Master thesis; Heat pump in Volvo Wheel Loaders

Background
Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE), a division of Volvo Group, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of construction equipment such as wheel loaders, haulers, excavators, road machinery, and compact machines. We in the Wheel Loader organization within VCE are here to make a difference and want to offer sustainable transport & infrastructure solutions. Sustainable power is the game changer, and a heat pump can be an enabler of Volvo Group’s overall electromobility ambition to be carbon neutral by 2040.


Suitable background
This master thesis (30 ECTS) is suitable for two students that are completing their studies in Design and Product development / Mechanical Engineering / Automotive Engineering or equivalent. Desired start date is Jan-Feb 2023.

Description of thesis work
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the energy saving potential of heat pump technology and to develop a digital installation model of a temperature management system using heat pump technology in an electrical wheel loader.
The work will involve analysis of temperature management system behavior, identification of system requirements and creating a Catia packaging model.


The main activities are:
Identify when in terms of energy consumption (within our machine’s ambient temperature requirements) it is energy efficient to use heat pump technology
What refrigerant to use for our machine’s ambient temperature requirements
Competitor study on what is used within vehicles
Potential suppliers of complete systems and/or components
Simulations of energy consumption differences depending on technology solution
Identify limitations and dimensioning criteria for a wheel loader heat pump solution
Packing study
Patent study



A full report of the work will be prepared and presented to staff at Volvo CE. It will be required for the students to perform the thesis at Volvo CE facilities in Eskilstuna.




Tutor
Peter Carlbinder
peter.carlbinder@volvo.com +46 73 765 62 21


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