The targets of this study are:
cost reduction of all engine cooling components,
gasoline consumption reduction,
weight reduction of the engine cooling system,
improvement of the thermal comfort in passenger compartment.
To reach these targets, Valeo Engine Cooling is developing a new concept in engine cooling. This basic concept consists of adding a small electric water pump, 30 to 60W, instead of the conventional engine driven water pump of up to 1 to 2 KW. This small electric water pump provides a flow rate of approximately 1000L/h.
With a liquid flow rate of 1000L/h, this conceptual system can ensure engine cooling at speeds up to 120 Km/h under convective cooling in normal conditions. That is to say, it can supply 95% of the flow requirements (see appendix ) of a vehicle at the same performance level as a conventional cooling system. The remaining 5% of the requirements, at vehicle speeds greater than 120 Km/h, and hill climbing has been resolved by the use of nucleate boiling in the cylinder head. Again, this concept works in 95% of the cases by forced liquid convection heat exchange like conventional cooling system, and only 5% by nucleate boiling heat exchange.