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Innovations in air-to-refrigerant heat exchangers are necessary for optimal thermal management of EVs, while coupling between machine learning, multi-objective genetic algorithms, CFD, finite element analysis and multiscale modeling are key to optimal and robust heat exchanger designs.

When it comes to the risk of snow ingress in a vehicle, the simulation of wake and fluctuated flow produced by the proceeding vehicle plays a vital role. Furthermore, the effects of wind speed and direction are necessary to be taken into consideration in order to achieve the desired attribute performance of the car.

These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the Virtual Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 24-25 of September 2020. Our speakers, Takashi Takiguchi, Head of Aerodynamics, Thermal Management & Acceleration Performance at Honda R&D Co. Ltd., Japan and Jeff Howell, Visiting Professor at Loughborough University, UK, will present on Snow ingress prediction method for air intake duct and The effect of wind speed and direction on the aerodynamic characteristics of passenger cars respectively.

The need for a larger wind tunnel test capacity as well as the control of active vanes as a cross-functional task for both aerodynamics and thermal management is of key concern to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community.

The current state of wind tunnel testing is of key concern to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community. Of further concern are issues such as the relationship of drag to body shape.  These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 19th to 20th of November 2019 in Manchester, UK.   

Design and efficiency aspects of electric vehicles are matters of interest to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community.   Of further concern are aspects of water management systems. These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 19th to 20th of November 2019 in Manchester, UK.   

The relationship of tools/methodologies for aerodynamic testing to real life conditions are  matters of great interest to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community.   So too is the relationship between the new F1 technical regulations and aerodynamics and car design.  These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 19th to 20th of November 2019 in Manchester, UK.  

The current state of methods used for predicting temperature management are of great interest to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community.  Of further concern are matters such as systems that contribute to reaching optimal aerodynamic performance and reliable pad correction prediction.  These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the  Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 19th to 20th of November 2019 in Manchester, UK.  

 Issues surrounding the arrival of new powertrains pose a key concern to members of the automotive aerodynamics and thermal management community.   So too are matters such as wind effects on fuel economy.  These topics will be discussed in the following interview and at the Automotive Aerodynamics & Thermal Management International Forum, 19th to 20th of November 2019 in Manchester, UK.  

 All companies that have already confirmed their participation at the International Forum Automotive Thermal Management 2018 in Crewe, UK as of November 6, 2018.

 In modern racing aerodynamics, more research and development is currently being invested in numerical methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as computer technology and capability continues to rapidly improve.However,WindTunnels remain an invaluable tool for examining and optimizing flow features for aerodynamic performance and capturing data for correlation studies. To better understand the nature of these flow fields during Wind Tunnel and on-track testing, the flow can be ‘visualised’ by using a dye, smoke or pigment in the airflow near the area under investigation. This helps to reveal details of flow behaviour such as the direction of streamlines and flow separation from the surface.

The correct hose and pipe size connecting the main components in any mobile or transport air-conditioning system is important, however it is in the suction line where extreme care should be taken in the design and size, to ensure adequate flow of refrigerant is present in the system at all times. This bulletin will cover the main system features adversely affected by poor suction line performance caused by pressure drop due to incorrect pipe or hose size, excessive bends and turns or a fault in the line between the evaporator and compressor. 

 The battles in Formula 1 are not just fought out at the track – there is plenty of fighting behind the scenes as well. These conflicts usually surround new regulations which the FIA introduce to try and reduce costs. However, this just results in the teams investing their money elsewhere – typically within the loop holes of those new rules. This then forces the FIA to react with new regulations and this never-ending circle continues – welcome to the game of Formula 1. A prime example of this is the FIA’s attempt to restrict wind tunnel and CFDtesting –something they have been trying to achieve since 2009. However, every limit that is introduced simply triggers the teams to find new ways of maximising the data outputfrom both their wind tunnel and CFD. Therefore, the teams with the highest budgets always come out on top. Download the full article on CFD F1 Rule Changes today!

 An exclusive content from our US edition of the Automotive Thermal Management Forum 2018 is available for you to download! Our past speaker Tobias Glossmann, Senior Systems Engineer at Mercedes-Benz R&D introduced his latest project  on Sources of Heat in the Battery Cell. In his presentation, Mr. Glossmann explained why Battery chemistry and thermal management are closely related and discussed issues such as differences between air-cooling and liquid-cooling applications among others.

