Civil and Environmental Engineering Publications
Spatial optimization of an underhood cooling module - Towards an innovative control approach
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2011
Journal
APPLIED ENERGY
Volume
88
Issue
11
First Page
3841
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.04.025
Last Page
3849
Abstract
The present paper reports a numerical investigation of spatial optimization of heat-exchanger by acting on its positioning in the vehicle's cooling module. This analysis also elucidates how to act on the different parameters influencing heat-exchanger performance in order to optimize their functioning. A two-dimensional computation code permits optimizing the performance of the cooling module by positioning different heat exchangers, in both the driving and stop phases of the vehicle. The ultimate aim is to apply new control approaches to real vehicles so as to reduce pump and compressor energy consumption and thus fuel consumption. Compared to a reference "in-series" configuration of the cooling module HXs (in which the different HXs are superposed in the airflow direction), an "in-parallel" configuration (in which the different HX surfaces are in a row with respect to the air flow direction) increases the thermal power of the HXs by 4.4% and decreases the pressure losses by 0.9%. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.