Electric vehicle radiator cooling solution

The manufacturer of the electric vehicle needed thermal expert analysis to make a reliable product in a new overall design feature. Focusing on the unit’s radiator and existing folded fin structure, Eaton was tasked to simulate a baseline design and optimize fin spacing and thickness to meet the requirements of the customer. This included:

• Fin louver structure study
• Fin spacing and thickness optimization
• 5 mm taller fin optimization
• Base plate thickness study
• Aluminum vs. copper fin and baseplate investigations

Eaton’s lab tested the louver structures to examine the impeding airflow and increase the pressure drop across the heat sink and their thermal performance.

Eaton took these findings and created a fin optimization summary. For the aluminum and copper bases, testing showed by using copper performance increased by 5°C.

It was discovered that the overall airflow management system needed to be optimized in a way of minimizing flow turns and flow direction changes as well as flow sudden expansion and contraction.

Implementation

Eaton presented the customer with a full presentation report which included: 

• Descriptions of the unit and component modeled 
• Color temperature contour and flow field vector plots 
• Key results 
• Conclusions 
• Recommendations for improvements

The use of the findings of the analysis provided the solution that was required by the customer and their strict requirements.

The manufacturer took the report provided to them by Eaton and selected the proper thermal management solution vs. cost. Today Eaton provides the manufacturers production needs globally.

Eaton's heat exchangers