Fuel efficiency: Auxiliary HVAC and Power Systems

Fuel efficiency: Auxiliary HVAC and Power Systems

Fleets have been specifying a variety of onboard auxiliary systems.

To meet the challenges of anti-idling regulations—and to address theneed to save fuel and provide for driver comfort during off-dutyperiods––fleets have been specifying a variety of onboard auxiliarysystems.

There are now many jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada that havepassed legislation restricting truck idling. For more information aboutU.S. regulations, visit the SmartWay Transportation Partnership fromthe U.S. EPA website at www.epa.gov/ smartway. Information on Canadianregulations is available from the Fleetsmart program of NationalResources Energy Canada at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/
transportation/fleetsmart.cfm.

Auxiliary cab and sleeper heaters, some with engine heating capability,and full auxiliary power units (APUs) that offer heating, cooling,accessory power, battery charging and engine heat, are now offered bytruck OEMs as original equipment and from a variety of manufacturersfor new and aftermarket installation. Here are a few:
Auxiliary Power Dynamics/Willis APU: The Willis APU provides 28,000 to38,000 BTU of air conditioning and 25, 000 BTU of heating capacity. TheAPU can be operated in manual mode to provide heating, cooling and DCpower and in automatic mode to start and stop with parking brakeapplication. For extended parking periods, the APU can be set to startautomatically to maintain battery voltage. Powered by a Kubotathree-cylinder, 18.8-HP engine, the Willis APU is equipped with aLeece-Neville 150-amp alternator and is available with an optionalTundra 110-volt AC power inverter.

Bergstrom and Kohler: Bergstrom’sNo-Idle solutions include the Hybrid Power System (HPS), which combinesthe Bergstrom NITE Plus System with a Kohler DC power unit to providepower to the truck and run the HVAC system without idling. When thebattery power decreases to low voltage levels, the Kohler DC power unitbegins to recharge the batteries while keeping the Bergstrom NITE PlusSystem operating. NITE Plus features 4,600 BTU/hr cooling capacity andhas virtually no maintenance requirements for the batteries and airconditioning unit. Bergstrom is also currently testing in severalfleets its Daycab Unit with 6,000 BTU cooling capacity and three fanspeeds.

Carrier Transicold: CarrierTransicold’s ComfortPro auxiliary power unit is powered by thecompany’s DELTEK hybrid diesel-electric technology, the same systemused in Carrier’s Vector 1800MT trailer refrigeration units. ComfortProprovides sleeper air conditioning and heating, shore power and chargesthe truck batteries as well as warms the engine. The APU has a 13.9 HP,two-cycle Kubota diesel engine and a 4,000-watt generator forelectrical power and can provide 10,000 BTU/hr of air conditioning and5,000 and 10,000 BTU/hr of heating on high and low speed settings.
Dometic: The Dometic day cab HVAC package includes a 7,000-BTU airconditioner, 2,000-watt power inverter, 270-amp alternator and threeGroup 31 absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries. The air conditioningsystem consists of a compressor/evaporator/blower unit that fitsbetween the seats in the cab and a condenser mounted outside of thecab. The battery-powered auxiliary air conditioning system for day cabsprovides two hours of cooling without running the truck’s engine.Dometic also offers a full range of battery-powered air conditioningpackages for sleeper cabs, designed to provide 10 or more hours ofcooling between recharges.

Espar: Espar auxiliaryfuel-fired air heaters range from 7,500 BTU/hr to 41,000 BTU/hr andcoolant heaters range from 13,700 BTU/hr to 120,000 BTU/hr. The EsparAirtronic D2 bunk heater draws less than one amp/hr of power on averagefrom a 12-volt battery system. The coolant systems include all heatcreation, fan distribution and plumbing packaged within the unit. Theheaters have from two to four heat levels and cycle between theselevels to maintain a constant coolant temperature called for by thecontrol unit. Espar units are typically controlled by a seven-day timerthat can be pre-set to come on well in advance of departure.

Glacier Bay: The Glacier Bay ClimaCabauxiliary systems can provide 8,000 BTU/hr cooling capacity andall-electric heating. ClimaCab’s battery bank, which is separate fromthe truck batteries, can provide more than 10 hours of run time topower the unit’s variable speed compressors and blowers. The system’spower management module (PMM) coordinates battery usage with demand toensure proper cycling and longevity and monitors and maintains thebattery bank to ensure efficient charge and discharge cycles. A StartAssist solution, which boosts start capacity by directly increasing thevoltage level of the truck’s batteries to their fully charged state, isalso available.

Pony Pack: The Pony Pack systemprovides driver cab and sleeper climate control, engine warming,heating, cooling, and 12-volt power for batteries and accessoriesutilizing OEM systems and controls, without modifying the vehicle. Theunit can also serve as a back-up if the main engine alternator or airconditioning compressor fails. The APU features a two-cylinder Kubota10.8 HP diesel engine, a Ford/Visteon 110-amp alternator and A/Ccompressor, Modine condenser/radiator, Gates belts, hoses and automatictensioner pulley, a permanent AFE air filter and a 110-volt inverter.

Sun Power Technologies:  SunPower Technologies offers battery powered heating and coolingequipment. According to the company, the Sunspot 3600 delivers 3,600BTU/hr of cooling capacity and an optional 400 watts per hour ofheating capacity with low current draw. The system uses dual fans,optimizing airflow and recirculation, the maker said, and is availablein 12-, 24-, 36-, 48- and 72-volt DC, fitting standard SAE serviceports. The Sunspot 5000, a self-contained 12-volt DC air conditioner,delivers 5,000 BTU/hr of cooling capacity, the maker added.

Teleflex Power Systems: Proheat Air auxiliary cab heaters forheavy-duty trucks from Teleflex are diesel-powered air heaters forin-cab use in 2,000- and 4,000-watt versions. The Proheat Air A2 offers6,800 BTU of capacity and the 4-kilowatt unit, the Proheat Air A4,offers 13,600 BTU of capacity. The heaters feature a built-intemperature sensor and a digital control panel with a backlit LCDdisplay of heater status. The Proheat X45 auxiliary coolant heater,which enables engine-off sleeper heating and engine pre-heating, is a13-kilowatt unit rated at 45,000 BTU.

Thermo King: Thermo King’sTriPac hybrid idle reduction and temperature management system, poweredby a two-cylinder diesel engine, provides up to 13,600 BTU/hr of airconditioning or heat. Its standard 65-amp alternator can be upgraded toa 120-amp option for quicker battery charging under heavy accessoryloads. If 120-volt AC power is required, an optional 12-volt DC to120-volt AC inverter can be provided. All components are controlledusing a programmable microprocessor-based, backlit panel that mounts inthe sleeper compartment. With its modular design, TriPac can beinstalled in a variety of configurations on the frame rails, under thesleeper bunk or on the rear cab wall. Flexible ducting can be routeddirectly to the cab or integrated with existing systems.

Webasto: Webasto’s BlueCooltruck bunk cooler is a cold storage unit that is charged while thetruck is running and utilizes small amounts of electricity from thevehicle batteries to circulate super-chilled coolant between the coldstorage unit and a heat exchanger installed in the sleeper. Using fourair distribution fans, the cold air will keep the bunk area cool for upto 10 hours in most ambient conditions. Webasto also offers the Air Top2000 S and Air Top 2000 ST compartment air heaters rated at 7,000BTU/hr. Combining an Air Top 2000 ST heating unit and a BlueCool Trucksystem is the company’s C5 Truck solution.  

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