Mar 24 2014
Exa® Corporation, a global innovator of fluids simulation solutions for product engineering, stated that Cummins Inc. and Peterbilt Motors Company, the first companies to announce their SuperTruck for the Department of Energy (DOE) SuperTruck Program, credited Exa's technology and engineering expertise as instrumental in the success of their recently announced vehicle.
Exa worked with engineers from both Cummins and Peterbilt to perform aerodynamic and thermal simulations to achieve significant efficiency improvements throughout the tractor, trailer and engine. These simulations, done long before a physical prototype was ever created, helped this SuperTruck exceed the required 50% efficiency improvement, and deliver a 75% more efficient truck — ahead of schedule.
The new waste heat recovery condenser required a redesign of the vehicle heat exchanger system. Engineers used Exa's PowerFLOW(R), PowerCOOL(R) and PowerTHERM(R) to identify areas to improve thermal performance while maximizing aerodynamic efficiency.
The remarkable improvements were made possible through the collaboration of two world-class companies. They evaluated the entire truck from the underhood cooling requirements and engine housing, to every part of the tractor and trailer. "It was not one aerodynamic or thermal simulation that made the difference," stated David Koeberlein, Cummins' Program Lead for the SuperTruck program. "Using Exa's simulations, we were able to rapidly find and address areas of thermal and aerodynamic efficiency throughout the truck — it was a critical resource for our SuperTruck team."
The project started with Cummins' engineers digitally packaging their new, energy efficient engine, designed with a waste heat recovery system, into the Peterbilt tractor CAD geometry. They then added heat exchangers, and simulated the thermal performance of the complete system. "Exa's technology was able to quickly demonstrate, through simulation alone, optimal cooling package design," remarked Jon Dickson, Cummins Engineering Manager of Advanced Vehicle Integration. "To package the new waste heat recovery condenser, we had to redesign the vehicle heat exchanger system and use a non-traditional layout. We were able to use Exa's PowerCOOL® and PowerTHERM® to identify areas to improve thermal performance while maximizing aerodynamic efficiency — years before any vehicle was built."
At the same time, Landon Sproull, Peterbilt Chief Engineer, and Rick Mihelic, Peterbilt Manager of Vehicle Performance and Engineering Analysis, were evaluating their tractor and trailer combinations for aerodynamic/thermal performance. "Over the course of three years, we ran hundreds of simulations to test and analyze every part of this truck using Exa PowerFLOW®," stated Mihelic. "We designed a complete new SuperTruck aerodynamic package which included visible devices such as trailer skirts and wheel well covers as well as unseen, but critical, underbody shields that optimize airflow and thermal efficiency." Sproull added, "Using visualization of the simulation results, our team analyzed each area looking for opportunities for improvement. Our designers and engineers could easily review and discuss results and optimization options — something simply not possible in a wind tunnel. It was this comprehensive analysis that helped us to achieve our extreme efficiency savings that exceeded even the aggressive goals set by the DOE."
"Each day our customers seek efficiency improvements using our aerodynamic, thermal and acoustic solutions," remarked Stephen Remondi, Exa's President and CEO. "We have been working with Peterbilt for many years and were pleased to see them use Exa's solutions so effectively as part of this important initiative that will benefit us all in the end."