Advanced Thermal Management Solutions for Automotive Applications
Keywords:
Battery safety, Automotive cooling, Model predictive control, Nanofluids, Phase change materials, Thermal managementAbstract
Thermal management poses a critical challenge in modern automotive engineering, particularly as vehicles become increasingly electrified and power dense. Conventional cooling systems are often inadequate under high-load or fast- charging conditions, thereby compromising performance, energy efficiency, and component lifespan. This study evaluates three advanced thermal management strategies phase change materials (PCMs), nanofluid-based coolants, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven control optimization— for their effectiveness in enhancing heat dissipation and thermal regulation in automotive systems. A prototype lithium-ion battery module and powertrain thermal loop were experimentally and computationally tested under realistic thermal loads. Results show that PCMs passively buffer transient thermal surges, reducing peak temperatures by over 15% compared to standard liquid cooling. Nanofluid coolants, incorporating Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, improved heat transfer coefficients by up to 40%, enabling more compact heat exchangers and lower coolant temperatures. Additionally, a model predictive control (MPC) framework reduced cooling system energy consumption by up to 25% through real-time thermal load anticipation and adaptive actuation. Together, these technologies demonstrated improved temperature uniformity, reduced risk of thermal runaway, and significant energy savings. These findings suggest a viable pathway toward integrated, high-efficiency thermal management architectures for next-generation electric and high-performance vehicles.
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