Improving Life of Automotive Condenser through Simulation & Experimental Validation 2021-26-0359

A Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to determine the modal frequency and structural integrity of the automotive condenser assembly, whereas the experimentation (modal and dynamic) are performed using electro-dynamic vibration shaker for vibration durability. In this paper, numerical and experimental modal & dynamic analysis are discussed to derive the modal properties (mode shapes & modal frequencies) and dynamic properties (stresses & deflections) of condenser assembly. The effects of vibration occurring due to dynamic interaction between vehicle and road, vibration transmitted from machinery to its supporting structures thereby interfering with their performance, damage as well as malfunction and failure due to dynamic loading and cyclic loading.

In this work, author compared modal frequencies as well as the life cycle of the condenser assembly through FEM and experimentations. The main objective of this work is to improve the life of existing condenser assembly with prestressed load of refrigerant pressure under dynamic load. Scope of this work is to either improve the modal frequencies or else minimize the working stresses through design changes in mounting brackets. Further, improved design has been validated experimentally using electro-dynamic shaker test under same load conditions. In FEM, condenser assembly is analyzed under resonance condition and improved the design based on post-processing at higher stress areas. Fatigue analysis also carried out to compare the life and experimental results found comparable.