Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The elevated temperatures within internal combustion engines (ICEs) can lead to the breakdown of oil films between moving parts, potentially causing component seizing or welding. Therefore, precise thermal regulation is essential to maintain engine reliability and efficiency. This review investigates recent advancements in cooling techniques, including the use of phase change materials and hybrid nanofluids, for enhancing thermal management in ICEs. The detrimental impact of excessive cooling on thermal efficiency is also addressed, highlighting the importance of intelligent control systems that regulate heat rejection while minimizing power consumption. The impact of thermal management on engine reliability and service life is also explored, with a focus on mitigating thermal stresses and material degradation under high-load conditions. Additionally, the role of numerical simulation in optimizing cooling configurations and predicting thermal behavior is examined, emphasizing its value in accelerating development and reducing experimental costs. This review presents an integrated framework that combines advanced heat-transfer materials with model-based control to mitigate peak temperatures and stabilize thermal gradients under real-world conditions. This framework clarifies the interplay among coolant design, thermal storage media, and active control mechanisms, and outlines practical pathways toward implementation in next-generation engine platforms.
Institutions: Semnan University, Quchan University of Advanced Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,170
OpenAlex ID: W7223458282