Fluid Systems Engineering Centre

Climate control / HVAC and powertrain cooling systems development

MIRA's Fluids Systems Engineering Centre, delivers a highly flexible range of facilities and expertise for the development and performance testing of thermal management components and sub-systems either in isolation or mounted in the client's vehicle.

Air conditioning system test facility

Sytems and components developed in the laboratory include:

• Engine oil and coolant pumps
• Fans and blowers
• Engine exhaust/catalyst flow
• HVAC systems
• Powertrain and component cooling
• Compressors
• Evaporators
• Condensers
• Water pump and control valves
• Refrigerant oil in circulation

With our comprehensive array of test facilities, the following systems can be accurately evaluated:

• Heat exchanger performance
• Heater and air-conditioning system development
• Whole vehicle interior air flow and ventilation
• Fluid systems/component durability and conformity of production
• Body leakage testing

Primary Air Module

This versatile rig enables the evaluation of radiators, oil coolers and other air cooled heat exchangers. Incorporated into the primary air module is the charge air cooler module which is connected to an external compressor to simulate hot air flow from a turbo compressor, allowing performance evaluation and development of charge air coolers.
Components of heating and ventilation systems are individually tested using specialist rigs

Air conditioning system test facility

This rig allows complete systems to be mounted for performance testing with all components and hose-runs configured in the same way as in the vehicle. This ensures a representative test offering the benefit of highlighting potential system layout problems and is essential when dealing with twin evaporator systems.

- Condenser airflow: 300 - 2000 l/s, 20 - 50ºC
- Main evaporator airflow: 50 - 180 l/s, 20 - 50ºC, 20 - 95% RH
- Compressor speed control: 600 - 6000 rpm, torque and power measurements
- Compressor/suction - line air temperature control: 25 - 70ºC

Prototype AC systems can be fully engineered before installation, reducing vehicle development times

Typical operating ranges of standard rigs:

Heater assembly/heater core performance

- Airflow: up to 150 l/s
- Coolant inlet temperature: 30 - 95ºC
- Maximum capacity: 12 kW
- Coolant flow rate: 2 - 35 l/min

Radiator performance

- Face velocity: 2 - 14 m/s
- Coolant inlet temperature: 30 - 90ºC
- Maximum capacity: 120 kW
- Coolant flow rate: 10 - 240 l/min

Oil cooler performance

- Face velocity: 2 - 15 m/s
- Oil inlet temperature: 30 - 140ºC
- Maximum capacity: 36 kW
- Oil flow rate: 5 - 70 l/min

Charge air cooler performance

- Face velocity: 2 - 15 m/s
- Charge air inlet temperature: 50 - 180ºC
- Charge air inlet pressure: 0 - 2 bar
- Charge air flow rate: 100 - 1000 kg/h

Body leakage and interior airflow

- External supply of air at flow rates of up to 200 l/s at a cabin pressure of 170Pa
- Determination of interior airflow via body leakage calibration curves
- Interior airflow distribution by means of in-house developed vent airflow meter