Optimizing battery range & thermal comfort for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) & System Model Co-Simulation

R. Dontham and his colleagues from Dassault Systèmes present their work on optimising battery range and thermal comfort in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) using a combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and System Model Co-Simulation. They address the industry's shift towards electric vehicles, aiming to improve fuel economy, design efficiency, and meet CO2 targets. The team emphasises the importance of optimising the entire system rather than individual components to enhance e-drive efficiency significantly.

Their study involves detailed 3D CFD modelling of a vehicle, considering factors like ambient temperature, flow split for comfort, and the impact of compressor speed on thermal comfort and energy consumption. They demonstrate that lower compressor speeds can offer better energy and range efficiency, although they might slightly compromise comfort and battery heating time. The solution integrates 1D HVAC representation with detailed 3D transient flow analysis, allowing for the prediction and optimization of battery range, temperature, thermal comfort, and energy consumption under various driving conditions, including the effects of cooling airflow.