Convective heat transfer on coolant hoses

Abstract

This master thesis inspects the convective heat transfer on coolant hoses within electric vehicle (EV) under-hood parts. The focus is on the influence of air flow generated by a fan on the convective heat loss from the coolant hoses and its following impact on the overall cooling system performance. Due to the low magnitude of heat loss which cannot be recognized from measurement system errors in a complete vehicle test, a simplified experimental rig is used. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are done to provide a comprehensive analysis comparable with experimental results. Key factors such as coolant flow rate and air temperature are studied for their impact on heat transfer coefficients. The study objects to improve the accuracy of one dimensional simulation models by validating them by the experimental data achieved. The results indicate the noteworthy influence of coolant flow rate on the heat transfer coefficient and underline the significance of using highly accurate measurement devices, mainly flowmeters, to minimize uncertainty and error in experimental data. This research contributes to the optimization of EV cooling systems by offering a better understanding of the convective heat transfer mechanisms impacting coolant hoses.