Two-phase thermal management of traction electronics in EVs/HEVs

Abstract

In modern days the miniaturization of powerful electronic devices within electric vehicles has led to the requirement of better thermal management solutions. Regardless of the significant implications for heat transfer performance, the effect of axial-uneven heating on the flow distribution in parallel microchannels undergoing flow boiling has been understudied. In this current study, a model with two parallel microchannels subjected to flow boiling has been considered. The microchannels were subjected to axial non-uniform heating i.e., uneven heating along the length of the channel and the flow distribution characteristics within the microchannels were studied. It was found that compared to uniform heating, in the axial non-uniform heating the flow was severely more maldistributed and the range of flow over which the maldistribution occurred is also broader. It was also found that the flow maldistribution was better mitigated by using channel wall materials having higher thermal conductivity. These model predictions were generated with the help of MATLAB simulations. Keywords: flow boiling, ledinegg instability, parallel microchannels, two-phase flow