Control of radiator cooling fans

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for the control of radiator cooling fans. In one example, among others, a method includes determining heat input to a cooling system and a ram air flow velocity through a radiator of the cooling system, selecting one or more radiator cooling fans, and adjusting operation of the fans in response to the selection. The selection of the fans can be based at least in part upon the heat input from the heat source and the ram air flow velocity. In another example, a system includes a plurality of cooling fans distributed across a cooling surface of a radiator of a cooling system and a radiator fan control system. The radiator fan control system can determine the heat input to the cooling system and a ram air flow velocity through the radiator, select one or more fans, and adjust operation of the selected fans.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining heat input to a cooling system from a heat source;   determining a ram air flow velocity through a radiator of the cooling system;   selecting one or more fans of a plurality of radiator cooling fans to remove at least a portion of the heat input, the selection of the one or more fans based at least in part upon the heat input from the heat source and the ram air flow velocity; and   adjusting operation of the plurality of radiator cooling fans in response to the selection of the one or more fans.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a speed setting for the one or more fans based at least in part upon the heat input and heat output characteristics corresponding to the plurality of radiator cooling fans; and   adjusting operational speed of the one or more fans based upon the speed setting.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more fans include a plurality of selected fans. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein all of the plurality of selected fans operate at the speed setting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , comprising:
 determining speed settings corresponding to each of the plurality of selected fans; and   adjusting operational speeds of the plurality of selected fans based upon the corresponding speed settings.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the heat input from the heat source is determined based at least in part upon mean effective gas temperature, T g , in cylinders of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radiator cooling fans is a matrix of fans distributed across a cooling surface of a radiator and the one or more fans are selected based upon position within the matrix of fans. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection of the one or more fans is further based at least in part upon minimization of radiator cooling fan power consumption. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fans are selected in response to the heat input exceeding a heat output corresponding to the ram air flow velocity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source is a battery or an electric motor. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of cooling fans distributed across a cooling surface of a radiator of a cooling system; and   a radiator fan control system configured to:
 determine heat input to the cooling system from a heat source; 
 determine a ram air flow velocity through the radiator; 
 select one or more fans of the plurality of cooling fans to remove at least a portion of the heat input, the selection of the one or more fans based at least in part upon the heat input and the ram air flow velocity; and 
 adjust operation of the plurality of radiator cooling fans in response to the selection of the one or more fans. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the radiator fan control system is further configured to:
 determine a speed setting for the one or more fans based at least in part upon the heat input and heat output characteristics corresponding to the plurality of radiator cooling fans; and   adjusting operational speed of the one or more fans based upon the speed setting.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more fans include a plurality of selected fans that operate at a common speed setting. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising:
 determining speed settings corresponding to individual fans of the one or more fans; and   adjusting operational speeds of the individual fans based upon the corresponding speed settings.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the heat source is an internal combustion engine, a battery or an electric motor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the heat input from the heat source is determined based at least in part upon mean effective gas temperature, T g , in cylinders of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of radiator cooling fans is a matrix of fans distributed across the cooling surface of the radiator and the one or more fans are selected based upon position within the matrix of fans. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the selection of the one or more fans is further based at least in part upon minimization of radiator cooling fan power consumption. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more fans are selected in response to the heat input exceeding a heat output corresponding to the ram air flow velocity.