1
THERMAL MANAGEMENT FOR HEAVY VEHICLES
(CLASS 7-8 TRUCKS)
SUMMARY
Thermal management is a crosscutting technology that has an important effect on fuel
economy and emissions, as well as on reliability and safety, of heavy-duty trucks. Trends toward
higher-horsepower engines, along with new technologies for reducing emissions, are
substantially increasing heat-rejection requirements. For example, exhaust gas recirculation
(EGR), which is probably the most popular near-term strategy for reducing NOx emissions, is
higher-horsepower engines, along with new technologies for reducing emissions, are
substantially increasing heat-rejection requirements. For example, exhaust gas recirculation
(EGR), which is probably the most popular near-term strategy for reducing NOx emissions, is
expected to add 20-50% to coolant heat-rejection requirements. There is also a need to package
more cooling in a smaller space without increasing costs. These new demands have created a
need for new and innovative technologies and concepts that will require research and
development, which, because of its long-term and high-risk nature, would benefit from
government funding.
more cooling in a smaller space without increasing costs. These new demands have created a
need for new and innovative technologies and concepts that will require research and
development, which, because of its long-term and high-risk nature, would benefit from
government funding.
This document outlines a research program that was recommended by representatives of
truck manufacturers, engine manufacturers, equipment suppliers, universities, and national
laboratories. Their input was obtained through personal interviews and a plenary workshop that
was sponsored by the DOE Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies and held at Argonne National
Laboratory on October 19-20, 1999.
laboratories. Their input was obtained through personal interviews and a plenary workshop that
was sponsored by the DOE Office of Heavy Vehicle Technologies and held at Argonne National
Laboratory on October 19-20, 1999.
Major research areas that received a strong endorsement by industry and that are
appropriate for government funding were identified and included in the following six tasks:
·
Program Management/Coordination and Benefits/Cost Analyses. It is
imperative that truck and engine manufacturers and equipment suppliers work
together to achieve the goal of an advanced thermal management system that
is computer-controlled and more efficient, smaller in size, and lighter in
weight than current systems. To ensure industry relevance, it is recommended
that a working group be formed to assist DOE/OHVT in vectoring its thermal
management research and development program, consistent with
DOE/OHVT's mission statement. A thorough and credible benefits/cost
analysis is also recommended to quantify the energy-savings and emissions-
reduction potential of new technologies. This analysis will justify government
support of the development of new technologies and will ultimately facilitate
their adoption by industry. Several potentially energy-saving technologies that
have been shown to be effective have not been adopted because there is
insufficient information to demonstrate that the costs of implementation can
be justified by the benefits.
imperative that truck and engine manufacturers and equipment suppliers work
together to achieve the goal of an advanced thermal management system that
is computer-controlled and more efficient, smaller in size, and lighter in
weight than current systems. To ensure industry relevance, it is recommended
that a working group be formed to assist DOE/OHVT in vectoring its thermal
management research and development program, consistent with
DOE/OHVT's mission statement. A thorough and credible benefits/cost
analysis is also recommended to quantify the energy-savings and emissions-
reduction potential of new technologies. This analysis will justify government
support of the development of new technologies and will ultimately facilitate
their adoption by industry. Several potentially energy-saving technologies that
have been shown to be effective have not been adopted because there is
insufficient information to demonstrate that the costs of implementation can
be justified by the benefits.