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 for reducing aerodynamic drag of a vehicle, comprising:
- determining an aerodynamic drag characteristic of the vehicle in an operating condition at a plurality of rotational speeds of a fan of the vehicle;
- determining a fan power demand at each of the plurality of rotational speeds;
- and
- controlling rotational speed of the fan to be a controlled speed at which a sum of an aerodynamic power demand of the vehicle and the fan power demand is reduced.
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 fan speed, the control system being configured to:
- determine an aerodynamic drag characteristic of the vehicle in an operating condition at a plurality of rotational speeds of the fan;
- determine a fan power demand at each of the plurality of rotational speeds;
- and
- control rotational speed of the fan to a controlled speed at which a sum of an aerodynamic power demand of the vehicle and the fan power demand is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.