Types of truck fan clutches (mechanical and electronic)

Fan clutch is one of the pieces that is used in all cars, including heavy vehicles and trucks. As the name implies, this piece is used to cool the engine. The fan clutch should be considered as a low- consumption champion in the truck power generation system. When the truck is moving, its engine heats up during high performance. A truck fan clutch is a piece that relieves all the pressure applied to the engine. Overheating of the engine can endanger the safety of the driver and cause serious damage to the vehicle.

Click on the link to buy different types of heavy vehicle fans.

You should also know the difference between a cooling fan and a heavy-duty fan clutch. The cooling fan is a piece that helps the engine cool down when the air under the hood heats up. But various types of truck fan clutches play a key role in providing energy behind the cooling fan.

Heavy-duty fan clutch has two types: mechanical and electric. In modern trucks, electronic fan clutch is commonly used. Mechanical fan clutches are classified into two types: thermal and non-thermal. Each of these fan clutches also has its pros and cons. Generally, these fans include the following:

Thermal fan clutch

One type of truck fan clutch is called a thermal fan clutch which reacts to the temperature below the hood or the decorative degree of air. When hot air is generated from the radiator, a metal spring is gradually heated by this air. When the metal spring heats up, it opens the fluid valve and releases the silicone gel into the clutch compartment.

Now the use of a thermal fan clutch in this case is that a metal spring and silicone gel engage the cooling fan and produce the amount of cool air needed to lower the temperature. When the temperature under the hood decreases, the temperature spring shrinks and as a result, the silicone will be closed.

This type of heavy fan clutch senses the air temperature behind the radiator to change the fan speed. Then it provides two speeds:

• High speed (engaged): provides cooling to the maximum capacity
• Low speed (disengaged): provides noise reduction and fuel monitoring (fuel consumption reduction) of trucks

The important point to know about thermal fan clutches is that they are more efficient than non-thermal fan clutches.

Non-thermal fan clutch

Another type of heavy-duty fan clutch is the non-thermal type. Non-thermal fan clutch is always in operation and act as a heat conductor using a metal spring. As the engine temperature increases, the non-thermal clutch fan expands. This process opens the fluid valve and then releases the silicone gel into the chamber.

Now according to the cooling demand, the fan clutch silicone gel is activated and will shrink as soon as it reaches the desired temperature. One of the significant advantages of a non-thermal fan clutch over a thermal fan clutch is its lower price. This type of heavy fan clutch is always in operation and spins at a speed of 30 to 60% of the water pump.

Electronic fan clutch

The other type of heavy-duty fan clutch is an electronic fan clutch. Electronic fans have the advantage of not reducing engine power. On the other hand, they start operating when the car needs it. While thermal and non-thermal fans only operate when the engine is running.

Electronic fan clutch, unlike thermal and non-thermal ones, does not reduce the lifespan of water pump and ball bearing. On the other hand, it does not reduce the drag coefficient and propulsion power of trucks.

In this type of truck fan clutch, the mechanism of locking and engaging the clutch is electrically and is done by a temperature sensor. In thermal and non-thermal mechanical fan clutches, heating the temperature spring causes the operation to start. But in this type of fan clutch, the task of heating the spring is done through the car's electric current.

In the operation of a heavy-duty electronic fan clutch, this piece fully adheres to the radiator and covers 70% of the total radiator area, absorbing more air volume at low revs. In this way, hot air is transformed into cool air faster. It would be interesting to know that when the engine speed exceeds 2400 rpm, the electronic fan clutch can intake hot air more easily.

What type of fan clutch is more suitable for heavy vehicles?

If the truck is mostly works at low engine speeds, the electronic fan will perform better than the mechanical fans (thermal and non-thermal). But if you have to increase the engine speed on the road (like off-road vehicles), it is better to use a mechanical fan for your truck. For trucks that have to move on detours and impassable roads, a heavy-duty electronic fan clutch is more suitable.

It would be helpful to know that some modern trucks use an electronic fan in the front and an mechanical fan clutch in the back of the radiator.

Advantages of fan clutch for heavy vehicles

When you buy a fan clutch for trucks and heavy vehicles (mechanical or electric), it has the following advantages:

• Independent production and design without maintenance
• Increase the lifespan of car belts and auxiliary equipment
• Increasing fuel efficiency and engine power up to 10% (it also depends on engine speed while moving).
• Increasing engine lifespan due to improved temperature control

When you want to buy this piece for your truck, you have to pay attention to the options of turning clockwise and counterclockwise of heavy-duty fan clutch. This piece must also have the capability of installing crankshafts and remote pulleys.

source:
www.thefanclutchstore.com/fan-clutches/different-types-fan-clutches