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For further details of this year's Vehicle Thermal Management Systems conference (5-6 June, Midlands), visit the event website.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with vehicle thermal management
Michael Clapp (MC): Working for a CFD simulation software vendor we are constantly asked to investigate all aspects of vehicle thermal management. Examples include the oil cooling case I will present along with cabin heating and windscreen defrosting. Recently I have been personally involved with some engine cowling flows where the complex engine geometry and cowling surfaces were meshed and the air flows simulated in a couple of days.
What is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
MC: The transition from internal combustion engines to battery electric is bringing all kinds of new technical challenges in the application of simulation techniques. As well as looking at complex under-hood flow issues we are now looking at cooling of electric motors, improving heat pump efficiencies and battery thermal runaway problems.
These new challenges also present an opportunity for engineers to assess whether they have the best tools for the new simulations they need to perform. CFD software originally developed for modelling engine combustion is not necessarily the best for modelling the complex structures present in battery electric vehicles.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past five years?
MC: I think the main trend has been the move away from simulating internal combustion engine vehicles to battery electric and hydrogen powered vehicles. Some aspects of the vehicles remain the same, such as climate control systems, but batteries themselves present an entirely different set of thermal issues. As simulation is used extensively in the design process we are seeing this change early as the actual adoption of these new powertrains will take a time to filter through to the end users.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future thermal management systems and wider powertrain efficiencies?
MC: We are busy developing automated techniques to speed up the new types of thermal simulations that are now required. The faster we can make these simulation processes the more impact they can have early in the design process.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
MC: This is the first time I am attending this event; in general it is always important for engineers to keep up to date with developments in their industry so they can achieve efficiency gains in their own designs and processes.
This year's Vehicle Thermal Management Systems Conference and Exhibition will return to the British Motor Museum in Warwick on 5-6 June 2024.
VTMS16 will explore the necessity and complexity of battery analysis through differing simulation techniques and offer a system engineering approach to balancing duration, durability, and immersive coolant technologies.
For further details of this year's conference, visit the event website.