Effects of Supplemental Vacuum Production to Support Braking

This paper will discuss how different forms of producing supplemental vacuum have varying effects on overall vehicle efficiency. The once reliable source of vacuum from the engine is becoming increasingly scarce due to higher efficiencies from modern IC engines and the growing use of turbochargers. This need for supplemental vacuum has led to several solutions to support vacuum needs, particularly for supplying the booster for brake assist. Using simulated vehicle environments for the various forms of supplemental vacuum the behavior of each can be better understood. Using this simulated environment the actual power consumed by each method of supplemental vacuum production can be accurately measured over various drive cycles and conditions including engine speed and brake applications. Depending on the means of supplemental vacuum the respective energy consumption can be applied to a vehicle model to show the end effects of each solution on a number of levels.