Internal-combustion engines – Cooling – System drained and/or heat-storing
Patent
1996-12-03
1998-06-16
Kamen, Noah P.
Internal-combustion engines
Cooling
System drained and/or heat-storing
165 51, 237 123B, F01P 1102
Patent
active
057655111
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for operating heat storage devices for providing reusable heat in automotive vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for operating heat storage devices for heating the engine at cold start, wherein coolant circulates in a cooling circuit extending through the engine. The coolant is located between a heat source and/or a heat consumer and a heat storage device being used as the storage medium. In addition, the present invention relates to a coolant circuit assembly and a heat storage device for performing the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heat storage devices for the heating of automotive vehicles at cold start, both for heating the engine and the passenger compartment are well known in the art. The prior art literature describes both heat storage devices which store thermal energy by means of a latent heat storage device using transformation thermal energy, as well as storage devices for reusable thermal energy with circulating coolants.
A general problem when using heat storage devices in automotive vehicles is the space requirement. This is particularly true in modern vehicles where space for the technical equipment has become minimal. In this respect latent heat storage devices are advantageous because they allow for an increased thermal energy density. Furthermore they transfer their heat somewhat more slowly so that they are better suited for the heating of vehicle passenger compartments than for the heating of engines.
Heat storage devices for reusable heat transfer their thermal energy within 30 to 40 seconds and therefore are particularly suited of the heating of vehicle engines in order to reduce exhaust emissions. The passenger compartment heating will not be significantly affected by these devices. On the other hand, the cost of heat storage devices for reusable heat is more favorable. The same is true with respect to their reliability in operation. For example, the coolants for latent heat storage devices are aggressive with respect to some metals present in the cooling circuit of an engine; others are detrimental from an environmental standpoint and are dangerous in the case of accidents.
Therefore it is the object of the present invention to improve applicability of heat storage devices for reusable heat, in particular by economical use of the stored exhaust heat provided by engine operation.
In operation of a heat storage device for reusable heat, in particular for heating the engine, the volume of the heat storage device is directly dependent on the total amount of heat to be stored. This includes both the required usable heat and the heat losses occurring in operation. With reference to the desired function, for example to reduce the exhaust gas emissions, the usable heat to be transferred is dependent on the heat active masses in the engine and in the engine circuit, on the rate of the obtainable heat flow, and on the unloading of this heat flow with respect to engine start.
The heat losses which play a substantial role in the operation of the heat storage device for reusable heat depend on three factors:
Except for the insulation, all cited parameters for minimizing the required usable heat and minimizing the heat losses can be influenced by the selection of the way the vehicle is operated, by the circuit assembly of the coolant circuit, and by the structure of the heat storage device. In particular, minimization of the required heat and minimizing of the heat loss can be influenced by optimizing or "tuning" these three system components. This includes optimizing the efficiency of the heat transfer for heating the engine at cold start such that when the storage device is unloaded the heat is transferred to the engine as early as possible. Also, when the heat is transferred from the engine to the cooling fluid stored in or removed from the storage device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The solution to the above cited object consists of a method wherein, at cold start circulation of the c
REFERENCES:
patent: 3498539 (1970-03-01), Boehmfeld et al.
patent: 3523644 (1970-08-01), Kozinski
Kamen Noah P.
Schatz Thermo System GmbH
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