Apparatus and method for controlling coolant flow of vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a coolant flow of a vehicle includes a control valve connected to a plurality of cooling lines through which a coolant flows and controlling the coolant flow between the respective coolant lines. A controller is configured to control the control valve to flow the coolant between the plurality of cooling lines when a power is applied to the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a coolant flow of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a control valve connected to a plurality of cooling lines through which a coolant flows, the control valve controlling the coolant flow between the respective coolant lines; and   a controller configured to control the control valve such that the coolant flows between the plurality of cooling lines when a power is applied to the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the control valve such that the coolant flows between the plurality of cooling lines in a key-on state of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the control valve to be in a completely opened state to connect all of the plurality of cooling lines to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the control valve to be in a completely opened state to connect all of the plurality of cooling lines to each other when the power is applied to the vehicle before an engine runs. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller releases the completely opened state of the control valve when the engine runs. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the control valve to selectively connect the plurality of cooling lines depending on a temperature of the coolant when an engine runs. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling a coolant flow of a vehicle, in which an apparatus for controlling a coolant flow of a vehicle includes:
 a control valve connected to a plurality of cooling lines through which a coolant flows, the control valve controlling the coolant flow between the respective coolant lines; and   a controller configured to control the control valve such that the coolant flows between the plurality of cooling lines when a power is applied to the vehicle,   the method comprising:   a detecting step of detecting a power application signal to the vehicle; and   an operating step of controlling the control valve such that the coolant flows between the plurality of cooling lines when the power is applied to the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein in the detecting step, a key-on signal of the vehicle is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein in the operating step, the control valve is controlled to be in a completely opened state to connect the plurality of cooling lines to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein after the operating step, the completely opened state of the control valve is released when an engine runs.