A Numerical Simulation Strategy for Complex Automotive Cooling Systems

A simulation strategy has been developed to predict the performance of an automotive coolant network of high complexity. The method is based on one- and three-dimensional flow and heat transfer analysis. A new flow and heat transfer model for the ATF circuit of the automatic transmission is included as well as a one-dimensional flow path model for the underhood flow through the cooling module. The model is applied to different steady state operating conditions of a passenger car for which the heat flux balance for the thermal system is derived and discussed.