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Modine Demonstrates Thermal Management Capabilities

11 September 2000

Modine Demonstrates Thermal Management Capabilities With Air-Conditioning Innovations at SAE Off-Highway Show in Milwaukee

    MILWAUKEE--Sept. 11, 2000--Modine Manufacturing Company will demonstrate several innovations in heating and air-conditioning systems for off-road vehicles at Booth no. 801 at the 2000 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Off-Highway and Powerplant Congress & Exposition, September 11-13, 2000, at the Midwest Express Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
    The first innovation is an air-conditioning (A/C) analysis and simulation tool called ACAST(TM) that can help the design engineer quickly and accurately simulate A/C system performance, without the need for extensive prototyping, lab, and wind-tunnel testing. It has an easy-to-understand, graphical user interface (GUI) that displays all data on a system diagram. System performance is plotted visually as well, with trends displayed on a user-defined x/y axis. Users can create simulation models by selecting from lists of pre-existing components, including various types of air-conditioning compressors, condensers, evaporators, refrigeration hose lines, etc., or create a new, user-defined component. Pressure ratio, mass flow rate, and efficiencies can also be calculated automatically for a wide range of operating speeds and conditions.
    The second innovation is an automatic temperature control (ATC) for off-road equipment heating and air-conditioning systems. The ATC system maintains operator comfort in changing environmental conditions without the need for operator interaction. Modine's ATC system uses electronic hardware and software that responds automatically to HVAC system input and output signals. It also has a solar sensor to adjust the airflow in response to changes in the brightness of the sunlight on the vehicle. The system is automatic but can also be operated manually by the operator if desired, while the equipment is in operation.
    The third innovation is a modular HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) unit that, with minor modifications, can be shipped, ready-to-install, in any off-road vehicle. Developed by Modine for use in low-volume agricultural and construction-equipment applications, the modular HVAC unit saves the equipment builder the time and expense of custom design-engineering, testing, and tooling.
    The module has a "blend-air" feature that responds immediately to changes in temperature setting. The air is routed through the evaporator and diverted through the heater core using a "blend door." The amount of air diverted is controlled by the operator-defined temperature control setting. The "blend door" configuration allows the HVAC unit to respond faster than a conventional series reheat system, in which the water valve adjusts based on operator input, which has some lag time in response. The blend-air door has direct-drive actuation to ensure optimum response and performance. Electronic actuators, rather than control cables, are used, which allows greater flexibility in installation.
    "Modine is focusing its efforts on complete thermal management under the hoods and in the cabs of off-road vehicles," said David Graham, program groups manager for the Climate Systems Division of Modine. "Our efforts are focused on creating greater operator comfort through more effective heating and air-conditioning systems in both high-volume and low-volume applications," he added. "These three innovations -- the ACAST(TM) simulation software, automatic temperature control software, and modular HVAC unit -- represent the full range of basic capabilities Modine has to offer to the heavy-duty marketplace," he stated.