Improving Low Temperature Startability of M113 Vehicles: Hot Air Heating Tests

摘要

Tests were conducted to determine the effect of hot air heating systems on the temperatures and the starting ability of the Canadian Forces M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier. Results showed that M113 vehicles require heating in order to start at temperatures below -12 C. Two hot air heating systems proved to be capable of enabling vehicle starting at -16 C, which, because of unusually warm ambient conditions, was the lowest temperature that occurred during testing. One of the heating systems supplied hot air to the combustion air intake, and results suggest that this method may be capable of enabling starting at moderately cold temperatures (down to approx. -25 C). The other system, which supplied hot exhaust gases to the engine compartment and hot exhaust-free air to the batteries and personnel compartment, appeared as though it would be capable of enabling vehicle starting at much lower temperatures. However, there was a significant amount of waste heat associated with using hot air to warm the engine on the vehicle and the condensation inherent to heating with exhaust gases caused serious problems. In addition, the Espar Swingfire pulse combustion heaters that were used as the heat source in both heating systems were found to be extremely unreliable. (Canada).