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The thermal management of a Formula 1 car is a challenging task as it involves multiple components, systems and multiple sources of thermal energy. The present work attempts to model a representative F1 car following 2018 F1 regulations directly linked to the cooling systems requirements and performance. The main purpose of this work is to simulate the steady and transient behaviour of the cooling system when the vehicle is in a qualifying lap, and during the entire race, including the wait in the starting grid and the pit stops. This model includes the sub-models representing internal combustion engine, hybrid powertrain, vehicle, driver and an appropriate cooling system composed of radiators, pumps and expansion tanks. This work validates the cooling system of a representative 2018 F1 car for the Silverstone Circuit. This model is capable of simulating the overall thermal performance of the F1 car for sizing the cooling system for most of the F1 circuits.

Stringent emission norms introduced by the legislators over the decades has forced automotive manufacturers to improve the fuel economy and emission levels of their engines continuously. Therefore, the emission levels of modern engines are significantly lower than pre-1990 engines. However, the improvement in fuel economy is marginal when compared to that of emission levels. For example, approximately 30% of total energy in the fuel is being wasted through the cooling systems in the modern engines. Therefore, thermal management systems are being developed to reduce these losses and offer new opportunities for improving the fuel economy of the vehicles. One of the new emerging technologies for thermal management is the use of nanofluids as coolant. Nanofluids are a mixture of nano-sized particles added to a base fluid to improve its thermal characteristics.

Improving the thermal efficiency of internal combustion engines over the engine operating range is essential for achieving optimum fuel economy. The thermal efficiency of the engine during cold start is one of the areas where significant improvement can be made if a suitable thermal management strategy is identified and implemented. Thermal management strategy in an engine can allow the engine to work at different operating temperatures in order to reduce the heat transfer loss by ensuring optimum volumetric efficiency, efficient combustion and adequate safety margin for the durability of mechanical components. The aim of the present work was to numerically model the warm-up characteristics of a 4 cylinder, 1.6 litre, turbocharged and intercooled, Euro IV, gasoline direct injected engine. It used a fully validated engine model which works based on the predictive combustion model.