Intake and charge air cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830122-B2
Application number	US-201816173325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Oct 29, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

An air cooling system for a vehicle engine includes an air intake configured to receive intake air for delivery to the engine, a first coolant loop thermally coupled to the air intake to provide cooling to the intake air, and a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the air intake to provide further cooling to the intake air. The first and second coolant loops are separate loops using a common condenser

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air cooling system for a vehicle engine, the system comprising:
an air intake configured to receive intake air for delivery to the engine;
a first coolant loop thermally coupled to the air intake to provide cooling to the intake air;
a second coolant loop thermally coupled to the air intake to provide further cooling to the intake air;
wherein the first and second coolant loops are separate loops using a common condenser, and wherein coolant in the second coolant loop undergoes a vapor compression cycle;
wherein the intake air is compressed charge air received from a turbocharger or a supercharger, and wherein the air intake includes an intercooler configured to cool the compressed charge air;
wherein the first coolant loop is thermally coupled to the intercooler to provide cooling to the compressed charge air; and
wherein the second coolant loop is thermally coupled to the intercooler to provide further cooling to the compressed charge air; and
a controller having a processor and memory, the controller in signal communication with a pump configured to circulate coolant through the first coolant loop, and a compressor configured to circulate the coolant through the second coolant loop,
wherein upon receipt of a signal indicating a first measured air charge temperature (ACT) is greater than a target ACT, the controller is configured to turn the pump on.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the intercooler includes a first charge air cooler layer and a second charge air cooler layer, the first and second charge air cooler layers being distinct layers.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first coolant loop is thermally coupled to the first charge air cooler layer and the second coolant loop is thermally coupled to the second charge air cooler layer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second coolant loops circulate a shared refrigerant.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second coolant loop includes an expansion valve disposed in the second coolant loop at a location upstream of the intercooler and downstream of a condenser.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the second coolant loop includes a first internal heat exchanger and a second internal heat exchanger.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first internal heat exchanger is disposed in the second coolant loop at a location upstream of the expansion valve and downstream of the condenser, and the second internal heat exchanger is disposed in the second coolant loop at a location downstream of the intercooler and upstream of the compressor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of a signal indicating a second measured ACT is greater than the target ACT, the controller is configured to turn the compressor on.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein upon receipt of a signal indicating a third measured ACT is greater than the target ACT, the controller is configured to de-rate the vehicle engine through torque reduction due to engine management system intervention.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein upon receipt of a signal indicating the third measured ACT is less than the target ACT, the controller is configured to turn off the compressor, and
wherein upon receipt of a signal indicating the second measured ACT is less than the target ACT, the controller is configured to turn off the pump.

Assignees

• Lott Eric M
• El Jobran Hussam
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Lott Eric M
• El-Jobran Hussam

Classifications

• F01P2060/02

  Intercooler · CPC title

• F02B29/0493

  Controlling the air charge temperature · CPC title

• F02B29/0431 Primary

  Details or means to guide the ambient air to the heat exchanger, e.g. having a fan, flaps, a bypass or a special location in the engine compartment · CPC title

• F02B29/0412 Primary

  Multiple heat exchangers arranged in parallel or in series · CPC title

• F02B29/0443

  Layout of the coolant or refrigerant circuit · CPC title