Thermal management system and method for a heat producing system

A method for managing thermal characteristics of a heat producing system, the heat producing system including a first cooling loop, the first cooling loop including a first temperature control fluid for controlling the temperature of at least a portion of the heat producing system, a first heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and ambient air, a first fan for moving the ambient air across the first heat exchanger, and a first pump for pumping the first temperature control fluid through the first heat exchanger, the method comprising:

• determining coefficients of performance for combined operation of the first fan and the first pump, each of the coefficients of performance being defined as a ratio of the amount of heat transfer between the first temperature control fluid and the ambient air via the first heat exchanger during operation of at least one of the first fan and the first pump to the combined power input into the first fan and the first pump at a respective ambient air temperature;
• determining a temperature of the first temperature control fluid;
• determining a temperature of the ambient air;
• comparing the temperature of the first temperature control fluid to a first target temperature;
• operating at least one of the first fan and the first pump based at least in part on the coefficients of performance and the comparison of the temperature of the first temperature control fluid to the first target temperature, thereby effecting a change in the temperature of the first temperature control fluid toward the first target temperature.

A thermal management system for a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a transmission containing transmission oil, the thermal management system comprising:

• a transmission temperature control loop for controlling a temperature of the transmission, the transmission temperature control loop including a first pump operable to pump a first temperature control fluid through the transmission temperature control loop, a first radiator for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and ambient air, a first fan operable to move the ambient air across the first radiator, a first valve operable to control the amount of the first temperature control fluid passing through the first radiator, and a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first radiator for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and the transmission oil;
• an engine temperature control loop for controlling a temperature of the engine, the engine temperature control loop including a second pump operable to pump a second temperature control fluid through the engine temperature control loop, a second radiator for transferring heat between the second temperature control fluid and the ambient air, a second fan operable to move the ambient air across the second radiator, and a second valve operable to control the amount of the second temperature control fluid passing through the second radiator;
• a first conduit disposed between the engine temperature control loop and the second valve, the second valve being further operable to facilitate mixing of the first and second temperature control fluids;
• a second conduit disposed between the engine temperature control loop and the transmission temperature control loop;
• a third valve operable control flow through the second conduit, thereby facilitating mixing of the first and second temperature control fluids;
• and
• a control system including at least one controller, the control system being configured to operate at least the first fan, the first pump, and the first and third valves.

A thermal management system for a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a transmission containing transmission oil, the thermal management system comprising:

• a transmission temperature control loop for controlling a temperature of the transmission, the transmission temperature control loop including a first pump operable to pump a first temperature control fluid through the transmission temperature control loop, a first radiator for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and ambient air, a first fan operable to move the ambient air across the first radiator, a first valve operable to control the amount of the first temperature control fluid passing through the first radiator, and a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first radiator for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and the transmission oil;
• an engine temperature control loop for controlling a temperature of the engine, the engine temperature control loop including a second pump operable to pump a second temperature control fluid through the engine temperature control loop, a second radiator for transferring heat between the second temperature control fluid and the ambient air, a second fan operable to move the ambient air across the second radiator, and a second valve operable to control the amount of the second temperature control fluid passing through the second radiator;
• a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first and second radiators for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and the second temperature control fluid;
• and
• a control system including at least one controller, the control system being configured to operate at least the first fan and the first valve.

A thermal management system for a heat producing system, the thermal management system comprising:

• a first temperature control fluid for circulating through a portion of the heat producing system including an inlet side and an outlet side;
• a first temperature sensor disposed on the outlet side for sensing an outlet temperature of the first temperature control fluid, and outputting a signal related to the outlet temperature;
• a second temperature sensor disposed on the inlet side for sensing an inlet temperature of the first temperature control fluid, and outputting a signal related to the sensed inlet temperature;
• a first heat exchanger for transferring heat between the first temperature control fluid and ambient air;
• a first valve disposed upstream from the first heat exchanger and operable to prohibit at least some of the first temperature control fluid from passing through the first heat exchanger;
• a first fan operable to move the ambient air across the first heat exchanger, the first fan being a variable speed electric fan;
• a first pump operable to pump the first temperature control fluid through the portion of the heat producing system and through the first heat exchanger;
• and
• a control system operatively connected to the temperature sensors and the first fan, and including at least one controller, the control system being configured to control the outlet temperature by controlling operation of at least the valve independent of controlling the fan, and to control the inlet temperature by controlling operation of the fan independent of controlling the valve.