Dynamic fan speed control for aerodynamic drag reduction
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsRohit Saha, Long K. Hwang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus are provided for optimizing control of the rotational speed of a fan in a vehicle so as to reduce the aerodynamic drag of a vehicle in a given operating parameter, and accordingly, to improve fuel efficiency of operation of the vehicle. Certain exemplary embodiments include determining an optimized speed of rotation of a cooling fan of the vehicle for reducing overall fuel demand in given operating conditions, and controlling rotation speed of the fan at the optimized speed in order to minimize fueling demand of a prime mover of the vehicle.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- operating a vehicle, the vehicle having a fan and a control system in operative communication with the vehicle and the fan, comprising the steps of:
- repeatedly changing a rotational speed of the fan during operation of the vehicle to vary an aerodynamic drag of the vehicle with at least one operating parameter of the vehicle at steady state;
- determining an effect on fuel consumption values of the vehicle associated with each of the rotational speeds and the aerodynamic drag;
- selecting the rotational speed of the fan at which the fuel consumption value is reduced with the at least one operating parameter at steady state;
- and
- controlling the fan to operate at the selected rotational speed during operation of the vehicle at the at least one operating parameter.
A system comprising:
- a vehicle, a fan, and a control system structured to receive input signals from the vehicle and provide output signals to control the vehicle and the fan, the control system being structured to perform the steps of:
- repeatedly changing a rotational speed of the fan during operation of the vehicle to vary an aerodynamic drag of the vehicle with at least one operating parameter at steady state;
- determining an effect on fuel consumption values of the vehicle associated with the changed rotational speeds and the aerodynamic drag;
- selecting the rotational speed of the fan at which the fuel consumption value is reduced with the at least one operating parameter at steady state;
- and
- controlling the fan to operate at the selected rotational speed during operation of the vehicle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a vehicle, a fan, and a control system structured to receive input signals from the vehicle and provide output signals to control fan speed, the control system being structured to perform the steps of:
- repeatedly changing a rotational speed of the fan during operation of the vehicle to vary an aerodynamic drag of the vehicle with the at least one operating parameter at steady state;
- determining an effect on fuel consumption values of the vehicle associated with each of the rotational speeds and the aerodynamic drag;
- selecting the rotational speed of the fan at which the predicted consumption value is reduced with the at least one operating parameter at steady state;
- and
- controlling the fan to operate at the selected rotational speed during operation of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.