BorgWarner has recently begun producing its electronically controlled Visctronic fan drives at its new plant in Itatiba City, Brazil. By operating only when needed and precisely controlling the fan speed when engine cooling is required, the drive provides efficient engine cooling as well as improved fuel economy and reduced emissions for trucks, buses and off-highway applications. In addition, it improves driver comfort by lowering noise, vibration and harshness.
“With our Visctronic fan drive, we help vehicle manufacturers comply with increasingly tight emissions standards. Our new plant allows us to produce these advanced technologies for our customers locally, and our new engineering centre expands BorgWarner’s network of technical centres, enhancing our local testing and validation capabilities,” said Daniel Paterra, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Thermal Systems.
Rising exhaust gas re-circulation rates and higher specific engine outputs are accelerating demand for more effective and efficient airflow solutions. Commercial vehicles, in particular, demand maximum cooling performance even at low driving speeds. The fan drives use specially calibrated software to communicate with the engine’s electronic control unit; constantly responding directly to the engine’s cooling needs. By disengaging and rotating at minimum speed when no air cooling is needed, the technology reduces power consumption. When the engine requires more cooling, the fan drive automatically re-engages to provide efficient air cooling at precisely the right time.
