The Integrated Component-System Optimization of a Typical Thermal Management System by Combining Empirical and Heat Current Methods

Abstract

Integration of modeling and optimization of a thermal management system simultaneously depends on heat transfer performance of the components and the topological characteristics of the system. This paper introduces a heat current method to construct the overall heat current layout of a typical double-loop thermal management system. We deduce the system heat transfer matrix as the whole system constraint based on the overall heat current layout. Moreover, we consider the influences of structural and operational parameters on the thermal hydraulic performances of each heat exchanger by combining the empirical correlations of the heat transfer and pressure drop. Finally, the minimum pressure drop is obtained by solving these optimal governing equations derived by the Lagrange multiplier method considering the physical constraints and operational conditions. The optimization results show that the minimum pressure drop reduces about 8.1% with the optimal allocation of mass flow rates of each fluid. Moreover, the impact analyses of structural and operating parameters and boundary conditions on the minimum and optimal allocation present that the combined empirical correlation-heat current method is feasible and significant for achieving integrated component-system modeling and optimization.