System and method for adjusting the rate of coolant flow through an engine based on coolant pressure

A control system comprising:

• an estimated coolant flow module that estimates a rate of coolant flow through a cooling system for an engine based on a pressure of coolant in the cooling system and a speed of a coolant pump that circulates coolant through the cooling system;
• at least one of:
• a valve control module that controls the position of a coolant valve based on the estimated coolant flow rate;
• and
• a pump control module that controls the coolant pump speed based on the estimated coolant flow rate;
• a desired coolant flow module that:
• determines a desired rate of coolant flow through the cooling system based on a temperature of coolant flowing through the cooling system;
• and
• adjusts the desired coolant flow rate based on the estimated coolant flow rate;
• and
• a coolant flow correction module that determines a coolant flow correction factor based on a difference between the desired coolant flow rate and the estimated coolant flow rate, wherein the desired coolant flow module adjusts the desired coolant flow rate based on the coolant flow correction factor, wherein the coolant flow correction module:
• determines a correction factor adjustment value based on the difference between the desired coolant flow rate and the estimated coolant flow rate;
• and
• determines the coolant flow correction factor based on the correction factor adjustment value and a previous value of the coolant flow correction factor.

A method comprising:

• estimating a rate of coolant flow through a cooling system for an engine based on a pressure of coolant in the cooling system and a speed of a coolant pump that circulates coolant through the cooling system;
• at least one of:
• controlling the position of a coolant valve based on the estimated coolant flow rate;
• and
• controlling the coolant pump speed based on the estimated coolant flow rate;
• determining a desired rate of coolant flow through the cooling system based on a temperature of coolant flowing through the cooling system;
• determining a correction factor adjustment value based on a difference between the desired coolant flow rate and the estimated coolant flow rate;
• determining a coolant flow correction factor based on the correction factor adjustment value and a previous value of the coolant flow correction factor;
• and
• adjusting the desired coolant flow rate based on the coolant flow correction factor.