TROY, Mich., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As more energy-efficient diesel and hybrid-powered vehicles take to the roads, automotive engine-cooling and air- conditioning specialist Behr America's PTC heaters are a solution to quickly remove the winter chill inside.
A PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater is an electrical heating element that is inserted as a separate component of a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) module or integrated into the main coolant heater core to supplement the vehicle's heating system. This device is mainly used for cold-start conditions for diesel-powered vehicles. It provides effective and efficient supplemental heating and improves passenger comfort during the engine's warm-up period.
"Modern internal combustion engines operate with extreme efficiency," said Frank Mueller, Behr America president and CEO. "Small diesel engines, for example, achieve a thermal efficiency of about 44 percent, but when outside temperatures are low, the vehicle's cooling water doesn't heat up quickly enough to transfer waste heat to the cooling circuit.
"As a consequence, traditional HVAC solutions don't work well," he added. "The passenger cabins of energy-efficient vehicles can remain cold for quite a long time. The windshields -- especially in large sport-utility vehicles, vans, delivery and heavy-duty trucks -- tend to fog up and pose a safety risk along with causing passenger discomfort."
Since modern vehicle engines are constantly optimized, the heating-power deficiency is becoming acute.
Since 2000, Behr has produced three generations of PTC heaters to meet increasing customer demand. Behr's PTC production volume has increased from 15,800 units in 2000 to an estimated 1.6 million units for 2007.
Behr not only supplies and integrates its PTC heaters into vehicle HVAC systems, but they also control the systems needed to operate them in the most efficient manner.
As an electrically-powered auxiliary unit, PTC heaters warm the vehicle cabin air directly. Heated air exits from the vehicle HVAC vents immediately after a cold start.
Behr's PTC heaters are designed with the latest methods. Their compact design allows them to be placed virtually anywhere in the cabin, including the flat footwell ducts under the front seats, the center console or the B-pillar. Behr's PTC 12-volt heaters come in several "families" including the mini-unit -- with a performance of 150-watts at 32-degrees Fahrenheit that can be integrated as duct outlet heaters at the point of need -- up to the 1,600-watt model for high-performance requirements. PTC versions for higher-voltage applications are available including the 24V, 42V or 300V (up to 5kW) units.
"Our new generation of PTC heaters also stands out because it incorporates a number of innovations ranging from using an adhesive-bonded structure that eliminates the need for costly mechanical connecting parts, while markedly improving corrosion resistance," Mueller added. "Additional benefits include improved heat transfer, more homogeneous heat distribution and reduced pressure drops."
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Worth, Texas, and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
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 passenger and commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2006 business year were approximately $4.2 billion. Currently Behr employs about 18,600 people at 17 development and 30 production sites, and an additional 13 joint-venture locations worldwide. Additional information is at www.behrgroup.com.