Low weight, low investment costs and low fuel consumption are at the heart of all development activities focusing on new Euro 6-compatible engine generations. Voith Turbo supports engine manufacturers with hydrodynamic product approaches, enabling them to realize technical alternatives that will help to reduce consumption by optimizing thermal efficiencies. The inherent potential is demonstrated by the energy balance of a diesel engine for a heavy commercial vehicle. At present, only 44 percent of the energy contained in the fuel is utilized for driving. The rest is used up by thermal and friction losses, as well as 28 percent exhaust gas losses. The latter can be utilized by the TurboCompound System.

In a TurboCompound system, the exhaust flow from the exhaust gas turbo charger is directed via a power turbine. Energy contained in the exhaust gas is directly converted into drive energy and no longer simply dissipated into the environment. The energy thus gained is transmitted via the transmission to the propshaft and increases the efficiency of the engine. The commercial advantages of such a system are illustrated by a simple calculation. In long-distance traffic, with an annual mileage of 160,000 kilometers and an average consumption of 35 to 40 liters per 100 kilometers, more than 1000 liters of fuel can be saved per year, depending on the application profile.

Without causing additional losses, the TurboCompound system allows significantly increased exhaust gas recycling rates. On the American market, for example, there is no need for additional SCR (selective catalytic reduction) measures in order to meet the EPA07 emission directives.

Additionally, TurboCompound systems can be utilized for downsizing: by increasing the outputs and by tuning smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient engines for heavy applications. This is another area, where TurboCompound systems can make a contribution towards the optimization of engine concepts.

The Voith production site in Garching near Munich plans production outputs of 50,000 to 100,000 units for next year. First applications are already in service – on the one hand in an on-road application in the American Freightliner Cascadia truck, which is fitted with the DD15 Detroit diesel engine with TurboCompound as standard and meets the EPA07 norm, and on the other hand in an off-road installation in a Case New Holland 4x4 tractor with a Iveco Cursor 13 engine.

Voith Turbo, the specialist for hydrodynamic drive, coupling and braking systems for road, rail and industrial applications, as well as for ship propulsion systems, is a Group Division of Voith AG.

Voith sets standards worldwide for papermaking technology, power transmission, energy technology, and industrial services. Voith was founded in 1867. With approximately 37 000 employees, annual sales of € 4 billion and over 270 locations worldwide, Voith is one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.

Voith is an official partner of the initiative "Germany – Land of Ideas."