A Novel of Applying Numerical Approach for Centre Computing Unit’s Cooling System

The Central computing unit of autonomous vehicles handles all tasks related to positioning, navigation, and control, as well as analyzing the surrounding environment using complex AI algorithms, often generates a large amount of heat. Therefore, a poorly designed cooling system for this unit can negatively affect the operation and safety of the vehicle while in motion. In this study, active air-cooling system of an autonomous vehicle's central computer compartment was studied using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation method. This is a closed compartment with multiple heat-generating components and a fan system that actively drives the hot airflow out of the unit. The objective of the study was to present an accurate modeling method of the heat transfer process of electrical components inside the unit, therefore the cooling capability of the system could be assessed with acceptable accuracy. The effects of ambient temperature and fan performance were also studied to evaluate the system responsiveness in real-life situation. The study's results serve as an important reference for researching and designing the central computing unit of future autonomous vehicles.