An extended application of the refrigerant cycle is the use as a heat pump, where the evaporator is used as an auxiliary heater. KULI enables to perform quick analysis of heat pump concepts.
In the corresponding KULI model the real-life evaporator is set up as an KULI condenser-model and vice versa the real-life condenser is set up as an KULI evaporator-model. For investigations in very cold ambient temperatures, where refrigerant low pressure level might fall below ambient pressure an extended media property file of Refrigerant R134a is attached to the example. Sensors and actuators on the inner circuit sheet of KULI allow a good overview on system parameters and results.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
Especially in HVAC systems using CO2 as refrigerant the evaporator can be used as an auxiliary heater. This can be implemented by switching of the condenser which leads to a triangular process.
In the corresponding KULI model the condenser simply does not exist. For convergence of the calculation model the operation mode “Hot gas cycle mode” has to be activated in the refrigerant circuit definition.
Usable from release: KULI 13.1
The COM interface, developed by Microsoft®, provides a standardized interface for programs to communicate with each other. KULI has a set of built-in COM commands, which allow other programs to run and control a KULI simulation.
The current example is demonstration of KULI integrated in a driving simulation software like AVL CRUISE. Here there focus is on the impact of the A/C compressor driving power on the vehicle performance. This example also can be found in the AVL CRUISE tutorial. The KULI *.scs-file is contained in the folder “userdata”.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
The COM interface, developed by Microsoft®, provides a standardized interface for programs to communicate with each other.
KULI has a set of built-in COM commands, which allow other programs to run and control a KULI simulation.
The current example is a simple demonstration of KULI controlled by Microsoft EXCEL. For a certain cooling system the mechanical fan is varied and its performance regarding mass flow and power demand is output. Input and output parameters in the KULI file are defined by so-called COM objects.
The example is based on “ExTruck.scs” from the KULI installation setup.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
The COM interface, developed by Microsoft®, provides a standardized interface for programs to communicate with each other.
KULI has a set of built-in COM commands, which allow other programs to run and control a KULI simulation. KULI “Direct Access” allows to set and get component parameters of a cooling system without defining COM-objects in the *.scs-file. Hence, using Direct Access, a KULI file does not have to be prepared to be controlled by external programs but can be accessed directly, “as it is”. For the user this leads to a remarkable advantage regarding set-up time of the KULI cooling system. The current Excel sheet enables to list all accessible components of a defined cooling system. Furthermore, a list of all possible direct access attributes is provided.
Usable from release: KULI 14
The COM interface, developed by Microsoft®, provides a standardized interface for programs to communicate with each other. KULI has a set of built-in COM commands, which allow other programs to run and control a KULI simulation.
The current example is an Excel sheet which is created for the control and simulation of one steady state operating point of a cooling system. The certain benefit of this Excel sheet is, that no Visual Basic programming knowledge of the user is required. Input and output parameters of a KULI file can simply be defined in a list, where the parameters can be chosen from an interactive menu. The sheet allows access to standard KULI COM objects but also to components directly via the KULI Direct Access interface. If optimization parameters and targets are set in the KULI *.scs-file, one can simply run the optimization from Excel by activation of the “Run Optimization” option.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
In a real cooling package the air is not always guided through sealed shrouds, so there exist several leakages.
With KULI it is possible to model such leakages and even recirculation paths.
This example is based on the Tutorial Example ExTruck.
It shows how to model a leakage and a recirculation path such that the ratio of the air mass flow through radiator / inlet grid varies for different operating points between 70% – 130%.
The leakage is modeled via an area resistance below the main cooling package and the recirculation path is regulated via a second built in resistance.
The advantage of this modeling is that there is used the same cp-value and the same built-in-resistance for several operating points.
Usable from release: KULI 9.1-0.01
KULI advanced offers an optimization toolbox which can be used for quick parameter variation on one hand, and automatic minimization, maximization or goal seek on the other hand.
The current example is a cooling system with goal seek on two targets, and two parameters respectively. The speed of the mechanical fan and the heat rejection of the radiator are adjusted to hit the target of a given radiator top hose temperature and a given charge air exit temperature. The cooling system is based on tutorial example ExCar.scs from the KULI Setup.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
KULI advanced offers an optimization toolbox which can be used for quick parameter variation on one hand, and automatic minimization, maximization or goal seek on the other hand. Based on those functions it is possible to perform statistical analysis as well.
This example shows the application of the Monte Carlo Method in KULI. The basic idea is that some input parameters do have a certain degree of uncertainty. In this example we assume that the charge air temperature has a temperature of 150°C, but we are not sure, so we apply a normal distribution with mean 150°C and a standard deviation of 10 K. Furthermore we assume that the built in resistance has a zeta of 400, again with some uncertainty resulting in a normal distribution with mean 400 and standard deviation of 10. And finally we assume that we don’t really know the exit cp-value; since we can’t even guess a mean value we apply a uniform distribution between -0.4 and -0.2. When we run this model we choose „Monte Carlo Simulation“ with a sample size of e.g. 500. A possible output is mean value and standard deviation of water and charge air temperatures.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
KULI advanced offers an optimization toolbox which can be used for quick parameter variation on one hand, and automatic minimization, maximization or goal seek on the other hand.
