Design Optimization of Two-Wheeler Radiator with the Base Design Using the Mathematical Modelling Tools & Testing Data

Radiators are types of heat exchangers, which are used to transfer the heat from one fluid to another fluid. It is mainly used in automobile engine cooling systems and the radiators are the major source of heat rejection from the system by cooling the working fluid (generally water or glycol mixture). The application of radiators in the two-wheeler vehicle segment plays a vital role in increasing engine efficiency by maintaining the optimum temperature inside the engine assembly. As the technology advances with higher power requirements for the two-wheeler vehicle segment, thermal management of combustion engine becomes a critical part of it, resulting in the advancement of radiator technology in terms of compactness and thermal performance. In order to cater to the increasing demand for high-powered engines, performance optimization of two-wheeler radiators becomes an important aspect of design.

This paper investigates the existing design parameters i.e. both the geometrical and thermal parameters, responsible for performance and compactness of two-wheeler radiator, and optimize the design parameters using the mathematical modelling tools. The modelling & optimization is based on parametric analysis with a single geometrical variable. The paper shows the comparative analysis of two different designs in terms of thermal performance and design optimization. The optimization results in 60% (approx.) performance by weight enhancement and validated by performance testing in the laboratory. The scope of the optimization extends to various existing two-wheeler radiator performance for better design optimization. The study can be further extended to multiple geometrical parameters analysis of the compact two-wheeler radiator design.