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.
