Consultancy : Thermal Management

MIRA is one of the world's leading consultancies for vehicle thermal management.  In developing this service MIRA has built up one of the most comprehensive suites of thermal management development facilities to be found on one site.  Our expertise in designing and developing powertrain cooling and climate control systems ranges from motorcycles, through passenger cars and commercial vehicles up to the unique challenges presented by a main battle tank.

We have a unique combination of expertise in thermodynamics, computational simulation techniques including CFD, test facilities and supporting services.  Typical tests conducted as part of our thermal management consultancy service are covered on our Thermal Management Testing pages.

MIRA takes a pragmatic approach to vehicle thermal management.  This often results in our engineers using the most appropriate tools be they experimental, computational or more often a combination of techniques.

Problem Solving and Troubleshooting

Because many of the issues involved in thermal management are not recognised as being the sole responsibility of a particular system team it is an ideal task for an engineering consultancy such as MIRA.  For instance; if a sensitive component under the bonnet is being damaged by heat, a number of solutions are likely.  Typical answers would be to relocate the component, change it, shield it, improve the airflow around it or modify the source of the heat.  The difficulty for the vehicle development team often lies in allocating this responsibility.  Being independent MIRA's thermodynamicists are able to present the options in an unbiased way, often coming up with solutions that haven't been considered by the vehicle team.

Whilst our engineers are happy to work on vehicle programmes where cooling concerns have arisen with only weeks or days before the vehicle is due to start volume production, we'd rather help avoid these problems by being involved from the outset.  As well as reducing the risk of problems arising seeking the advice of MIRA's thermal management team can provide other benefits:

• Access to new markets - following MIRA's advice several manufacturers have been able to sell their vehicles into territories with higher ambient temperatures.
• Improved reliability - other customers have found that the improved thermal management on their vehicles has lead to less failures and lower warranty costs.
• Improved efficiency - for example on some electrically powered vehicles with batteries that are very sensitive to temperature change, MIRA has helped improve their range.

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Computational Methods

1D Powertrain Simulation

MIRA's powertrain engineers use an integrated set of CAE tools for the design and analysis of engines, powertrains, and vehicles.  These tools enable detailed engine, powertrain and vehicles to be modeled and operated virtually.  In addition to performance and acoustic predictions and cycle analysis for fuel economy and emissions, we use these tools for engine heat management and cooling system analysis.

1D Network Analysis

Optimisation of the flow rates and temperatures within both the air-circuit and water-circuit can be done more rapidly using computational network analysis. MIRA has been at the forefront of implementing steady state and transient network modeling using industry leading proprietary software, where necessary augmented with MIRA developed bespoke coding.

3D CFD Simulation

Few other engineering consultancies have the knowledge and experience that MIRA has of applying Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to improving the design of powertrain cooling and climate control systems and components.  Examples include optimisation of:

• Underbonnet airflows
• Exhaust and air-induction systems
• Catalytic converters
• Brake cooling
• Ducts and registers
• Heat exchangers
• Simulation of windshield defrosting

MIRA has invested heavily in developing the use of this technology to speed up the engineering process.   Our experts in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics use the most appropriate proprietary CFD tools, often combined with 1D network analysis tools and test data, to predict and improve the performance of competing designs.

Radiation and Heat Transfer Calculations

Using a proprietary thermal simulation tool MIRA's thermal management engineers conduct steady state and transient heat transfer predictions which deliver comprehensive data:

• Temperature distribution
• Heat rates for:
  • radiation
  • conduction
  • convection

Further details of MIRA’s Thermal Management Simulation Process are discussed here:

UTMsim™ MIRA's Thermal Management Simulation Process

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Case Studies

Engineering the Heating Ventilation and Air-conditioning system on the Queen's Bentley:

To improve the cooling performance and interior climatic comfort of it's vehicles, the MoD is turning to MIRA for design advice:

Complementary Services and Facilities

Thermal management is part of MIRA's comprehensive capabilities for powertrain engineering, aerodynamics and fluid dynamics .  Further details of which can be found using the following links:

Thermal Management Testing

Aerodynamic Testing

Aerodynamic Consultancy

Thermal Modeling of PCBs

Climatic Wind Tunnel – CWTone
Climatic Wind Tunnel – CWTtwo
Fluid Systems Engineering Centre
Full Scale Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel
Model Scale Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) suite
Extensive Proving Ground test circuits

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