What happens when you replace a truck’s fan assembly with an electric fan system? You increase horsepower, reduce under-hood temperature, and become a winner in the 2017 “Create the Future” Design Contest.
The under-the-hood Engine Cooling System took top honors in the Automotive/Transportation category of this year's annual “Create the Future” challenge, a competition originally established in 2002 to recognize and reward engineering innovations. Without touching the engine or cab aerodynamics, the modular retrofit technology decreases fuel consumption and engine-compartment temperatures.
Original equipment engine-driven accessories can have loads of 80+ horsepower (HP), the majority of which comes from the fan assembly. Joshua Medling, Creative Director of the Sullivan, Mo-based EnviroCool, Inc., spoke with Tech Briefs about how his team’s invention cuts under-hood temperature by half, using only 2 HP. Medling believes the truck technology will ultimately decrease carbon footprint, cut ownership costs, and increase load revenues.
Tech Briefs: What is the Enviro-Cool Air Management System, and how is it a part of your “Heavy Duty Aftermarket Super Truck?”
Medling: The Heavy Duty Aftermarket Super Truck is a modular retrofit platform for new transportation technology. The first core module is the Enviro-Cool Air Management System that directly increases ram air for engine compartment cooling; the air then exits through the patented electric fan system and hood. The benefits are reduced fuel consumption up to 10%, increased available horsepower, and significantly lower engine compartment temperature.
Tech Briefs: How does the technology reduce fuel consumption?
Medling: The Air Management System improves fuel economy by replacing the OEM fan assembly with a lighter-weight and lower-horsepower electric fan system, redirecting hot dead-headed air to outside the hood. This improves the coefficient of drag, increases available horsepower, and dramatically reduces under-hood temperature and fan noise.
Tech Briefs: How is the technology implemented?
Medling: The AMS is a completely retrofit package. The OEM fan, fan clutch, shroud, and belts are removed and replaced with dual electric high-performance fans and plenum mounted on the radiator. The new system is a custom drop-in fit. A molded full-width cowl induction hood and air duct is attached, to direct the hot air outside. The package is designed to be installed in a mod shop or an OEM assembly line.
Tech Briefs: What transportation challenge is the technology addressing? Why is the technology so important?
Medling: The AMS addresses the transportation industry’s heat management challenges and general lack of under-hood aero-thermodynamic innovation. Over 50% of all engine failures are due to cooling system issues. Solving this creates an enormous savings on maintenance, cost of ownership, and fuel.
Tech Briefs: What’s next regarding the development of the Super Truck system?
Medling: With the AMS developed, we are now working on a second and third modular upgrade. The second is a Class 8 Hybrid Electric System, and the third is an advanced Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) that will be lighter weight, require no clutching or hydraulics, and will have fewer parts.
The Enviro-Cool Air Management System team includes co-inventor George Sturmon, chief technician Edward Murray, Susan Schmidt, Joshua Medling, and Glenn Harris.
Read the full "Create the Future" entry for the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Super Truck .
What do you think? Will the Advanced Engine Cooling System reduce carbon footprint? Share your thoughts below.
Also: The Advanced Engine Cooling System is one of ten ‘Create the Future’ winners. See all the awarded products.
Transcript
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