Highlights Of The Automotive Aerodynamics And Thermal Management Conference

Where are we heading in Aerodynamics and Thermal Management for Automotive design? What tools and processes do OEMs and Automotive engineers use today to design the vehicles of tomorrow? How do they try to bring their innovations to the market within the shortest possible lead time? How does the evolution towards electric vehicles affect the demand for (even) better mastery of these physics? Which are the key challenges and solutions for automotive high voltage battery systems? As autonomous drive becomes a reality, which are the new in-cabin HVAC challenges and solutions?

These are some of the key questions that were being debated at the Internect Automotive Aerodynamics and Thermal Management Conference last week, where some of the biggest OEMs of the world came together to share their expertise, experience, insight, and latest discoveries.

It is no surprise that a major part of the solution to those challenges is found in simulation. Simulation can provide insight, reduce time-to-market, improve reliability, and reduce engineering cost. This assumes however, that there is confidence in the results.

Fortunately, simulation, and specifically Computational Fluid Dynamics, capabilities are advancing at an unprecedented pace. And the Automotive industry is changing with it, as they need to answer to fast-changing market demands and environmental pressures for ever more efficient, performant and comfortable vehicles. To mention just a handful of the interesting findings we learned from the speakers at the event:

• Renault talked about how they handled a specific study case on how to optimize the thermal sub-systems of their vehicles in order to reduce their impact on CO2 emissions and comply with WLTC (Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Test Cycle) objectives; and how it impacts not only ICE but also xHEV and EV. They used Cadence CFD for their analysis, and you can read more about the process and conclusions of that case in this presentation by Alain Lefebvre, Fluid Systems Simulation Expert at Renault Groupe.

Waterpump system for a 2.0L DCI engine

• Honda has fine-tuned their simulation workflow to accurately predict thermal heat damage and achieved a 90% reduction on Turnaround Time. With the use of Cadence Omnis, they manage to complete an entire CFD workflow overnight, from CAD cleaning to post-processing. Dr Takashi Takiguchi, Head of Aerodynamics, Thermal Management & Acceleration Performance, Honda R&D Co. Ltd presented these slides at the conference.

• Audi developed the recent Q4 eTron using 5 million CPU hours and 250 Wind Tunnel hours over 40 months, focused entirely on aerodynamic and aero acoustic optimization.
• Jaguar Land Rover uses a combination of RANS+MRF, DES+MRF, DES+RBM depending on the fidelity needed for aerodynamics and thermal management simulation
• And on the topic of EVs (Electric Vehicles), Valeo foresees monophasic battery cooling system as the future of battery cooling (spray technique), while Daimler believes more in solid state battery and highly innovative materials for passive battery cooling systems…

It was a very interesting session. We will be there again next year and hopefully we will all be able to meet in person by then!

See you there?

Other articles and on-demand webinars you might be interested in:

OMNIS - Addressing Today's And Tomorrow's Multiphysics Simulation Challenges - A Focus On Automotive

Optimizing Thermal Management Design of Electric Vehicles Using CFD Simulation

End-To-End Aerodynamics CFD Simulation of A Car