Dr. Sanjay Kumarasamy from General Motors who will present on aerodynamics grille shutters – application and Luca Brondolo from the Nissan Technical Centre Europe who will discuss the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics development at NTCE provide a first insight of their presentation at the upcoming 4^th International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics on November 21-22, 2018 in Crewe, UK, in the following exclusive interview.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Alfred Jeckel from Daimler who will present on the thermal management of Li Ion batteries: key to degradation and performance and Robert Timmis from Aston Martin Lagonda who will discuss the development of the new Aston Martin Vantage at the upcoming 5^th International Forum Automotive Thermal Management on November 19-20, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

In recent years, it has constantly been said that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) would revolutionise aerodynamic development of racecars. This has indeed been the case, supported by the relentless development in computational technology and modelling techniques of the modern era. However, CFD has not yet advanced enough to replace Wind Tunnels entirely, as was initially forecasted years ago.

On behalf of Valeo, we are hereby pleased to offer you for free the full presentation on Valeo's latest breakthroughs in automotive thermal management, as presented at our 3rd and 4th International Forum for Automotive Thermal Management 2017 & 2018 in the UK and USA respectively. Internect Ltd. had the pleasure to welcome Dr. Kamel Azzouz as an advisory board member and speaker. For his presentation, Dr. Azzouz was granted our honorary “Best Speaker Award” for this presentation in the last edition of the Forum in the USA.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Hervé Dechipre from Volkswagen Motorsport who will present on the aerodynamic development of the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak and Katharina Kreitz from Vectoflow GmbH. who will discuss how 3D printing revolutionizes the aerodynamic measurement technology at the upcoming 4^th International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics on November 21-22, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Nilabza Dutta and Chris Chatham from Jaguar Land Rover who will jointly present the Jaguar I-Pace Heat Flux Management System and Clemens Gamsjaeger from Magna Powertrain who will discuss the big data / artificial intelligence and future thermal management product portfolio – a match or mismatch at the upcoming 5^th International Forum Automotive Thermal Management on November 19-20, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

Professor Willem Toet from Sauber Aerodynamics Ltd is a visiting Professor at Bolton University and lecturer at prestigious universities around the world. With over 30 years of experience in F1, mainly as Head of Aerodynamics at companies such as Benetton, Ferrari, BMW and Sauber Motorsport, he will present on both days at the upcoming 4^th International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics on November 21-22, 2018 in Crewe, UK. In the following exclusive interview Professor Toet provides a first overview of his presentations.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Oleg Kharlamov from FSUE “NAMI” who will present on the engineering of high voltage component cooling system on example of UMP project and Benoit Honel from Siemens who will discuss about a smart combination of 1D and 3D CFD methods to address the impact of active grille shutters on vehicle fuel economy and underhood thermal management at the upcoming 5^th International Forum Automotive Thermal Management on November 19-20, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Damien Favre from Porsche AG who will present on the aerodynamics development of an LMP1 car and Peter Altmann from Siemens Industry Software GmbH. who will discuss the aerodynamics of a treaded, rotating tire with ground contact at the upcoming 4^th International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics on November 21-22, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Michael Farley from Jaguar Land Rover who will present on BEV thermal energy management 1D simulation and Dr. Vikrant Aute from the University of Maryland College Park who will discuss the advances in air-to-refrigerant heat exchangers at the upcoming 5^th International Forum Automotive Thermal Management on November 19-20, 2018 in Crewe, UK.

On behalf of Renault, we are hereby pleased to offer you for free the full presentation on the French National collaborative project MOBICUS, as presented at our 3^rd and 4^th international Forum for Automotive Thermal Management 2017 & 2018 in the UK and USA respectively. As the market of Electric Vehicles is expanding year by year, the performance of lithium-ion batteries used as energy storage systems is fading. OEMs, now more than ever, seek for accurate, simple, fast and robust ageing models. 16 partners, aimed at developing durability strategies, based on models representing the ageing both in calendar and cycling modes. Internect Ltd. had the pleasure to welcome one of the leading experts on this project, Dr. Phillipe Gyan who introduced their work and findings with a presentation for which he was granted our honorary “Best Speaker Award”.

An exclusive interview from our speakers, Christopher Collin from Audi AG who will present the correction for the open jet interference in automotive wind tunnels and Kunihiko Yoshitake from Honda R&D Co., Ltd. who will discuss the prediction method of snow ingress amount into an air intake duct employing LES and a detailed wall behavior model.

