Institution news
Please briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with vehicle thermal management
Bernd Gruenenwald (BG): With my background in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering I am working in the Vehicle Thermal Management Industry for over 27 years now. The constant change and development in product designs and the increase in performance, complexity and product requirements are leading to a high innovation speed and to extremely short innovation cycles in this industry. This creates interesting challenges in terms of material selection and new manufacturing processes. Close monitoring of the market and implementing new designs and technologies to serial production have become part of our innovation DNA.
What is the top challenge facing your industry at present?
BG: Vehicle Thermal Management is driven by electrification and electrified products like HV e-Heaters, battery cooling plates and new types of indirect HEX. New thermal management modules are combining heat exchangers, coolant pumps, condensers, chillers, sensors and valves in one unit. These modules save space, development efforts and costs providing more efficiency and bottom line up to 20% more EV driving range.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past five years?
BG: The technical challenges in the thermal industry have always been high, however with the growing matureness of the ICE technology thermal management products have become more and more commodity products over the last decade. This development is now rapidly changing and meanwhile Vehicle Thermal Management is rated as one enabler for the success of e-mobility.
What developments are going on in your industry that may have an impact on the development of future thermal management systems and wider powertrain efficiencies.
BG: An intelligent and efficient thermal management system is the key factor to the success of electric vehicles in regards to:
Driving range optimization: The energy demand for vehicle thermal management is highly depending on the ambient conditions. On the other hand, battery size and driving range are limited by package, weight and cost considerations. Intelligent thermal management systems combined with future battery cell technologies enable significant driving range improvements.
Fast battery charging: High charging rates increase significantly the heat generated inside the battery. However, battery cells need to be maintained in a tight temperature window to avoid premature ageing. Therefore, effective battery thermal management solutions are a must to achieve reduced battery charging times.
Vehicle affordability: Cost of electrified vehicles remains a major barrier for wide adoption. One cost driver is the complex thermal architecture including multiple single components and interfaces. New thermal management modules with high functional integration help to simplify vehicle integration and to reduce the overall vehicle costs.
Why is it important for engineers and industry to come together at this event and share best practice?
BG: Vehicle Thermal Management plays an important role in electrification and will be driven by an even higher innovation speed in the upcoming years. This conference is an exciting opportunity for all engineers, scientists and designers to network with others in the industry as well as with potential new suppliers and customers. It is the ideal place to meet some of the leading innovators in this field and to learn the latest trends in thermal system and component designs and sustainable material developments.
VTMS16: Vehicle Thermal Management Systems Conference and Exhibition 2024 will take place on 5-6 June 2024 at the British Motor Museum in Warwick.
VTMS16 is dedicated to discussing the latest international developments in Vehicle Thermal Management Systems: view full details and registration at www.imeche.org/vtms
This year's conference will explore the necessity and complexity of battery analysis through differing simulation techniques and offer a system engineering approach to balancing duration, durability, and immersive coolant technologies. Through the presentation of topic areas ranging from off highway and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, through to the analysis of a battery pack for a 2026 Formula 1 race car, this conference will allow delegates valuable insight into the expanding world of sustainable thermal management methods and products alongside their cost and life cycle impact.