Thermal Performance Benchmarking
The goal for this project is to thoroughly characterize the thermal performance of state-of-the-art (SOA) in-production automotive power electronics and electric motor thermal management systems. Information obtained from these studies will be used to: evaluate advantages and disadvantages of different thermal management strategies; establish baseline metrics for the thermal management systems; identify methods of improvement to advance the SOA; increase the publicly available information related to automotive traction-drive thermal management systems; help guide future electric drive technologies (EDT) research and development (R&D) efforts. The thermal performance results combined with component efficiency and heat generation information obtained by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) may then be used to determine the operating temperatures for the EDT components under drive-cycle conditions. In FY16, the 2012 Nissan LEAF power electronics and 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid power electronics thermal management system were characterized. Comparison of the two power electronics thermal management systems was also conducted to provide insight into the various cooling strategies to understand the current SOA in thermal management for automotive power electronics and electric motors.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Office (EE-3V)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1279499
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/PO-5400-66049
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation, 6-10 June 2016, Washington, D.C.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Thermal Performance Benchmarking: Annual Report
Evaluation of Performance and Opportunities for Improvements in Automotive Power Electronics Systems: Preprint