Method and system for a vehicle cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336180-B2
Application number	US-201615185242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for estimating a cooling demand of a vehicle powertrain component and selecting a mode of operation of a vehicle cooling system based on the estimated cooling demands of the vehicle powertrain component and the energy usage of the cooling system components. Based on the selected operating mode, each of a radiator fan speed, a coolant system pump output, a vehicle grille shutter opening, and an opening of vents coupled to a powertrain component insulating enclosure may be concurrently adjusted to minimize the cooling parasitic losses while satisfying the cooling requirements of the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for a vehicle, comprising:
estimating a powertrain component cooling demand based on operating conditions;
responsive to the powertrain component cooling demand, concurrently adjusting each of a radiator fan speed, a coolant system pump output, a vehicle grille shutter opening, and a vent opening of vents coupled to an engine insulating enclosure, wherein the concurrently adjusting includes selecting between a first mode of operation including a first setting of each of the radiator fan speed, the coolant system pump output, the vehicle grille shutter opening, and the vent opening, and a second mode of operation including a second, different setting of each of the radiator fan speed, the coolant system pump output, the vehicle grille shutter opening, and the vent opening based on energy loss in the first mode relative to energy loss in the second mode, wherein each of the first mode and the second mode meets the powertrain component cooling demand.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating conditions include a temperature of a powertrain component, and a rate of change in temperature of the powertrain component over time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the powertrain component includes one of an engine, a transmission, and a torque converter, and wherein the vent opening permits ambient airflow through the powertrain component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy loss in the first mode is based on an electric power consumption for the first setting of the radiator fan speed and the coolant system pump output, and an aerodynamic drag for the first setting of the vehicle grille shutter opening and the vent opening, and wherein the energy loss in the second mode is based on an electric power consumption for the second setting of the radiator fan speed and coolant system pump output, and an aerodynamic drag for the second setting of the vehicle grille shutter opening and the vent opening.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting includes selecting the first mode when the energy loss of the first mode is lower than the energy loss of the second mode, and selecting the second mode when the energy loss of the second mode is lower than the energy loss of the first mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein an engine is a turbocharged engine, and wherein the first setting of the first mode and the second setting of the second mode are further based on one or more of a condensate level in a charge air cooler coupled downstream of an intake compressor, local weather conditions, local weather forecast, and ambient humidity.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, when the condensate level is higher than a threshold, or when the local weather conditions include precipitation, the first setting of the first mode and the second setting of the second mode include grille shutters being closed.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the selecting between the first mode and the second mode is further based on the condensate level in the charge air cooler, the local weather conditions, the local weather forecast, and the ambient humidity.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
indicating a corrosion risk at the charge air cooler based on a duration of stagnation of dew point at a specific location within the charge air cooler being higher than a threshold duration; and
further selecting between the first mode and the second mode based on the indication, wherein the further selecting includes selecting one of the first and second modes having grille shutters closed responsive to the corrosion risk.

10. A vehicle method, comprising:
operating a vehicle cooling system in a first mode with each of active grille shutters on a vehicle body and vents on an insulated engine enclosure closed, each of a first coolant pump and a second coolant pump operating at a lower speed, and a radiator fan disabled;
operating the vehicle cooling system in a second mode with the active grille shutters closed, the vents open, the first coolant pump operating at the lower speed, the second coolant pump operating at a higher speed, and the radiator fan actuated to a higher speed;
operating the vehicle cooling system in a third mode with each of the active grille shutters and the vents open, each of the first and second coolant pumps operating at the lower speed, and the radiator fan disabled;
operating the vehicle cooling system in a fourth mode with the active grille shutters open, the vents closed, each of the first and second coolant pumps operating at the lower speed, and the radiator fan disabled; and
operating the vehicle cooling system in a fifth mode with the active grille shutters open, the vents closed, each of the first and second coolant pumps operating at the lower speed, and the radiator fan actuated to a lower speed, wherein the first coolant pump is a lower temperature cooling circuit coolant pump, and the second coolant pump is a higher temperature cooling circuit coolant pump.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting between the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth modes based on each of a powertrain component cooling demand and a power usage of each mode, wherein the power usage of each mode is based on aerodynamic drag due to the active grille shutters and the vents, and electric power consumption of the radiator fan and the first and second coolant pumps.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the powertrain component cooling demand includes one or more of an engine cooling demand and a transmission cooling demand, the engine cooling demand based on an engine temperature and a rate of change in engine temperature during engine operation, the transmission cooling demand based on a transmission oil temperature and a rate of change in transmission oil temperature during engine operation.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a mode that meets the powertrain component cooling demand and has lowest power usage.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein operating in the first mode includes operating during engine cold-start conditions, wherein operating in the second mode includes operating during each of a higher than threshold engine temperature and a higher than threshold engine speed, wherein operating in the third mode includes operating during each of the higher than threshold engine temperature and a lower than threshold engine speed, wherein operating in the fourth mode includes operating during each of the lower than threshold engine speed and a lower than threshold air conditioning system temperature, and wherein operating in the fifth mode includes operating during each of the lower than threshold engine speed and a higher than threshold air conditioning system temperature.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle cooling system includes a turbocharged engine with an intake compressor and a charge air cooler coupled downstream of the compressor, the method further comprising:
operating the vehicle cooling system in the second mode responsive to one or more of a higher than threshold level of condensate in the charge air cooler, a higher than threshold ambient humidity, and an indication of precipitation.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lower temperature cooling circuit coolant pump is configured to circulate coolant through the charge air cooler and an air conditioning system, and wherein the higher temperature cooling circuit coolant pump is configured to circulate coolant through each of the turbocharged engine and a transmission.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hussain Quazi Ehtesham

Classifications

• F02B33/40

  of non-positive-displacement type · CPC title

• F01P11/0285

  Venting devices · CPC title

• F01P7/167

  by adjusting the pre-set temperature according to engine parameters, e.g. engine load, engine speed · CPC title

• F01P7/164

  by varying pump speed · CPC title

• F01P7/026

  Thermostatic control · CPC title