1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a vehicle heat exchanger arrangement. More specifically, the present invention relates to recovering power from a cooling fan of a vehicle heat exchanger arrangement.
2. Background Information
In recent years, hybrid vehicles have become more popular. A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor or a battery as power sources for providing a driving force to a vehicle drive train. With hybrid vehicles, there is an increased need for generating electrical power. When the internal combustion engine is used, the vehicle will generate considerable waste heat during operation. This heat from engine needs to be dissipated or passed to the environment. The engine's coolant is one principle carrier of heat to the environment via a radiator typically placed forward in vehicle. In order to augment heat exchange, particularly at low vehicles speeds, a cooling fan is provided to increase airflow through the radiator. The cooling fan(s) has been historically located at the exit of the heat exchanger (behind the radiator). In some limited applications, a secondary fan is applied upstream of the heat exchanger to supplement airflow and heat transfer. Typically in a vehicle, this cooling action consumes electrical power of about 300 W during operation.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need to recovery the power needed to operate a cooling fan to cool a heat exchanger, such as a radiator. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.