Modeling, Simulation & Assessment

Argonne's capabilities in modeling and simulation include sophisticated tools especially well suited for transportation applications. For instance, the General-Purpose Simulator for the design and analysis of advanced energy and propulsion systems effectively models complex systems and processes like those found in the transportation industry. For example, the General Computational toolkit (GCtool), a versatile simulation software package developed by Argonne, uses a modular approach to integrate many of the detailed thermodynamic and component models developed during decades of fuel cell and power system research at Argonne and elsewhere.

In computational fluid dynamics, Argonne developed computer codes that can simulate combustion processes for the numerical calculation of fluid flows with sprays and cooling systems to improve auto components, as well as model and analyze fuel-injection and exhaust systems. Another series of codes can be used to analyze fluid transients and the effects of fluid-structure interactions in complex flow and heat transport systems. Argonne also has a long history in the development and application of computational mechanics in assessing automotive system and component response. And Argonne researchers are using virtual reality to study heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems for automobiles.

Because of the number of possible advanced powertrain configurations, developing HEVs, PHEVs and fuel cell vehicles requires accurate, flexible simulation tools. As a result, Argonne developed the Powertrain System Analysis Toolkit (PSAT) software under the direction of Ford, General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler. This forward-looking model simulates vehicle fuel economy, emissions, and performance in a realistic manner--taking into account transient behavior and control system characteristics. PSAT can simulate an unrivaled number of predefined configurations (conventional, electric, fuel cell, series hybrid, parallel hybrid, and power split hybrid).

June 2007