Abstract: The development of research on flow and heat transfer in internal combustion engine cooling system using numerical simulation technology is summarized, including the popular investigations on single phase and gas-fluid two phase flow in water jacket, fluid-solid coupled heat transfer, 1D and 3D co-simulation, etc. Among these investigations, the coupled systems co-simulation accurately reflects the influence relations among internal combustion engine parts. These influence relations are research emphasis at present, however some problems still exist therein. On the basis of this situation, the improvement methods are put forward. In view of different working conditions, circulation average parameters are used as the heat transfer boundary condition of combustion side. The flow boundary condition of water jacket inlet and outlet is set as a fixed value under steady working condition, or it is determined through circulation 1D simulation calculation under transit working condition. For the calculation, integral coupling method should be used, and the calculation model should be complete as far as possible, but it may be simplified appropriately. The principle of the model simplification is summarized.

Key words: Flow, Heat transfer, Internal combustion engine cooling system, Numerical simulation