This example shows how to simulate a component test rig preserving constant air pressure drop. Based on this method you can compare the performance of different radiators taking into account that a radiator with lower pressure drop allows more air flow such that the overall performance might be better than in the case of a radiator with better heat transfer characteristic but higher pressure drop. The optimization target is set to a given pressure difference and the fan rpm is optimized such that the demanded delta p will be achieved. Choose “Parameter Variation” after clicking the Analysis button!
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
The supercharger provides more oxygen for combustion to the engine than it is available for the naturally aspirated engine.
KULI provides the tools to create a calculation model of a supercharger by oneself. Using sensors, actuator and calculation objects the performance of the supercharger can be computed. Based on the input information like piston displacement, engine power, engine speed, the entry pressure, the entry charge air mass flow and the entry temperature into the charge air cooler is calculated. For a better overview of the complete system the model is packed into a KULI subsystem.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
KULI advanced offers an optimization toolbox which can be used for quick parameter variation on one hand, and automatic minimization, maximization or goal seek on the other hand.
The objective of the current examples is the calibration of the simulation model to measured temperatures by adjusting the Resistance Parameter of the Built-In-Resistance. This adjustment can be done automatically using the KULI optimization toolbox. Two variants for the calibration are presented. Variant 1 shows how to set up the optimization controllers if the user wants to find the optimum parameter for each single operating point. Variant 2 shows how to set up the optimization controllers if the user wants to find one optimum parameter for all operating points. The cooling system is based on tutorial example ExCar.scs from the KULI Setup.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
A fin and tube heat exchanger offers a complex refrigerant flow pattern. Usually starting from multiple inlet tubes the refrigerant passes the heat exchanger similar to serpentine flow but in several tube rows.
The KULI model for fin and tube heat exchangers offers a possibility to connect each single tube of the heat exchanger in accordance to the real flow configuration.
In this example a fin and tube evaporator is used instead of a plate evaporator. It is based on the example “Ex_AC.scs” from the KULI installation setup.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
Plate Heat Exchangers gain in importance in the field of automotive cooling systems. Especially in EV/HEV application the so-called “Chiller” removes heat from battery coolant using the refrigerant cycle.
KULI hvac provides a simulation model for plate heat exchangers (“ACPHE”). In proper KULI style input data are kept simple. Basic geometry and flow configuration data as well as test bench data are sufficient to be able to simulate the plate heat exchanger. In the current example a chiller is added to a conventional refrigerant circuit and works parallel to the refrigerant-to-air evaporator. The example is based on “Ex_AC.scs” from the KULI installation setup.
Usable from release: KULI 14
This tutorial demonstrates at the example of a hybrid vehicle:
Beside a conventional engine model and an oil circuit, also a passenger compartment is included. The electric components like the power electronics and the e-machine are separated from the battery cooling circuit. Additionally, all results for the battery are available at module and cell level (96 cells in 8 modules).
Usable from release: KULI 9.1-0.01
CAE software like KULI supports the engineer in to investigate in arbitrary concepts. A possible concept is the indirect cooling of refrigerant using water instead of air as coolant medium.
In this case an A/C parallel flow cooler (ACPFC) component can used instead of the standard refrigerant-to-air condenser. Thence the refrigerant can be cooled by low temperature water. In concept phase the decent refrigerant charge for the circuit is not known. KULI enables to calculate the optimum charge for an operating point based on a desired subcooling value.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
In real-life cooling packages there will be an non-uniform air flow distribution on heat exchangers, which can have a big effect on heat transfer rate. Using CFD results with KULI it is possible to consider this uneven air flow on heat exchangers.
Typically, from a given air velocity field over heat exchanger surface at a given operating condition, KULI calculates a system of local resistance correction factors which enables to extrapolate to other operating conditions. This system of correction factors is called “Resistance Matrix”. Nevertheless, often the resistance matrix significantly depends on driving speed, or on the state of a fan or something else. For this reason KULI offers the possibility to use resistance matrices that depend on the driving speed and/or another, user-specified parameter.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
Driving Simulation (includes pre-defined cycles) with an optional Gear Shifting Logic
The subsystem Gear Shifting Logic chooses the correct gear dependent on the engine revolutions.
The Shifting strategy is defined via the following input data:
Usable from release: KULI 9.1-0.01
In this example, the inlet temperature's dependecy on the massflowrate is used for the adjustment of the BiR.
Therefore the subsystem models a calibration routine for a Built-in-resistance.
Inputs:
This subsystem models the prohibition of repeated activations during a critical time period.
The counter-driven activation is defined via the following input:
In large KULI systems - containing many controllers, sensors and actuators - a clearly arranged layout is an issue.
The Signal Receiver helps to avoid long and confusing connector lines. A signal receiver is a “wireless” connector which can tap values from sensors, COM-objects and variables.The example illustrates the use of signal receivers based on the basic example “Ex_Fluid.scs” from the KULI installation setup. In this example a characteristic sensors the temperature of the 3rd tube and outputs a flow for the radiator bypass valve.
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04
KULI advanced offers an optimization toolbox which can be used for quick parameter variation on one hand, and automatic minimization, maximization or goal seek on the other hand.
This example shows how to simulate a component test rig preserving constant air pressure drop. Based on this method you can compare the performance of different radiators taking into account that a radiator with lower pressure drop allows more air flow such that the overall performance might be better than in the case of a radiator with better heat transfer characteristic but higher pressure drop. The optimization target is set to a given pressure difference and the fan rpm is optimized such that the demanded delta p will be achieved. Choose “Parameter Variation” after clicking the Analysis button!
Usable from release: KULI 8.0-1.04