AVL ThermalLab™

Testing battery-electric vehicles under realistic conditions.
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With the increasing electrification of mobility, the development of vehicle thermal management systems (VTMS) is becoming more and more important. This is because the allowable temperature ranges for different components in an electrified powertrain system can vary widely depending on operating and environmental conditions. Therefore, an efficient vehicle thermal management system ensures passenger comfort, driving range, and the safety and durability of all powertrain components such as battery, electric motor, fuel cell, etc. This increases the complexity of the thermal system design and the importance of an optimized VTMS.

An effective VTMS plays a critical role in optimizing the energy efficiency of the entire vehicle and extending the lifespan of its powertrain components. However, developing highly efficient systems requires extensive calibration and testing, which can significantly increase development costs and time. To address this challenge, we introduce the AVL ThermalLab™, which offers the flexibility to test either the complete VTMS or individual components of the thermal system. This innovative solution helps streamline the development process and enhance efficiency while reducing costs.

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Specifications

Our testing methodology is based on highly dynamic conditioning systems, and the entire thermal management system can be tested on the rig under real emulated driving and environmental conditions, independent of vehicle prototypes and weather.

System and Subsystem Testing

Using model-based testing, AVL ThermalLab™ supports you optimize the entire VTMS under dynamic conditions. The UUT is the complete VTMS, including powertrain coolant circuits, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and thermal management control units. It is embedded in an emulated vehicle while the environment is fully simulated. Unlike costly vehicle testing in wind tunnels or on the road, you can test the entire system in the lab under realistic driving and environmental conditions, without vehicle prototypes and outside weather conditions.

Component Testing

As with the complete thermal system, the model-based testing approach of the AVL ThermalLab™ helps you optimize your thermal components without having the entire VTMS available. Your UUT can be embedded in an emulated vehicle, while a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) method fully simulates the rest of the thermal system and the environment. This is then optimized in various driving cycles to ensure proper functionality of all subsystems and to pre-calibrate your actuators on the rig.

Testing Scope

Description

  • Fill and degas coolant circuits
  • Fill refrigerant cycles, incl. oil concentration
  • Test performance of the entire VTMS
  • Optimize VTMS control strategy
  • Optimize cabin comfort
  • Develop deicing strategy for refrigerant front heat exchangers
  • Evaluate energy consumption and its influence on driving range
  • UUT is placed in the test plant in the same geometrical position as in the vehicle
  • Suitable for different VTMS and powertrain architectures for all battery electrical passenger vehicles
  • Evaluation of ambient conditions from –25 to +55 °C and different driving cycles or vehicle speed up to maximum driving speed

 

Modular Test System Design

Modular test system design enables solutions that accurately reflect customer use cases.

No Prototype Vehicles

No prototype vehicles required for the optimization of the entire VTMS.

Independent Development 

Development is disengaged from weather conditions and regions.

Thorough Analysis

Analysis of the VTMS components and architecture for range and cabin comfort on the testbed.

Flexible Testing

Possibility of testing various VTMS concepts with different propulsion systems.

AVL Conditioning Systems

Gaseous and liquid media have a significant impact on the behavior of the device under test. Conditioning systems bring these media into a selectable and predefined range. Stable environmental conditions are essential to perform tests with high precision and reproducibility. These are conveniently and reliably provided by conditioned media. AVL conditioning systems are characterized by their modular design, their excellent functional expandability, and their compactness, making them mobile and versatile on the testbed.

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AVL Climatic Chamber

The modular AVL Climatic Chamber simulates a wide range of extreme environmental conditions safely and reliably to deliver a high degree of flexibility while minimizing system downtime. Furthermore, thanks to its unique, application-based design with predefined interfaces, it guarantees fast and easy integration into the existing testbeds.

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photo of stefan nemec

We provide products, solutions, and systems for thermal and environmental conditioning to enable our customers to develop their products with the highest level of efficiency.”

– Stefan Nemec, Global Business Segment Manager, AVL List GmbH

AVL E-Mobility Testing Solutions – Brochure

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AVL Thermal Testing Solutions - Brochure

Keep Cool, Drive Further.

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AVL ThermalLab™ – Solution Sheet

Testing battery-electric vehicles under realistic conditions.

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Thermal Testing Solutions

A vehicle thermal management system has a significant effect on the energy efficiency of the entire vehicle and the durability of all components in the propulsion system, such as the battery and inverter. Highly efficient systems require extensive calibration and testing time at vehicle level, which has a huge impact on development costs and timing.

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AVL Climatic Chamber

Battery packs, modules and cells, fuel cells, e-motor and e-axle solutions must operate safely and reliably in any environment. This can include extreme temperatures and humidity, which cannot be reproduced on the test track or in real test scenarios on the road. This is why we developed the modular AVL Climate Chamber.

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