One of the products that Ventech offers is a rapid supplemental heat generator for light-to-medium-duty trucks with diesel engines. Specifically, we provide complete, install-ready, supplemental heater kits for GM 6.6L Duramax L5P, RAM 6.7L Cummins, and Ford 6.7L Power Stroke equipped trucks.
When talking with diesel truck owners about our supplemental heater, we often get the question, “Just how much heat does the Ventech LHG generate?”
How Much Heat?
The simple answer to that question is, “A lot!”
A more precise answer requires some backstory and a bit of technical stuff, so read on…
Backstory (where it all begins)
While there are different models of the Ventech LHG for different applications, the LHG 700 will be our main character during this exposition, for it is the LHG 700 that we include in all our light-to-medium-duty diesel truck kits.
Each LHG’s life as a unit begins in our assembly facility in Wixom, Michigan. Here, all the component parts of the LHG are joined together to create the handsome item you see pictured. Not only are the LHGs assembled here in Wixom, also, each and every assembled LHG is then tested for quality and functionality. (For a quick video about our assembly facility, click here: https://youtu.be/nKhOCBeu1SA)
There are leak tests, sensor tests, clutch tests, and heat generation tests. To help answer the “How much heat does an LHG generate?” question, let’s have a look at one of those tests.
The Heat Generation Test
Each LHG must pass a heat generation test before being approved for distribution. In this test, the LHG is attached to a machine that simulates being mounted on an engine. And, just as when installed on an engine, the LHG is attached to a drive belt, and coolant is introduced to the LHG’s heat generation and heat transfer chambers.
The various sensors on the LHG are attached to the test system and report on the amount of heat being generated and transferred to the coolant.
Pictured here is an LHG 700 attached to one of our heat generation test stations. You will notice the belt going around the LHG’s pulley and the special jig that temporarily connects the incoming and outgoing coolant lines.
Specifics and Statistics
Because environmental factors will affect response, to pass the heat generation test, each LHG must perform within a range of target temperatures at various RPM speeds. That is, the amount of heat generated by the LHG will vary by a few degrees but MUST fall within an acceptable range.
Heat is energy, and energy/time is power. This “heat power” can be measured in various ways that may be familiar to you: BTUs/time, Calories/time, Kilowatts, Joules/time, to name a few. The illustration below shows the Ventech LHG heat generation test screen, displaying the low and high end of the acceptable heat generation range at different operating RPM speeds. For this test, liquid heat generated is reported in Kilowatts.
During the test, each LHG is brought up to target RPM speeds and held at each speed for a set amount of time (remember, energy/time equals power). The heat output of the LHG is measured during these target runs and must fall within the performance range. Below is an illustration of the heat generation test screen showing an actual LHG’s test results:
How Much Heat
Below is a table showing the heat generation results from the above LHG 700 test. The results are shown in Kilowatts, BTUs/hours, and Joules/minute.
It is important to note that this is not all of the additional heat that will be added to the engine coolant. Because the LHG is placing a load on the engine, the engine itself is generating additional heat that it would not generate without the LHG. This can often double the amount of realized heat being passed into the engine’s water jacket. For this reason, under certain conditions, it is possible for the LHG to raise the temperature of the engine coolant by over 1° Fahrenheit per second.
How Much Power
Ok, but just how much load is the LHG putting on the engine?
Because a kilowatt is a measure of power and horsepower is a measure of power, it is possible to convert kilowatts to horsepower. And, because the LHG is very efficient, a direct conversion from the LHG heat output to horsepower (while not exact) will provide a close estimate of the horsepower load on the engine at different RPMs.
Considering that these diesel engines are capable of generating over 400 horsepower, adding this small amount of load goes virtually unnoticed. What does get noticed is FAST warmup, FAST defrost, and ongoing protection from cold running and cold idling.
That’s a lot of heat, won’t that hurt the engine?
A lot of heat – yep.
Hurt the engine – nope.
The LHG’s intelligent ECU monitors the coolant temperature and the RPM speed. When the engine needs heat, the LHG engages its clutch (turns on), and when the engine is at proper running temperature, the LHG disengages its clutch (turns off). The LHG will not add heat to the water jacket when it is not needed.
Wrapping it up
There is the answer to the question, “How much heat does the LHG generate?” The LHG generates a lot of heat very efficiently. It adds that heat directly to the engine’s water jacket, heating the cabin, defrosting the windows, protecting the engine, and after-treatment system. And, when heat is not required, the LHG will shut itself off. Lots of heat when and where you need it, no heat when you don’t need it.
NOTE: If you are interested in HOW the LHG makes all that heat, check out this blog post: https://www.ventechlhg.com/post/what-is-a-toroidal-vortex
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