About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Friction Stir Welding and Processing XII
|
| Presentation Title |
Assessing the Performance of Liquid Cooled Plates for Inverter Stacks Produced by CoreFlow |
| Author(s) |
Joao Gandra, Sam Holdsworth, Jonathan Peter P. Martin |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jonathan Peter P. Martin |
| Abstract Scope |
TWI Ltd has recently invented a new sub-surface machining technique called CoreFlow™. This new solid-state process is an evolution from friction stir welding and friction stir channeling that allows for sub-surface networks of channels to be machined within monolithic metallic parts in a single manufacturing step.
The present investigation addresses the manufacturing of liquid cooled plates for inverter stack assemblies typically used in transport applications and power generation. Channels exhibiting a cross section of 6x2mm were produced in AA6082-T6 plates measuring 300x200mm, with a thickness of 8mm. Serpentine prototypes were produced and benchmarked against traditional manufacturing methods for a number of key performance variables, namely thermal efficiency, pressure loss and pump flow energy consumption. Cold plates manufactured by CoreFlow™ showed improved thermal efficiency with respect to conventional press-lock smooth copper tubing cold plates with comparable volume for a given flow rate. Data on the economic savings are presented. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Process Technology, Joining |