DENSO introduces integrated cooling module for automotive market

Japan-based DENSO Corporation has introduced the SF Cooling Module, an automotive cooling module with a combined engine-cooling radiator and air conditioner condenser. DENSO’s module uses a slitted cooling fin shared by the radiator and the condenser that optimizes radiator and condensor performance. Heat transfer issues from the radiator to the coolant through shared fins has been an industry-wide issue, given that radiator coolant rises 30C higher than the temperature of the condenser refrigerant, hindering air conditioning performance. “Compared with the conventional approach of a separate radiator and a separate air conditioner condenser, DENSO’s new module achieves a 40 percent reduction in thickness,” according to managing director Koichi Fukaya. “This offers greater space savings and improves installation in vehicles.” Fukaya claims that the SF cooling module improves cooling performance of both the engine coolant and air conditioner refrigerant by roughly ten percent. For easy disassembly and increased ability for module recycling, DENSO has eliminated the conventional resin radiator tank and has adopted all-aluminum materials. The SF Cooling Module is currently being used in Toyota’s Prius hybrid car.