Behr's Visco Technology For Diesel Engines Offers Heavy-truck Fuel Savings

TROY, Mich., July 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Behr America is introducing new diesel-engine technology that promises fuel-economy savings of up to one percent for heavy truck owners in North America.

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Behr's patented Visco technology for engine-coolant pumps reduces "parasitic" power losses that affect fuel economy.  First introduced on 13-liter diesel engines in Europe, Behr's new demand-driven system recently became available on commercial vehicles sold in North America.

Rising fuel prices and tougher U.S. heavy-truck fuel-economy standards in 2017 have sparked demand for Behr-equipped coolant pumps.  The Behr system has the potential to reduce annual fuel costs for long-haul truck operators by up to one percent per vehicle.

An estimated 60,000 heavy-duty trucks sold in the U.S. are expected to have Behr's Visco-equipped coolant pumps within the next two years with annual sales volumes increasing significantly by 2017.

The electronically-controlled Visco system varies coolant-pump speeds based on engine requirements and operating conditions.  Variable-speed Visco fan drives for truck engines have been available since the 1970s, but this is the industry's first coolant-pump application.

Heavy-truck coolant pumps today are almost exclusively tied linearly to engine-speed via belt drives.  Since these pumps are designed to meet coolant requirements under maximum load conditions, flow rates at many operating points exceed actual need with a resulting drain on fuel economy.

Behr's trademarked Visco technology covers variable-speed, fuel-saving air- and coolant-flow products by hydraulically isolating engine-input speeds and minimizing power consumption under high-speed operation and light-engine loads where maximum flow rates are not required.

The Visco pump's control logic is embedded in an engine-control module. Although the pump is tied to a belt drive, energy is transferred hydraulically to an impeller. The amount of energy transfer depends on the amount of silicone oil in an operating chamber managed through a closed-loop control system.

The fully variable-speed Visco clutch operation allows for precise coolant flow rates. Continuous impeller-speed feedback is the key to providing immediate coolant flow adjustments when required by engine conditions.

The Visco coolant pump is designed for the life of the vehicle and does not require periodic maintenance.  Estimated fuel-economy savings of one percent for long-haul truck applications is based on average engine power of 100 kW.

Behr's North American headquarters is in Troy, Michigan. Behr America has more than 2,700 employees at facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc. employs approximately 390 people, producing radiators, CAC (Charge Air Coolers), EGRs (Exhaust Gas Recycling) and Engine Cooling Modules, primarily for heavy truck customers.  The facility is located at 4500 Leeds Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405.

Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, Germany, is a systems partner for the international automobile industry. A specialist for automotive air conditioning and engine cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for light vehicles and trucks. Group sales in the 2012 business year came to around EUR 3.7 billion. Currently, Behr employs some 17,300 staff at 38 production locations as well as at regional R&D centers worldwide. The MAHLE Group holds a minority share of 36.85 percent in the Behr Group.

Additional information is available at www.behrgroup.com.

SOURCE Behr America