Research on the Performance of Radiators in Hybrid Vehicle Thermal Management Systems

The cooling system plays an essential role in regulating the temperature of hybrid vehicle engines. With the contemporary surge in the number of hybrid vehicles, the cooling system’s performance is vital for the safe and stable operation of these cars. The radiator, as the core component of the cooling system, has become central to enhancing thermal efficiency through performance optimization. Improvements to existing radiators are especially important in order to meet increasing performance demands. This paper firstly outlines the development of radiator technology for hybrid vehicles both domestically and internationally; it then analyzes the tube and belt radiator, and selects a louvered finned radiator with highly efficient heat dissipation performance as the object of research. It then carries out the detailed design and assessment of the radiator, formulates an accurate design scheme, and creates a three-dimensional model of the radiator and its main parts using the CATIA V5 software. Finally, the simulation and analysis Fluent software (ANSYS 2023 R1) is used to carry out a comparative analysis of the designed radiator and its important parts. The study focuses on how fin angle, inlet and outlet positioning, radiator orientation, and fan speed affect thermal performance. The findings indicate that a 26° fin angle, a same-side inlet and outlet layout, correct radiator orientation, and higher fan speeds enhance cooling efficiency. These optimizations improve radiator performance, ensuring efficient cooling under various operating conditions.