All companies that have already confirmed their participation at the International Forum Automotive Thermal Management 2018 in Michigan as of February 13, 2018.

For the Universities who can afford it, extravagant and complex aerodynamic packages are now a ‘must’ for teams to triumph at competitions. This trend began back in 2002 when the Australian based Monash University team utilised their famous Wind Tunnel to develop their first Aero package. Since then, many teams have followed suit and it is now common practice for teams to design Aero packages, even if finances and resources mean it never ends up on the final racecar in competition.

In Formula 1, Aerodynamic performance is one of the key differentiators between the teams at the back of the grid and those winning the Championship. Of course, both reliability and performance of the power units are also crucial to success, however these are not entirely under the team’s control. Formula E however has a completely different ethos.

This article provides a thorough analysis on the subject.

On November 28 and 29 2017, the International Forum Automotive Thermal Management was organised by Internect Ltd. in Manchester. Over 70 representatives from car manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers got together to exchange information about the latest industry developments and trends regarding automotive thermal management. The main topics during the event were the latest technical developments in the field of thermal management systems and battery units, including the reduction of additional emissions through the use of air-conditioning systems!

                              All companies that have already confirmed their participation at the International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics 2017 as of November 22, 2017.

All companies that have already confirmed their participation at the International Forum Automotive Thermal Management UK 2017 as of November 21, 2017.

From Electric Vehicles to Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Vehicles, automotive engineers face many challenges in their thermal management design. Even more so, as the Electric Vehicles’ market is expanding year by year, the performance of battery systems becomes an important target for OEMs. Our speaker, Dr. Daniel Huang from Ford Motor Company will discuss the thermal management challenges the EV, PHEV and autonomous vehicles are facing, as our speaker Dr. Philippe Gyan from Renault will address this issue and present the MOBICUS Project on battery ageing models and durability assessment with thermal management strategies. Further, our speaker Wilko Jansen from Jaguar Land Rover will present on the right level of model fidelity at the right time.

Electric vehicles are becoming more mainstream during the last few years. Their development and presence in the market has been stronger than ever due to the various advantages they offer, such as environmental benefits, fuel efficiency and innovation among others; adding to these, many initiatives provide tax incentives in the EV purchase. However, lately, many OEMs attempt to push the speed boundaries with their EVs. One of them is the Chinese start-up NIO and its launch of the EP9. Our speaker, Bo Zhu from NIO Co., Ltd. will present EP9 aerodynamic features: concepts and realization. On a different note, our speaker, Damien Favre from Porsche AG will discuss the safety improvements on LMP1-H cars through aerodynamics changes. In this exclusive interview, they provide us with a first overview of their presentations

 Heat exchangers play an important role in any space conditioning system to provide heating or cooling, as well as to reject or absorb heat from the environment. There are now new developments in miniaturizing heat exchangers which provide higher heat transfer and mitigate the environmental impact of AC systems. On the other hand battery-electric vehicles require new thermal management systems, which will bring new requirements to the thermal components and pose further challenges to automotive engineers. In the following interview, our speaker at the upcoming Automotive Thermal Management Forum in Ann Arbor, MI, USA, Dr. Vikrant Aute from the University of Maryland provides us with a first overview of his presentation on Multi-Scale Analysis and Shape Optimization for Design of Novel Air-to-Refrigerant Heat Exchangers, while Dana Nicgorski from Robert Bosch LLC discusses the impacts of electrification on thermal management systems and components.

The story behind the design and performance of a Formula 1 car: From F1 regulations and their interpretation, the challenges of designing a F1 car to the contribution of aerodynamics to performance

The development of cutting edge technologies for vehicle fuel economy improvement is a major focus area for automotive manufacturers. In parallel, CFD has been for years now a great influence as to the automotive design. CFD applications not only improve design but also reduce cost and cycle time. Our speaker Marcello Canova from The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research will present on integrating modelling, optimization and control with thermal management and waste heat recovery systems to maximize fuel economy gains. At the same time, our speaker, Takashi Takiguchi from Honda R&D Co., Ltd. will discuss the identification methodology by key coefficients from test results for ENG cooling using commercial CFD code.

