Multi-Level CFD and System Simulation Approach for Optimization of Cooling Circuits in High Power Density Powertrains

This paper presents a CFD-based optimization workflow for the simulation and development of automotive cooling circuits, integrating three-dimensional steady-state analyses with one-dimensional transient modeling. The objective of the activity is to establish a robust methodology that links detailed component-level thermal characterization to system-level dynamic simulations, enabling the assessment of cooling performance under both driving and charging operating conditions. The thermal behavior of the cooling circuit components was first investigated using three-dimensional steady-state simulations performed with Ansys Fluent. For each relevant operating point, the fluid flow and heat transfer were resolved in full 3D, and temperatures were monitored at multiple locations within the components and along the circuit. The steady-state analyses provided spatially resolved temperature fields and heat transfer characteristics for a range of boundary conditions representative of real operating scenarios. From these results, temperature and performance maps were generated, describing the relationship between operating conditions, heat loads, and thermal responses of the components. These maps were then used for the calibration of one-dimensional models implemented in GT-Suite. The calibrated 1D models reproduce the thermal behavior observed in the 3D CFD simulations while allowing efficient simulation of the entire cooling system under transient conditions. This multi-level approach enables the combination of detailed local physics from CFD with the computational efficiency required for system-level dynamic analyses. Transient simulations were carried out in GT-Suite to evaluate the thermal response of the cooling circuit during both driving and charging phases. The driving phase accounts for variable thermal loads and flow conditions associated with vehicle operation, while the charging phase represents operating conditions specific to battery recharging scenarios. The calibrated 1D models were used to simulate the evolution of temperatures throughout the system over time, considering the interactions between components and the overall thermal inertia of the circuit. The results show that the designed cooling system is capable of maintaining component temperatures within the targeted limits across the analyzed operating conditions. The thermal containment is achieved for all components included in the cooling circuit under both dynamic driving and charging scenarios. The electric motor is oil-cooled and therefore is not part of the water-based cooling circuit addressed in this study. The proposed CFD-to-1D optimization and calibration workflow provides a consistent and transferable methodology for the thermal development of cooling systems. It supports the design process by linking high-fidelity CFD analyses with system-level transient simulations. This activity is carried out within the framework of the Horizon Europe project POWERDRIVE.