A work plan is presented to perform surveys of components, manufacturing processes required and technologies anticipated for use in providing a preliminary design for a 4.4/8.8 kW (15,000/30,000 BTU/HR) multi-fuel fired forced air heating system. Existing products do not meet the requirements detailed in MIL-PRF-62550D. The work plan will outline the first phase of a program meant to culminate in a heating system that provides crew cab heat at low arctic temperatures for military tactical and commercial vehicles utilized in extreme environmental and rugged conditions. The proposed heating system that is developed from this proposal will contain self diagnostics, operating mode codes, component failure codes, system faults, error codes and data codes which are conspicuously displayed to assist in troubleshooting and repair. Furthermore, an analysis of candidate vehicle requirements and existing system capabilities will be investigated and documented. Finally, the proposed program will allow a fresh prospective to be taken concerning the potential for a Dual Air system to be compatible with current NBC protection considerations in over-pressurization of crew cabs.
Benefits: The 15,000/30,000 BTU heater performing to MIL-PRF-62550D will be the heater of choice to replace older, less efficient and less reliable heaters currently in the military fleet of vehicles. The current fleet of tactical vehicles has not had a heater conforming to MIL-PRF-62550D and, out of necessity; there may be non-military heaters in the field. The heaters are often used as personnel heaters in truck cabs equipped for Artic conditions. The civilian market uses heaters of this type, primarily in cargo heating applications. Some of the products kept from freezing are produce, chemicals, beverages, paints and pharmaceuticals. Some modifications, such as converting the heater to 12 volts DC, may be necessary. Because of the nature of the industry involved, many of the over the highway trucks are away from a home base for weeks at a time. They will need a reliable, low maintenance heater to use in these applications.
Keywords: heating system, heat source, advanced materials, manufacturing technology, FMTV, FCS
