ELECTRIC FANS?

[mccarlk]

is there any electric fans that will produce the same or better cooling ?

[Hartley]

Electric Fans are not really an effective method of cooling a diesel in a bus.

There have been a few that tried that only to find monumental engineering
problems or the need to find enough electric power to operate the motors
which wouldn't be cost or efficiency effective.

A Hydraulic or Belt driven fan is the current working technology. Low maintenance and effective.

Others may also have comments on this.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi mccarlk,

I don't think electric propeller fans can come close to the cfm's that the belt driven squirrl cage types can put out.

That don't mean it can't be done but, the dementions of the two MCI rads are not that wide to fit a large diameter fan.

Even two stacked top/bottom, will be a small set up. A better idea would be a 24v squirrl blower from the A/C system.

Good Luck
Nick-

[luvrbus]

I have saw the 24v blower motor used on a MCI 5 and it did not work the guy went back with belt.Mark Renner is about the only person that has been able to make a electric fan work but he owns a Eagle and did a lot of enginering on his to make it work

[kyle4501]

It takes a certain volume of air to cool the radiator.

It takes HP to move air.

If you change nothing else, it will take the same HP to move sufficient air to to cool the engine. The air & fan do not know or care if the energy is from a belt, electric motor, or hyd motor.

Now, if you were to improve the fan's efficiency .  .  .  .


However, most find it difficult to get sufficient air flow with electric motors driving the fans . . . as it is difficult to get around the required large amp draw. 

[JackConrad]

WHY?  If a belt breaks, you replace the belt and you are on your way. If an electic fan fails, you are stuck until you get a new one.  As well as all the aforementioned reasons.  Jack

[HighTechRedneck]

It takes a certain volume of air to cool the radiator.

It takes HP to move air.

If you change nothing else, it will take the same HP to move sufficient air to to cool the engine. The air & fan do not know or care if the energy is from a belt, electric motor, or hyd motor.

Seems like it would take even more power due to the inherent losses in the conversion of energy.  First, motion is converted to electricity by the alternator.  Some loss takes place.  Then it is converted back to motion in the fan motor.  Some more loss takes place.

I am glad my RTS fan belt is a very short little 12 rib belt (about 12.5" diameter).  It's very durable and doesn't give me the heebie jeebies being around the open engine hatch Like an MCI's belts do.  If I had huge long belts winding all over between me and the engine, I might be thinking about electric as well though.

[mccarlk]

im even considering the hydraulic ones, and a side mount rad

[luvrbus]

Ken, look on BNO Mark Renner has photos of his electric fan setup with a side mount radiator he used 12v fans so your 24 v system will draw less amp than his it is a clean setup that works

[kyle4501]

http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/233/20829.html

I really like what Mark has done, if I had done all that, I wouldn't have documented as well as he has. 

(But . . . I have lots of questions concerning the "hidden details".)

So, read & UNDERSTAND what he has done. 

4 strokes require less cooling than 2 strokes. (While it did work for ~1000 miles on the 6V92, there isn't enough details to satisfy all my concerns. Like what was the waterflow?, what rate was the engine temp changing?, What HP was the engine making?, etc. )

Also note that he put considerable effort into the install, just look at the fan shrouds. 

[Tim Strommen]

I tried (and failed) at putting in an electric fan.  Spent more on that project than an in-frame would have cost (no labor included of course).

I had to build my own motor controller for the 15HP motor, and while I did do that succesfully - the performance was a bit less than what I'd hoped.  I also had to go from a 200Amp 24v alternator to a 300Amp.  If anything broke down on the road - I would have been waiting there for about a week for replacement parts to come since it was all custom (at the same cost as installation $$$$$$).

I went back to the hydraulic fan that came with the bus - but changed the speed control valve to be a bit more "intelligent".  Much cheaper, way more reliable, loads easier to find parts for at 6AM on a saturday...

[JohnEd]

Mc,

Don't go there.  I have heard this topic discussed more than a few times over the years.  There are soooooo many things you can do and spend even more money and be assured that they will "bare" fruit.

I am drawn to projects that people say "can't be done".  Lots of satisfaction in completing one.  This isn't it though from all I can tell.

HTH,

John

[niles500]

Tim - thanks for the HONEST come back - If you can't do it, no one can - FWIW

[makemineatwostroke]

Electric fan technology has improved over the past 5 years construction equipment manufactures like John Deere, Cat,Volvo and etc. are using them more everyday    have a great day

[Hartley]

Electric fan technology has improved over the past 5 years construction equipment manufactures like John Deere, Cat,Volvo and etc. are using them more everyday    have a great day

The trick to that is the construction equipment has a higher capacity cooling system
than what you would find in a Bus. The theory is that construction equipment is
designed mostly for  static operation where the fans work the best.

OTR and other stuff that has positive air flow is slightly different.

I had the thoughts in my head, But couldn,t get my fingers to cooperate