This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Heat Pipe/Two-Phase Flow Systems For Vehicle Passenger Cabin Cooling
Technical Paper
2002-01-1970
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Event:
Future Car Congress
Language:
English
Abstract
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has initiated projects to investigate the benefits and design challenges of using heat pipe/two-phase flow technologies to provide sub-system cooling and thermal management in future advanced vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and heavy-duty vehicles. Projects initially focused on vehicle instrument panel (IP) heat pipe cooling and passenger seat thermal management, but will also investigate engine cooling, electric motor cooling, and battery cooling in the future. Experimental results have demonstrated IP surface temperature reductions of 20°C-30°C during maximum solar intensity environments of 525-800 W/m2 (typical of Golden, CO from January to April) compared to uncooled conditions. The heat pipe cooling effect in the IP also reduced windshield temperatures by 9°C-12°C compared to the non-cooled configuration in April 2001 testing. In addition, IP cooling also appears to dramatically reduce cabin air temperature by 4°C-10°C during long-term vehicle thermal soak conditions in these tests. Current estimates indicate that cabin air temperature reductions of 4°C-6°C may reduce vehicle air conditioning compressor sizing requirements by 16%-25%, and increase vehicle fuel economy by 0.8-1.2 miles per gallon (mpg) and 1.6-2.5 mpg in current conventional vehicles with base fuel economies of 20 mpg and 30 mpg, respectively. IP temperature and cabin air temperature reductions were larger in higher solar intensity conditions.
Freeze/thaw tests were also conducted on the heat pipe systems in the IP cooling demonstration at NREL. All the heat pipes survived the freezing event, and all but one heat pipe demonstrated the ability to start up and operate normally in both an evaporator-led thaw and a condenser-led thaw process.
Recommended Content
Topic
Citation
Hendricks, T., "Heat Pipe/Two-Phase Flow Systems For Vehicle Passenger Cabin Cooling," SAE Technical Paper 2002-01-1970, 2002, https://doi.org/10.4271/2002-01-1970.Also In
References
- Bevilacqua, O.M. “Effect of Air Conditioning on Regulated Emissions for In-Use Vehicles,” Clean Air Vehicle Technology Center Oakland, CA Phase I Final Report Prepared for Coordinating Research Council, Inc., Atlanta, GA, CRC Project E-37 October 1999
- EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2001 with Projections to 2020 Department of Energy Report #:DOE/EIA-0383(2001) December 2000 http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html
- Ponnappan, R. Beam, J. Mahefkey, E. 1985 “Improved Double Wall Artery High Capacity Heat Pipe,” Journal Spacecrafts and Rockets 22 6 592 597
- Ponnappan, R. Mahefkey, E. 1983 “Development of a Double-Wall Artery High Capacity Heat Pipe,” Spacecraft Thermal Control, Design, and Operation, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics 86 202 221
- Faghri, A. Chang, W.S. Mahefkey, E. T. 1989 “Analysis of the Performance of Heat Pipes and Phase Change Materials with Multiple Localized Heat Sources for Space Applications,” Wright Research and Development Center Technical Report No. WRDC-TR-89-2077 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base OH
- Rugh, J.P. Hendricks, T.J. Koram, K. “Effects of Solar Reflective Glazing on Ford Explorer Climate Control, Fuel Economy, and Emissions,” 2001 Proceedings of International Body Engineering Conference and Exhibition Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. Detroit, MI
- International Organization of Standardization “Ergonomics - Determination of Metabolic Heat Production” 1990 First 1990 12 15 1990
- Faghri, A. Heat Pipe Science and Technology 1995 Taylor & Francis Washington, D.C.