New Developments in Vehicle Thermal Management

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About this Research Topic

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Background

The role of transportation today is crucial to meet the international targets on energy efficiency increase and fossil fuel consumption reduction. In this sector, thermal engines still represent the major part of vehicle propulsion systems and, so, the enhancement of their efficiency is mandatory in the transition phase towards more sustainable systems, based on green electricity and hydrogen.

Among the different technologies under development to meet these goals, those related to thermal management seem to have a low ratio between costs and benefits, appearing so interesting not only for conventional vehicles based on thermal engines, but also for hybrid and electrified ones. Hence, this Research Topic welcomes the most recent innovations on technologies, components, layouts, control management, vehicle conditioning, energy recovery and valorization.

The goal of this Research Topic is to collect and stimulate innovations on the thermal management of engines, powertrains and, more in general, vehicles. This topic is fundamental to achieve high energy conversion efficiency of the propulsion systems in the transportation sector, with the aim to reduce fossil fuel consumption and related emissions. Also energy recovery opportunities fall in the field of thermal management options and they can play a significant role to increase the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Cabin conditioning and integration of auxiliaries in the overall vehicle thermal management opens to the importance of this topic also to hybrid, electric and hydrogen vehicles and transport means.

The Research Topic accepts original research papers, reviews, letters, etc., which falls in the field of vehicle thermal management systems. Experimental and modeling activities are both welcomed, which can improve the scientific knowledge in this field. In particular, specific themes include but not limited to:
• Engine cooling;
• Engine warm-up acceleration;
• Energy recovery;
• Oil thermal management improving;
• Charge air cooling;
• Cabin conditioning;
• Battery and electric motor/generator cooling;
• Fuel cell temperature management;
• Vehicle thermal components (pumps, heat exchangers, fans, refrigeration circuit, fluids, etc.)
• Layout improvement and integration of different thermal needs on board;
• Auxiliaries electrification and efficiency improvement;
• Front end vehicle air management.

Research Topic Research topic image

Keywords: Engine cooling, Oil thermal management, Energy recovery, Vehicle conditioning, Thermal integration

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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