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2023
Conference Paper
Title
Multiscale modelling and simulation of coolant particle filters and ion exchangers in electric mobility
Abstract
For both fuel cells and battery systems, the components of the cooling system are essential to maintain an economic usage and to ensure the desired lifetime of propul-sion technologies in electric mobility.
In this work, models and simulations for different components of the cooling system are presented. First, an ion exchanger is investigated. It mostly consists of microporous beads which are combined to a resin. The resin of the ion exchanger can be modeled using a multiscale approach. On the element scale, only the geometry of the ion ex-changer itself is considered using an effective description of the resin. More detailed, also the microporous nature of a single bead can be taken into account. Using these models, the required capacity of a resin and the lifetime of the ion exchanger can be estimated.
Another multiscale model is presented for coolant particle filter elements. On the ele-ment scale, the entire housing is considered and the filter medium is modeled as an effective material, characterized by its permeability and its porosity (or open surface). The geometric properties of the medium (weave pattern, fiber diameter(s), and spac-ings) are usually provided by the manufacturer. It is therefore straightforward to create a digital twin of the filter medium on the microscopic length scale. Amongst others, the permeability of the woven filter medium can be obtained from flow simulations.
This is used on the element scale to compute the flow field in the housing and through the medium. The velocity distribution at the upstream face of the filter medium is of special interest since in general, the filtering efficiency depends on the face velocity. For this velocity range, the (fractional) efficiencies are computed using particle-based simulations on the microscale. The filtration properties of the medium are upscaled by translating the efficiency into an absorption coefficient, which depends on the face ve-locity. Using the obtained values, the evolution of the pressure drop and the fractional efficiencies of the filter element can be obtained.
It is shown that simulation can assist the development and optimization of different components of the cooling system. Moreover, it can give further insights into the transport processes and reveal optimization potentials.
In this work, models and simulations for different components of the cooling system are presented. First, an ion exchanger is investigated. It mostly consists of microporous beads which are combined to a resin. The resin of the ion exchanger can be modeled using a multiscale approach. On the element scale, only the geometry of the ion ex-changer itself is considered using an effective description of the resin. More detailed, also the microporous nature of a single bead can be taken into account. Using these models, the required capacity of a resin and the lifetime of the ion exchanger can be estimated.
Another multiscale model is presented for coolant particle filter elements. On the ele-ment scale, the entire housing is considered and the filter medium is modeled as an effective material, characterized by its permeability and its porosity (or open surface). The geometric properties of the medium (weave pattern, fiber diameter(s), and spac-ings) are usually provided by the manufacturer. It is therefore straightforward to create a digital twin of the filter medium on the microscopic length scale. Amongst others, the permeability of the woven filter medium can be obtained from flow simulations.
This is used on the element scale to compute the flow field in the housing and through the medium. The velocity distribution at the upstream face of the filter medium is of special interest since in general, the filtering efficiency depends on the face velocity. For this velocity range, the (fractional) efficiencies are computed using particle-based simulations on the microscale. The filtration properties of the medium are upscaled by translating the efficiency into an absorption coefficient, which depends on the face ve-locity. Using the obtained values, the evolution of the pressure drop and the fractional efficiencies of the filter element can be obtained.
It is shown that simulation can assist the development and optimization of different components of the cooling system. Moreover, it can give further insights into the transport processes and reveal optimization potentials.