Modeling Heat Transfer in a Wet Clutch

The results of research involving the development and verification of a heat transfer model for a multiple-plate wet clutch are presented. Three specific operating conditions were considered: (1) engaged and slipping, (2) engaged and not slipping, and (3) disengaged. The heat transfer was modeled as forced convection with the main thrust of the research being the determination of a model for the coefficient of convective heat transfer.

Three distinct models for the coefficient of convective heat transfer were developed for the three operating conditions considered. All three models are based on modeling the Nusselt number as a function of the Reynolds number and Prandtl number. All of the models were of the form: