9-11 July 2025
Hall N5, Shanghai New International Expo Center

In the Car Engine Room: The Magical Journey of Copper

The automobile engine room, a space where complex mechanical and sophisticated electronic systems are gathered, is like the "heart" of an automobile.It continuously provides power for vehicle driving.And in this dynamic core area, copper, an ancient and magical metal, is playing a variety of key roles.It is a wonderful journey of application, which has a profound impact on the performance, efficiency and reliability of automobiles.

Ignition System: the "Fuse" to Ignite Power

In the ignition system of traditional fuel vehicles, copper plays a key role in igniting engine power.When the engine is running, precise electric sparks are needed to ignite the mixed gas in the cylinder, thus pushing the piston to move.Provide forward power for the car. In this process, the copper conductor becomes the "highway" of high voltage transmission. The high voltage of tens of thousands of volts generated from the ignition coil must be transmitted to the spark plug quickly and stably.To ensure that the spark is generated at the right time.

Copper is extremely conductive and has a very low resistance, which allows the current to be transmitted with almost no loss.This means that high-voltage electricity can reach the spark plug at a very fast speed and powerful energy, releasing a powerful spark in an instant.According to professional tests, the power output of the engine using high-quality copper core ignition wire can be effectively increased by about 3% -5%.At the same time, due to the improvement of ignition efficiency, fuel combustion is more sufficient, and fuel consumption can also be reduced by 2% -3%.For example, in some cases of modification of high-performance sports cars, the ignition wire is replaced by a customized high-quality copper core.When the vehicle accelerates, the response is more rapid, the power connection is smooth, and the driving experience is significantly improved.

Power Generation and Distribution System: The "Energy Hub" of Automotive Electricity

The power generation and distribution system of automobiles is just like the blood circulation system of human body.It provides stable power support for the electronic equipment and battery charging of the whole vehicle, and copper is the core material to build this system.As the source of power generation, the internal winding of the alternator is very important.These windings are carefully wound from high-purity copper, which takes advantage of the good conductivity of copper.The mechanical energy of the engine can be efficiently converted into electric energy.When the engine runs, the copper winding cuts the magnetic line of force through the principle of electromagnetic induction to generate alternating current.After a series of treatments such as rectification, it provides stable direct current for automobiles.

The wiring harness system inside the automobile can be called a complex "neural network".It connects the engine control unit, various sensors, lights, audio and many other electronic devices.Copper wires are the "nerve fibers" of this network.From the main wiring harness connecting the engine and key components to the branch wiring harness controlling the functions of door and seat adjustment,All of them are based on copper. Copper wires not only have excellent conductivity, but also can transmit signals and power steadily.Moreover, it can still maintain good performance in the face of high temperature, vibration and other harsh environments in the automobile engine room.It has certain flexibility, which is convenient for wiring installation in limited space and ensures the stable operation of the whole electrical system.The total length of the wiring harness of an ordinary family car can reach 2-3 kilometers, of which the weight of the copper wire accounts for about 15-20 kilograms.Such a large amount of consumption is enough to highlight the important position of copper in automotive electrical architecture.

Cooling System: Engine's "Cool Guard"

The engine will produce a lot of heat in the process of operation, if it can not be effectively emitted in time.Excessive engine temperature will result in reduced performance and may even cause a malfunction.At this time, copper plays an irreplaceable role in the cooling system.The automobile radiator is one of the core components of the cooling system, in which the radiator pipe is usually made of copper.Copper has extremely high thermal conductivity, which can quickly absorb the heat in the engine coolant and conduct it to the outside air.

Inside the radiator, the cooling liquid flows in the copper radiating pipe, and the heat is transferred to the radiating fins through the pipe wall.Then the fan blows the heat sink to accelerate the heat dissipation.In addition, copper intercoolers are used in some high-performance cars or turbocharged engines.The function of the intercooler is to reduce the temperature of the air after turbocharging and increase the air density.Thereby improving the air intake efficiency and the power of the engine.The excellent thermal conductivity of copper enables the intercooler to quickly cool the high-temperature compressed air,Ensure that the engine is always running efficiently within the appropriate temperature range.For example, when a turbocharged engine is equipped with a copper intercooler, the intake air temperature can be reduced by 20-30 degrees Celsius.The engine power is increased by about 8% -10%.

New Mission of New Energy Vehicles

With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, copper has shouldered a new important mission in this field. Copper busbars play a key role in the battery management system of new energy vehicles.The strong current output by the battery pack needs to be accurately distributed to the motor, charging module and other key components through the bus bar.The high current carrying capacity and low resistance of copper can effectively reduce the energy loss in the process of current transmission.Improve the efficiency and range of the battery.

Taking Tesla Model 3 as an example, its battery system optimizes the application of copper materials.Compared with some competing models, the range can be increased by 5% -10%.There are also significant advantages to using copper windings in electric vehicle motors.Copper windings can greatly improve the power density and efficiency of the motor.It makes the vehicle have stronger power performance and more agile response speed.In some high-end electric vehicles, the efficiency of the motor can be increased to more than 95% by using advanced copper winding technology.The overall performance of the vehicle is greatly improved.

On the stage full of challenges and opportunities in the automobile engine room,Copper has excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and good mechanical properties.It plays an indispensable role in ignition, power generation and distribution, heat dissipation and other key systems.Whether it is a traditional fuel vehicle or a new energy vehicle representing the future direction of development, copper has its unique charm.The development of the automobile industry has injected continuous impetus.With the continuous innovation and progress of automotive technology, the application potential of copper in the automotive field will be further tapped.Continue to bring us a more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly travel experience