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A microprocessor controlled lubricating oil cooling system of truck diesel engine was designed to minimize the sump oil temperature fluctuation during start-up and nonsteady engine operations. Model reference adaptive control method is utilized in the control system design. The analysis involved in the design of the microprocessor controlled oil cooling system, and the applications of a special vehicle-engine-cooling system (VEC) computer simulation code in the implementation and testing of the model reference adaptive control strategy are described. Using the VEC simulation code, the performance of the microprocessor controlled oil cooling system and the conventionally controlled oil cooling systems were compared for the ATB, temperature disturbances, and cold weather transient tests. An explanation of each test, as well as a review of the results of comparison tests are presented.

The Vehicle Engine Cooling System Simulation (VECSS) developed at Michigan Technological University in 1982 was enhanced to the extent that it can be used as a cooling system design tool for a heavy duty diesel truck. The enhancements are described in the present paper, while the use of the VECSS as a cooling system design tool is presented in the companion paper, “The Use of the Vehicle Engine Cooling System Simulation as a Cooling System Design Tool.” The enhanced VECSS was validated by comparing predicted temperature results to data collected by the Cummin's Engine Company during Air-to-Boil (ATB) tests, and during an “over-the-road” dynamic run of a heavy duty diesel truck. The enhanced model provided results which compared very favorably to both, the steady state ATB data and the dynamic “over-the-road” data.

Enhanced VECSS simulation program was tested for use as a cooling system design tool. The design parameters indicated in the study were varying fan type, fan speed, engine power rating, radiator style and air conditioning condenser. The predicted temperature results were compared to the experimental data, and were found to follow the measured trends, and in cases when the exact parameters were simulated, were found to match the temperature amplitudes.