VCM v1
Latent Heat Battery, 2022/23
Latent Heat Battery, 2022/23
In 2022/23, I developed a thermal management solution for use in vacuum transport prototypes as my bachelor’s thesis at ETH Zurich.
In July 2023, VCM v1 and Waterblock v1 won the Best Thermal Management award at the European Hyperloop Week in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.With convection virtually eliminated in low-pressure environments, VCM v1 employs the melting energy of a paraffin-based Phase Change Material (PCM) to store heat.
In the vehicle, waste heat is collected at the power electronics using Waterblock v1 and pumped through VCM’s central water channel. The water channel features flow textures to enhance turbulence, improving heat transfer. Thanks to fluid couplings, the module can be quickly replaced with its identical twin once full melting has occurred. A pressure sensor is used to monitor melting levels.
VCM v1 was manufactured using AlSi10Mg SLS-printed Aluminium, and features a sophisticated chamber arrangement to compensate for the pressures encountered during PCM expansion caused by melting: Secondary air chambers are sealed against lipids with a breathable membrane similar to those found in rain jackets. Thanks to hollow lattice cores enabled by the SLS process, these secondary air chambers also act as sandwich cores of the structural sidewalls. The casing and lid are extremely lightweight at 1470 g and 348 g respectively. The system is fully sealed for operation in vacuum.