In the following exclusive in depth case study, entitled “On the Influence of Transient Aerodynamic Heave Vibrations on Racing Car Suspension Parameters: Quarter Car Sample”, Enrique Scalabroni, Timoteo Briet and Dr. Ignacio Suárez Marcelo study the effect of transient aerodynamic loads on the downforce of a vehicle. Heave vibrations on an aileron are analyzed on a simulation model and the data obtained in this simulation model are validated both in a steady and a transient state for different frequencies (1-800Hz). These results lead to the obtainment of a transfer function for the downforce on the aileron in question. Finally, a new quarter car model including aerodynamic effects from these studies is presented and some results on the influence of heave transient aerodynamics loads on a racing car are obtained.

When talking about Electric Vehicles, one main subject is the use of Li-Ion batteries, however not only its life expectancy but also its operation, safety and performance. Our speaker Taeyoung Han from General Motors will provide us with a first overview of his presentation on Criteria for li-ion battery thermal management. In parallel, our speaker Tobias Glossmann from Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Center North America Inc. will discuss the Sources of heat in the battery cell.

Volvo Truck’s new concept vehicle cuts fuel consumption by more than 30%. Our speaker, Anders Tenstam from Volvo Group, at the upcoming 3^rd International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics, will present the aerodynamic challenges and opportunities for the Volvo Concept Truck. Further, our speaker, Chenyi Zhang from IVK University of Stuttgart focuses on the underbody parameters of DrivAer-Model with respect to ground simulation. In this exclusive interview, they provide us with a first overview of their presentations.

The current European aftermarket is being serviced by a limited range of commercially available lubricants which are promoted as being suitable for R1234YF refrigerant based systems. Are these lubricants able to meet the chemical compatibility and miscibility requirements for long-term system operation when used in R1234YF systems?
This article provides a thorough analysis on the subject.

Nikolas Tombazis, former Chief Aerodynamicist for Benetton, Ferrari and Manor Racing with other 23 years' of experience in F1 teams is an honorary guest at the International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics, 30th November-1st of December 2017 in Manchester, UK. From comparing CFD and wind tunnel testing, discussing aerodynamic technologies that differentiate an F1 from a road car, analysing simulation tools that assist in designing an F1 car to reviewing the effect of stringent FIA regulations and limitations, Mr. Tombazis shares his insight in this exclusive interview.

Vehicle powertrain thermal management system design is becoming more challenging for car manufacturers over the years as the number of components is increasing. OEMs address this issues in various ways: Our speaker Andy Jones from McLaren Automotive provides an analysis of powertrain cooling of high performance vehicles. In parallel, our speaker Fausto Di Sciullo from FCA Italy S.p.A. discusses a new approach to thermal management systems architecture design. In this exclusive interview, they provide us with a first overview of their presentations at the upcoming 3rd International Forum Automotive Thermal Management in Manchester, UK

One of the FIA's key objectives is to encourage and implement the adoption of common regulations for all forms of motor sports and series across the world. But how these regulations affect the aerodynamics and car design will be investigated by our speaker Franck Sanchez from Scuderia Toro Rosso. On the other hand, our speaker Alberto Maggioni from Sauber Motorspost AG will present the main aerodynamic difference between "Open vs Closed" wheels in racecars. In this exclusive interview, they provide us with a first overview of their presentations.

CFD has been for years now a great influence as to the automotive design. CFD applications not only improve design but also reduce cost and cycle time. Our speaker, Takashi Takiguchi from Honda R&D Co., Ltd. will discuss the identification methodology by key coefficients from test results for ENG cooling using commercial CFD code. At the same time, our speaker Wilko Jansen from Jaguar Land Rover will present on the right level of model fidelity at the right time. In this exclusive interview, they will provide us with a first overview of their presentations at the upcoming 3^rd International Forum Automotive Thermal Management in Manchester, UK.

A common measure, with regard to aerodynamics, in automotive design is the drag coefficient and its impact on vehicle performance. External water management is one of the disciplines to be considered in vehicle aerodynamic design and the design of water management systems. Over the years, there have been various approaches in the simulation of surface water movement. In this interview, our speakers, Adrian Gaylard from Jaguar Land Rover and Dr. Jeff Howell from the University of Loughborough discuss these matters and provide us with a first overview of their presentations.

