# US 2014/0150755 A1 · Boosted engine charge air cooler condensation reduction device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150755 A1 - Document ID: US20140150755A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,874 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham; Chris Paul Glugla; Daniel Joseph Styles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150755A1 ## CPC - F02B 29/0493: {Controlling the air charge temperature} - F02B 29/0425: {Air cooled heat exchangers} - F02M 31/042: {Combustion air} - F02M 31/10: by hot liquids, e.g. lubricants {or cooling water} - F02M 35/1038: {for temperature or pressure} - F02B 29/0468: {Water separation or drainage means} - F02M 26/06: Low pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust downstream of the turbocharger turbine and reintroduced into the intake system upstream of the compressor - F02M 26/23: Layout, e.g. schematics - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for providing auxiliary heat to a charge air cooler to reduce condensate formation. A coolant valve may control the delivery of heated engine coolant to the inlet side of the charge air cooler. The coolant valve may be adjusted based on condensate formation in the charge air cooler and a temperature at the charge air cooler outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An engine method, comprising: adjusting heating to a charge air inlet side of a charge air cooler in response to an operating condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the operating condition includes one or more condensate formation conditions in the charge air cooler, the method further comprising adjusting the heating in response to a charge air temperature at a charge air outlet side of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the heating based on one or more of ambient humidity, ambient temperature, and charge air cooler pressure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting heating includes increasing heating to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler in response to increased condensate formation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting heating includes decreasing heating in response to the charge air temperature at the charge air outlet side of the charge air cooler reaching a threshold temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising decreasing heating in response to decreased condensate formation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the threshold temperature is based on engine knock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting heating includes adjusting a delivery rate of engine coolant to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the adjusting the delivery rate of engine coolant includes adjusting a coolant valve position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the coolant valve position includes increasing opening of a coolant valve as condensate formation increases and decreasing opening of the coolant valve as condensate formation decreases and temperature at a charge air outlet side of the charge air cooler increases. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting heating includes adjusting an electric heat source operation. ### Claim 12 An engine method, comprising: increasing a flow of engine coolant to a charge air inlet side of a charge air cooler responsive to increased potential for condensate formation during engine coolant temperature above a threshold coolant temperature; and not increasing the flow of engine coolant to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler during engine coolant temperature below the threshold coolant temperature. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the threshold coolant temperature is based on a temperature of charge air entering the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the increasing the flow of engine coolant is further in response to charge air cooler outlet temperature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising adjusting a coolant valve to fully open to increase the flow, and maintaining the coolant valve fully closed to not increase the flow, wherein when the coolant valve is opened heated engine coolant is delivered to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler and when the coolant valve is closed heated engine coolant is not delivered to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the coolant valve is opened when condensate formation is greater than a threshold and charge air cooler outlet temperature is less than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the coolant valve is closed when one or more of condensate formation is less than a threshold and charge air cooler outlet temperature is greater than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the coolant valve is closed when an air mass flow rate through the charge air cooler is higher than a threshold rate. ### Claim 19 An engine method, comprising: during a first condition, including when condensate formation is greater than a threshold and charge air cooler outlet temperature is less than a threshold temperature, adjusting a coolant valve to deliver heated engine coolant to a charge air inlet side of a charge air cooler and; during a second condition, different from the first, closing the coolant valve to stop delivery of heated engine coolant to the charge air inlet side of the charge air cooler. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the second condition includes one or more of when condensate formation is less than a threshold, charge air cooler outlet temperature is greater than a threshold temperature, and air mass flow rate through the charge air cooler is higher than a threshold rate.