Design and Development of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Rear Diffuser
Next in line for alternatives, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are the most logical step in reducing pollutions. However, an efficient model needs to be developed which can adapt latest technologies so that the vehicle is more efficient on the road. Under the program of “Series Hybrid Vehicle Cost...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/1234/1/2008_Devarajan_P4_STSS08_36.pdf |
| Summary: | Next in line for alternatives, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are the most logical step in reducing
pollutions. However, an efficient model needs to be developed which can adapt latest technologies
so that the vehicle is more efficient on the road. Under the program of “Series Hybrid Vehicle
Cost-Effective Powertrain Components Development” some aerodynamic studies were carried
out. The aim was to reduce energy consumption of the battery module by reducing wind drag and
weight while retaining the original structure of the model. In the attempt to reduce the drag of the
vehicle certain aerodynamic modifications was targeted. The modifications were investigated so
that only proven results were chosen for the model. One of these modifications is the rear diffuser.
Its idea was to reduce lift of the car and also some weight from the luggage compartment. The
task was done by doing a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis for expected vehicle speed
of 50-100 km/h. A drag force was found based on Finite Element Method (FEM) based on inputs
from CFD. This force was calculated to produce the drag coefficient of the car as a whole. The
approach needed to justify the amount of drag that can be reduced by addition of a rear diffuser
as compared to the model without a diffuser. Pressure profile of the model was analysed together
with velocity plot around the model. The reduction of lift and flow separation is the key results
that will be a point of discussion. The justification made enabled the design to proceed on the
actual car. |
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