While the Electric Vehicles’ market is expanding year by year, the performance of battery systems becomes an important target for OEMs; our speaker, Dr. Philipp Gyan from Renault will address this issue and present the MOBICUS Project on battery ageing models and durability assessment with thermal management strategies; in parallel, our speaker, Thomas Holzer from Robert Bosch GmbH will provide the supplier’s perspective on the impacts of electrification on thermal management. In this exclusive interview, they will provide us with a first overview of their presentations at the upcoming 3^rd International Forum Automotive Thermal Management in Manchester, UK.

New developments in aerodynamics center largely on process and modeling, pushing the standard of vehicle performance towards frictionless, quiet enjoyment. While Aston Martin is moving through modeling to the wind tunnel and finally track testing, General Motors focuses on using modeling tools that are capable and accurate, efficient and fast. Audi is developing processes to take advantage of new modeling techniques, while focusing on anticipating trends in national and international CO2 regulation. Visibility and aerodynamics is addressed by JLR and Honda aims to predict water ingress much earlier in the design phase. Scania CV is focusing on methods for efficient drag reduction in heavy vehicles and Nissan is using CFD simulations to assess different designs before they are validated in a wind tunnel.

Understanding the reasons for thermal runaway and providing safe battery systems used in vehicle powertrain play an important role in the automotive industry. As experiments are costly and timely, thermal runaway models are used. Our speaker at the upcoming Automotive Thermal Management Forum in Manchester, UK, Elisabeth Kolp from the Technical University of Munich, Institute of Electrical Energy Storage Technology will provide us with a first overview of her presentation on this topic. In parallel, our speaker Alfred Jeckel from Daimler will discuss the thermal challenges for electric drive batteries and the chemical background of the temperature influence on the cells.

In the wake of calls for a ban on wind tunnel testing in Formula One, much finger-pointing and inward-thinking has overlooked the potential of computational fluid dynamics playing a much larger role in motor sport's design process. While at present CFD poses no substitute for wind tunnel analysis, the broadstroke approach to the medium may allow for greater design scope not seen since the 1970's and offer a viable economic alternative for teams on the financial bubble of Formula One. Trent Price, Editor of the WEC/Formula E magazine E-Racing in this exclusive article is featuring the views of  leading experts such as revered Formula One and Le Mans Designer Enrique Scalabroni, Adrian Newey, Luca Marmorini, James Alison, Pat Symonds among many others on this topic.

While, our speaker, Filip Nielsen from Volvo Cars will present on part recirculation for cold climate conditions and how this can improve air cabin quality and reduce the energy use of the climate control system; in parallel, our speaker, Deniz Boyacı from Ford Otosan investigates the fan shroud geometry for engine cooling performance. In this exclusive interview, they will provide us with a first overview of their presentations at the upcoming 3^rd International Forum Automotive Thermal Management in Manchester, UK.

The eRacing magazine attended Internect's 1st International Forum Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics 2015 and provides a complete and thorough insight of the event, from the diversity of presenters and topics, thought-provoking discussions to the unique conference network-oriented structure.

One of the biggest challenges of designing vehicles is to balance the thermal loads that the car encounters and generates to ensure both good system operation as well as user comfort. Honda are focusing on fuel cells to power the vehicle, Tesla, GM and BMW on thermal management systems that allow higher charging power ,reducing complexity and costs and Mercedes Benz are bringing their expertise to the new challenges posed by electric vehicles. While Jaguar Land Rover have moved away from using only the traditional climatic testing facilities, Porsche uses both computer aided heat management simulations and climatic wind tunnels to assure proper cooling function and Ford is looking at the impact of electrical systems on the design of the cabin climate comfort system. 

Due to environmental changes, many countries all over the world are affected by heavy rainfall and floods. Thus, the protection of the engine intake duct by water ingress is of concern for the auto makers. Further, vehicle engineering challenges grow as customers are demanding vehicle systems which are robust to environmental contaminants (water, road soil, etc.) but stil maintain the vehicle aesthetics.

When it comes to EVs/HEVs and PEVs, the thermal dynamics are changing and new challenges arise, since the number of components that require active thermal management increase. A main issue is also the thermal management of high voltage batteries and the increase in the autonomy of the EVs. Mr. Tobias Glossmann from Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America and Mr. Issiaka Traore from Valeo discuss these challenges and provide us with a first overview of their presentation.

