Dana Uses Its Thermal Management Expertise To Protect Under-Hood Electronics

TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 21, 2002; Fried microchips, anyone? Under-hood ambient temperatures of up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit create an environment where electronic components cannot survive without dedicated and controlled cooling. As more electronics are applied in harsh under-hood environments, Dana Corporation's Engine and Fluid Management Group is using its thermal management expertise to develop new solutions to keep them operating.

"Dana's electric pump and heat exchanger developments address the growing problem of protecting under-hood electronics," said Mike Laisure, president of Dana's Engine and Fluid Management Group. "The great thing about these solutions is they apply to thermal management problems in internal combustion engines, hybrids, and fuel cells, with little modification."

Dana is developing a number of cooling pump and heat exchanger solutions to manage heat effectively. Where a cooling medium is readily available the solution may be simple. A recent example is a problem with an overheating engine control unit that Dana solved for a large truck manufacturer, by routing the fuel supply through the ECU, and creating a heat exchanger from the aluminum casing. This solution kept the electronic components below the critical temperature ceiling.

When a cooling medium is not available, or the problem comes from heat soak after engine shut down, Dana has developed a range of electric pumps using both microprocessor-controlled brushless DC motors and simple on/off brushed motor devices. Heat exchangers have been developed for the independent cooling of ECU batteries, starter/alternator devices and electric motors. Dana can even offer a complete system solution to vehicle makers that would include a heat exchanger, pump and fluid routing to address a particular need.

Dana also is positioned to offer robust thermal management solutions for fuel cells, with pumps, heat exchangers and fluid routing for both the cooling (water/glycol) and pure water circuits.