Heater-generator System for U.S. Army Vehicles
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A COMBINED self-powered heater 1-'1 and thermo-electric generator system that, in conjunction with other equipment, will enable U.S. army vehicles to start in extremely cold weather is being developed by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The development contract called for the incorporation of thermoelectric couples, which convert heat directly to electricity, into an existing vehicle heater and for demonstration of the feasibility of self-powered operation. The heater, with a capacity of 60,000 B.t.u.s per hour, operates on various types of fuel.
Army vehicles used under extreme cold weather conditions require heaters to keep engines and batteries warm so they can be started. Existing heaters used for this purpose require battery power for blowers that circulate heater air to the engine compartment. By incorporating thermo-electric couples into the heater to convert a portion of the heat to electricity, the heater supplies its own blower power. During development of the feasibility model, Westinghouse engineers redesigned the existing heater combustion chamber. The new design improved the heater efficiency to over 76 per cent, giving an output of 76,000 B.t.u.s per hour.
Development of prototype models of a self-powered heater and thermo-electric generator is planned. The advanced system will produce not only electricity tO support system operation but will also be capable of producing an additional 150 W. of electric power for the operation of communication equipment at those times when the vehicle is not running on the road.