 Willem Toet, Lecturer at the Oxford Brookes University and our speaker at the 2^nd International Forum Advanced Aerodynamics will be presenting the story behind the design and performance of a Formula 1 car. From regulations and their interpretation, the challenges of designing a Formula 1 car to the contribution of aerodynamics to performance. Mr. Toet shares his insight in this exclusive interview.

Distributing heat around and through a car impacts the human occupants and can affect their comfort levels. Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC) climate control system tests are now being installed in General Motors vehicles to help meet customer comfort requirements. On the other hand, Jaguar Land Rover is working on the thermal management of the infotainment and electrical systems. Our speakers, Wilko Jansen from Jaguar Land Rover and Jeffrey Bozeman from General Motors share their insight in this exclusive interview.

10 years ago, reports predicted the extinction of Wind Tunnels. Why then, are more built? By 2020 an additional 8-10 Wind Tunnels will be built in Europe alone, therefore, the automotive and motorsport industries are clearly continuing their investment in Wind Tunnel technology, the question is why? Fresh from her visit to the International Forun of Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics which took place in June 9-10, 2015, in Nantwich, UK Gemma Hatton investigated.

Whether you’re dealing with an overall concept or a just bit player, the influence of aerodynamics is inescapable. Trent Price, Editor of the WEC/Formula E magazine E-Racing asked model maker Ander Lujambio and mechanical engineer Elisabeth De Sola how almost every exposed (and sometimes concealed) composite part on a racing car can be integrated to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Whether it comes to Bentley’s virtual drive cycle modelling for component lifetime thermal prediction or Daimler’s solutions for CO2 challenges for thermal management, engineers are working on efficiency while ensuring passenger comfort. While Ford works on deployment optimization techniques, Renault focuses on AC fuel consumption reduction on ICE vehicle and Valeo on the use of advanced phase change materials. One of Honda’s priorities is to effectively predict full vehicle cooling and heat resistance and the German Aerospace Center to ensure high-efficiency climate control systems for electric vehicles.Click on the link to download for free the summary of all the presentations from this year’s Automotive Thermal Management Forum, 10-11 May 2017 in Chester, UK!

The demand for faster production time to market and the necessity for drag reduction has shifted the focus of automotive aerodynamics engineers onalternative methods and techniques of product development both for passenger cars and heavy vehicles. Active flow control, CFD simulations, scale model testing as well as alternative measures of drag and their parameters are among the engineering research scope to develop aerodynamic cars that save on fuel and cost.In this exclusive interview the speakers at our upcoming International Conference Advanced Automotive Aerodynamics discuss how they overcome these challenges and provide a first overview of their presentations.

Regardless of their design, vehicle engines have always had to dance a tightrope, balancing the need to heat some components for optimal operation, reject heat from those that require cool temps, and maintain yet other components at a comfortable middle ground. With the introduction of new propulsion technologies such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and full electric vehicles, the pressure to improve heat management has become even greater. If we are to transition away from conventional internal combustion engines and make our current fleet more efficient, thermal management will continue to be a major topic of research and discussion. The following are some of the most exciting projects in this area.

The field of automotive aerodynamics has seen the introduction of new challenges in the motorsport field and the design of sports cars. New technical and sporting regulations, CFD and wind tunnel testing restrictions, drag, as well as aero-thermal considerations, downforce and styling are among the engineering research scope. In this interview 4 OEM experts discuss these challenges and regulatory changes and provide us a first overview of their presentations.

 When it comes to waste heat recovery techniques, the Organic Rankine Cycle system seems the most promising one.  With regard to long-haul trucks, ORC systems should be installed on them in the early 2020. In the following interview, our speaker at the International Forum Automotive Thermal Management, Prof. Vincent Lemort, from the Thermodynamics Laboratory of the University of Liege, discusses with us the general aspects of waste heat recovery techniques in long-haul trucks and the work conducted on the design, simulation and experimentation of ORCs for the long-haul trucks.

                             As the number of components in EV/HEV and PEV that require active thermal management increases, new challenges directly arise. When it comes to thermal efficiency and adherence to environmental regulations, the demands become stronger by the day. Recent Regulations added to European Union Directives strengthen the existing measures on greenhouse gas emissions, thus making imperative the charge minimization of refrigerant gas and the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants among others. In this interview, our speakers Alfred Jeckel and Jan Gärtner both from Daimler and Mounir Nasri from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Vehicle Concepts discuss these challenges and provide us with a first overview of their presentation.