exchanger, wherein said second heat
exchanger and cool storage, each of which is connected to reservoir of
coolant to discharge cooled coolant into vehicular engine connected to
the system.
2. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as.claimed in claim 1 wherein said second heat exchanger is
larger than the first heat exchanger, in which the heat exchanger
includes cooling fan, header and collector.
3. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said second heat
exchanger is connected to first reservoir, which is provided in connection
with second reservoir.
4. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims wherein said cool
storage is connected to the first as well as second reservoir directly, in
which temperature of the cool storage is maintained below ambient
temperature.
5. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims wherein the first
and second reservoir of coolant is maintained at ambient temperature
and below ambient temperature respectively.
6. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims wherein both the
reservoirs are installed with temperature sensor and level gauge.
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7. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims comprising a
control panel for user to feed desired temperature of engine coolant to be
achieved in a desired time period, which is connected to said heat
exchangers and cool storage.
8. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims wherein a
thermocouple for temperature measurement is provided at the entry and
exit of each of the heat exchangers and cool storage.
9. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the proceeding claims wherein the
system is connected to vehicular engine by means of quick coupler for in
flow of engine coolant into the system through respective inlet installed
with temperature sensor.
10. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the. proceeding claims wherein the
cooled coolant from the system flows back into the vehicular engine
through respective outlet installed with temperature sensor.
11. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising of an
. oil temperature sensor routed with the quick coupler, wherein the sensor
is in contact with engine oil at one end and said system at other end to
measure instantaneous temperature of the vehicular engine oil.
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12. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein each of
the reservoirs is provided with two variable flow pumps, which circulate
the conditioned coolant out of the system and also within the system
: partially or fully to meet the desired cooling characteristics.
13. An external system for conditioning multiple vehicular engines'
temperature as claimed in any of the preceding claims is associated with
the advantageous features such as herein described.