Concepts for a Controlled Optimized Vehicle Engine Cooling System

The cooling system is designed on the basis of thermally critical operating conditions. For thermally uncritical partial-load conditions under which a vehicle normally operates during most of its service life thermal-management measures offer considerable potential for reducing the impact of the motor vehicle on the environment. At the same time they are enhancing passenger and driver safety and comfort. These objectives can be achieved by using newly developed actuators in conjunction with intelligent control systems.

As part of its thermal management strategy Behr is developing new kinds of actuators, system configurations and control algorithms which permit demand-responsive control and supply of mass and heat flows. Depending on the priority of the control objectives pursued such operation mode-dependent control measures can, for example, lead to a reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions as well as shorten the cold-start phase and reduce thermal stress and mechanical loads to which vehicle components are subjected.