Study of Power Optimization Using Electrical Driven Fan in Off-Highway Diesel Engine Cooling System

2025-28-0421

10/30/2025

Authors Abstract
Content
Internal combustion (IC) engines experience several parasitic losses at the vehicle level, including those from cooling fans, hydraulic pumps, air compressors, and alternators. These losses limit the available output power for various applications. By replacing a conventional mechanical or hydraulic fan—typically driven by the engine crankshaft or hydraulic motor—with an electrically operated fan, engine frictional losses (fan drag) can be reduced, resulting in a gain in power. The fuel conserved due to the absence of fan drag contributes to usable power for applications. Mechanical fans operate at a fixed drive ratio that is directly proportional to engine speed, while hydraulic fans rely on a hydraulic motor, drawing power from the engine's alternator. In contrast, electric fans can run at constant speeds, independent of engine RPM, providing higher airflow at maximum torque speeds, which mechanical fans cannot achieve. The cooling performance of the engine remains uncompromised, as the electric fan can be strategically positioned in the optimal airflow zone through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. Unlike mechanical fans, which operate in a single direction, both hydraulic and electric fans can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. Electric fans have the added advantage of functioning with reverse polarity in the electrical circuit. This capability allows them to act as blowers, helping to keep heat exchange cores clear of debris during dusty applications for the construction machines on the site, which can restrict airflow when using a conventional puller-type fan. The replacement of electric fans resulted in a significant power saving which resulted in lesser load on hydraulic oil cooler in the case of hydraulic fan.
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Pages
5
Citation
Dewangan, N., Kattula, N., and Kamal, A., "Study of Power Optimization Using Electrical Driven Fan in Off-Highway Diesel Engine Cooling System," SAE Technical Paper 2025-28-0421, 2025, .
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Oct 30
Product Code
2025-28-0421
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English