Detroit Diesel grabs tech award

ORLANDO, Fla. — The turbo compounding feature in the Detroit Diesel DD15 gave the manufacturer an added boost when it was awarded the Top Technical Achievement for 2008.

The engine component was selected and awarded by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA) during the recent Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) in Orlando, Fla.

The turbo compounding system employs a second exhaust turbine downstream of the standard turbocharger. In addition to providing a more efficient source of exhaust back-pressure for the engine’s Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, the secondary turbine’s output is hydrodynamically coupled to the engine’s drive gears.

The TWNA tech committee (which included Today’s Trucking Editor Peter Carter) was impressed by the DD15’s use of turbo compounding, which captures previously-wasted energy and converts it into productive power, improving fuel efficiency and performance.

The review process for 2008 began with more than a dozen candidates nominated by the press members of TWNA. The eight finalists included: Bendix’s Adaptive Cruise Control, Cummins Westport’s ISL G Natural Gas Engine, Detroit Diesel’s DD15 Engine, Eaton’s Hybrid-Electric System, Eaton’s Hydraulic Launch Assist System, Goodyear’s DuraSeal Trailer Tire, Great Dane’s CorroGuard Undercoating, and Meritor WABCO’s OnGuard Collision Avoidance System.

The very first Technical Achievement Award was presented in 1991 to Grote Industries, who is now the trophy’s sponsor.
 


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