| 摘要 |
A coolant system includes a heat exchange circuit capable of being in a heat exchange relationship with a heat generating component, such as an engine, to remove thermal energy from the engine and transfer the thermal energy to a coolant, and an insulated tank in fluid communication with the heat exchange circuit. The system also includes a control and associated conduits and valves for passing coolant through the heat exchange circuit and the insulated tank so as to fill the tank with a first volume of coolant in a first operational state, for passing an additional amount of coolant from the heat exchange circuit into the insulated tank so as to fill the insulated tank with a second volume of coolant which is greater than the first volume of coolant in a second operational state, and for passing the additional amount of coolant from the insulated tank to the heat exchange circuit in a third operational state. A method of operating the coolant system to store thermal energy is also provided.
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