Thick film heater stops fluid from freezing

Module combines IRC's anodised aluminium substrate technology with a thick film resistive element to produce a tubular instant fluid heater.

Providing vehicle design engineers with an instant heating technology for automotive and transportation windscreen washer applications, IRC Wire and Film Technologies Division, in co-operation with AB Automotive Electronics, a division of TT Electronics that specialises in automotive control designs, has developed a windscreen washer fluid heater module that uses patent-pending technologies and construction designs.

The module combines IRC's anodised aluminium substrate technology with a thick film resistive element to produce a tubular instant fluid heater.

Unlike conventional "reservoir style" washer fluid heating systems, the Anotherm windscreen module does not use any power until heated fluid is required, resulting in an energy efficiency of more than 95%.

According to Wilson Hayworth, Product Manager for IRC's Wire and Film Technologies Division, the windscreen washer fluid heater provides heated fluid in about five seconds.

"Due to the power limitations of most vehicles at 14.5V DC, a preheat period of typically five seconds is required prior to the first fluid dispense".

"Our windscreen fluid heater module is able to provide this heat due to the low thermal mass of the system", said Hayworth.

"The Anotherm module heats quickly and evenly, thus it does not boil away additives such as methanol or ethanol, which are often added to improve the cleaning effectiveness and prevent the windshield washer fluid from freezing".

The heating system will be available for model year 2009 platform releases, Hayworth continued.

The Anotherm windscreen module includes integrated controls and is packaged for under-bonnet environments.

Typical operation is 50A (maximum) at 14.5V DC.

The heated fluid effectively removes ice, tar, oil film and bugs from windscreens.

IRC has extensive experience working with automakers and tier one suppliers to provide automotive assemblies of this type to meet the demanding specifications of the automotive industry.

Pricing and lead times vary for the custom Anotherm windscreen modules.

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