Engine thermal management methods and control systems

Abstract

A method of controlling the oil flow in an engine is provided. In preferred embodiments, the method comprises: flowing oil to a first oil pump upstream or downstream of a fuel oil heat exchanger and flowing oil to a second oil pump upstream or downstream of an air oil heat exchanger. One of two control functions to control the oil mass flow rate through the first oil pump is selected wherein the first control function maximizes specific fuel consumption (“SFC”) by the engine and the second control function minimizes average oil temperature. Preferably, the oil pumps are electric and the total combined oil mass flow rate of the first and second oil pumps is maintained constant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.