Posted on 04/17/2008 1:33:38 PM PDT by Red Badger
Creating an improved aerodynamic shape for heavy-duty truck trailers by mounting sideskirts can cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 15%, according to road testing by the Dutch research partnership PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road Transport). PART is a partnership between TU Delft, TNT, Scania Beers BV, FOCWA Carrosseriebouw, Ephicas, Kees Mulder Carrosserieën, Van Eck Carrosseriebouw, Syntens, Squarell Technology, Emons Group and NEA.
Sideskirts are plates which are mounted on the sides of trailers, primarily with a view to underrun protection. The new aerodynamic design of the sideskirts substantially reduces the air currents alongside and under the trailer and thereby also the air resistance.
Initial driving tests with a trailer equipped with the aerodynamic sideskirts over a straight stretch of public road revealed a cut in fuel consumption of between 5% and 15%. Subsequent research comprising long-term operational tests by TNT displayed a fuel reduction of 10%.
These results confirm calculations and findings from the wind tunnel tests that had established that the observed 14 - 18% reduction in air resistance led to 7 - 9% less fuel consumption. In practice, the figures are in fact even better.
PART expects that the cost of fitting aerodynamically-shaped sideskirts will be recouped within two years. Furthermore, the sideskirts can be fitted to approximately half the trucks currently in use in the Netherlands as the skirts can also be retrofitted.
In 2005, 10,000 new trailers were taken into use in the Netherlands. With an average fuel consumption of 30 liters per 100 kilometers [7.8 mpg US], that translates into 750 million liters of diesel consumption in the Netherlands each year. We can cut fuel consumption by 5% or more for 50% of those trailers. That means a reduction of 50 million tons of CO2 emissions a year. This research can therefore result in a substantial, structural contribution to cutting fuel consumption and an annual saving of tens of millions of Euros, next to that cut in CO2 emissions by the road transport sector.
Together with this sector we have created a practical platform for further research and development, but we still need active government participation. Just obtaining permits for all the road tests has involved a huge amount of time, energy and frustration. The next step is realizing a practical partnership between the government and industry in order to put the solutions into practice. —Prof. Michel van Tooren of TU Delft’s Aerospace Engineering faculty
Road tests have also already been initiated on boat tails. These constructions on the rear of a trailer ensure a reduction in the wake—the vacuum and air currents which arise when the trailer is moving. In theory, a boat tail could also mean a cut in air resistance of 30%, with a fuel reduction of 10 - 15%. These road tests should also confirm the earlier, highly positive results from the windtunnel.
Boat tails, however, are limited in practical use, in particular when loading and unloading—safety aspects and problems with exceeding maximum vehicle sizes prevent these being used for many types of vehicles.
Trucks, SUVs, and vans loaded way beyond capacity with illegals.
What /\He/\ said. DOT will prolly require these new fenderskirts to come with hand and foot rests.
She caught up with a big rig and followed him over the plateau until they hit the rain down into Old Station where he let her pass and it poured all the way to Weaverville. She said the Big Rig was the Pied Piper as the cars stacked up behind them and not one vehicle tried to pass...
I don't need no stinkin aerodynamics, its just a hobby...
My son says he’ll pay you $50 if you’ll park that rig in front of his business. You don’t have to give him a answer until Sunday night...
Nice. Yup, I like it.
He’ll have to come get it, I won’t be back over there till Monday night...
o and it needs fuel, the up side is, it has smaller tanks on it than the Tan Pete
only about $850. to fill her...
Sweet rig........lots of pride in that is visable !!!
Stay safe !
There is enough diesel floating on the ground water here Eureka to run a fleet for a year...
Will you stop with the whinning about the spray from a big rig?
This is the second post you have whinned about it.....man up dude!
I drive a 2005 Tahoe.....it came with wiper blades! I was flat out stunned to find that I could control the speed - slow to fast.
I've actually had to set the wiper speed to fast when over taking / being passed by a big rig in the rain.
Obviously, what ever you drive is lacking this new technology - get your money back!
And 'no', the worst hazard on the road are IDIOT drivers.
What's ironic is that a friend of mine figured this out as part of his junior aero project, back in 1984....
I yelled at Nathan (room - PS III), "Come look at what our bud is up to!"
He said, "that's sick!" - translation - "very cool!"
"Coming along.." - ? What else?
And go see my post #50 on this thread. I wonder how some people survive day to day......sheer luck, I guess.
Mac
One test - easy - and you'd be talking 500 miles in front and back of you.
No Cannon / Nikon issue here - Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, Alinco, etc.
:)
President!
Proud member of the Fuqarwe tribe.
??
O/O
LOL - was the last time that goat in Kentucky?
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