LOUISVILLE. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC has introduced the Pneumatic Booster System (PBS) here at the Mid-America Trucking Show. The company said PBS is the first air management system of its kind that simultaneously improves fuel economy and vehicle acceleration while reducing emissions.
Bendix is currently performing field and engine benchmarking testing on PBS, as well as integrating the system into new engine platforms. According to the company, initial testing showed that the addition of PBS to a 7.8-liter engine results in better overall performance than a typical 10-liter engine.
The system is located near the air intake manifold on an engine and monitors the Controller Area Network (CAN) for specific signals, injecting compressed air from an auxiliary air tank into the engine manifold, delivering the desired amount of air that the diesel combustion processes require, according to the company.
“Bendix developed this technology to allow for a smaller engine with comparable engine and vehicle performance,” said Steve Mance, vp & gm of the charging business for Bendix CVS. “Ultimately, PBS will help address EPA emissions standards by improving fuel economy and minimizing emissions released into the environment. We developed this smart system to respond to changing global rules, while also delivering the most effective cost-competitive solution.”
Two models are currently available--The Bendix PBS 200 model is available for 4- to 8-liter engines, while the Bendix PBS 400 is available for 8- to 13-liter engines.
