Thermal Management System, Vehicle, and Associated Method

Abstract

A system is provided that includes an engine coupled to an alternator; a radiator fan motor in electrical communication with the alternator, and that is mechanically decoupled from the engine; an energy storage device in electrical communication with the alternator and the radiator fan motor; and one or more traction motors in electrical communication with the energy storage device, the radiator fan motor, or both. Electricity provided through dynamic braking can power the radiator fan motor upon generation of the electricity, or it can be stored in the energy storage device for use later in powering the radiator fan motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal management system comprising:
 an engine coupled to an alternator;   a first radiator operably coupled with the engine; and   a first radiator fan motor in electrical communication with the alternator, wherein the first radiator fan motor is mechanically decoupled from the engine, and wherein the first radiator fan motor drives a first fan to create a first air flow across the radiator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an energy storage device in electrical communication with the alternator and the first radiator fan motor; and   one or more traction motors in electrical communication with the energy storage device, the first radiator fan motor, or both, wherein in a first mode of operation electricity provided through dynamic braking powers the first radiator fan motor upon generation of the electricity and in a second mode of operation the electricity provided through dynamic braking is stored in the energy storage device for use later in powering the first radiator fan motor.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that can operate the first radiator fan motor when the engine is not operating, wherein when the engine is not operating the alternator is not providing electrical power to the first radiator fan motor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more second radiators; and   one or more second radiator fan motors in electrical communication with the alternator, and each of the one or more second radiator fan motors is mechanically decoupled from the engine, and each of the one or more second radiator fan motors drives a respective second fan;   wherein for each second radiator, one or more of the second radiator fan motors are associated with the second radiator.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first radiator and the one or more second radiators is disposed in a vehicle chassis having a vehicle front end, and each radiator is oriented towards the vehicle front end. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first radiator and the one or more second radiators is disposed in a vehicle chassis having a vehicle front end and one or more vehicle sides that are perpendicular to the vehicle front end, and at least one of the radiators is oriented towards one of the one or more vehicle sides. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first radiator and the one or more second radiators is disposed in a vehicle chassis having a vehicle front end, and the engine is disposed between the radiators, and further the engine is disposed about as proximate to the vehicle front end as the radiators. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first radiator and the one or more second radiators is disposed in a vehicle chassis having a vehicle from end and one or more vehicle sides that are perpendicular to the vehicle front end, and the engine is sideways relative to the vehicle front end with a crankshaft axis of the engine being parallel to a plane defined by the vehicle front end. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one second radiator fan motor in electrical communication with the alternator, and each of the at least one second radiator fan motor is mechanically decoupled from the engine, and each of the at least one second radiator fan motor drives a respective second fan to create a respective second air flow across the first radiator, and each of the first fan and the respective second fan is oriented relative to the first radiator to provide an airflow pattern that differs from an airflow pattern that would be created if there was only a single radiator fan associated with the first radiator.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller that communicates with and controls a respective operational state of each of the first radiator fan motor and the at least one second radiator fan motor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller responds to an input signal by initiating operation of one or more of the first radiator fan motor and the at least one second radiator fan motor, where the input signal represents a temperature of the engine, a temperature of coolant of the engine, an actual or predicted demand load presented by one or more traction motors and/or auxiliaries in electrical communication with the engine and/or alternator, or an operational status of one or more of the first radiator fan motor and the at least one second radiator fan motor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the engine and alternator comprise a first gen-set, and the system further comprises one or more second gen-sets each having a second gen-set engine and alternator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a controller that communicates with and controls an operational state of each of the engines of the gen-sets. 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle comprising a chassis and the thermal management system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the engine and alternator are disposed in the chassis. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a controller that is operational to determine whether the first radiator fan motor and/or one of the at least one second radiator fan motor is operating or operational, and if it is determined that the first radiator fan motor and/or one of the at least one second radiator fan motor is not operating or operational, then selecting another one of the radiator fan motors to determine if the another one is operating or operational. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a controller that is operational to control the first radiator fan motor and/or one of the at least one second radiator fan motor to operate in response to an input signal indicating a temperature above a determined first threshold level, while controlling another one of the first radiator fan motor and/or at least one second radiator fan motor to not operate when the input signal indicates that the temperature is below a determined second threshold level, which is higher than the first threshold level. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 selectively providing electrical power to control a plurality of radiator fan motors in electrical communication with an alternator coupled to an engine, the engine including one or more radiators, wherein each of the plurality of radiator fan motors is mechanically decoupled from the engine, and wherein each of the radiator fan motors is coupled with a respective fan for creating an air flow across one of the one or more radiators.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the plurality of radiator fan motors are controlled based on an input signal indicative of a temperature;   one of the plurality of radiator fan motors is controlled to operate in response to the input signal indicating that the temperature is above a determined first threshold level; and   another one of the plurality of radiator fan motors is controlled to not operate when the input signal indicates that the temperature is below a determined second threshold level, the second threshold level being higher than the first threshold level.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising responding to the input signal, if the input signal is above the second threshold level, by controlling two or more of the plurality of radiator fan motors to operate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining whether a first radiator fan motor of the plurality of radiator fan motors is operating or operational; and   if the step of determining indicates that the first radiator fan motor is not operating or operational, then selecting a second radiator fan motor of the plurality of radiator fan motors to determine if the second radiator fan motor is operating or operational.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising initiating operation of an operational radiator fan motor if it is determined that one of the radiator fan motors is not operational. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, if it is determined that one of the radiator fan motors is not operational:
 signaling that at least one of the radiator fan motors is not operational; and/or   controlling an engine system in a manner sufficient to not generate more heat than can be dissipated by those of the plurality of radiator fan motors that remain operational, in conjunction with one or more of the one or more radiators, wherein the engine system includes the engine, alternator, and one or more radiators.