Latest News
Cost reduction for Spraydown (
The Engineer Online)
Spraydown has announced the results of recent fuel and drag tests, which offer fuel savings of up to four per cent. The Spraydown system, which the company describes as an air water separator spray suppression mudflap, already achieves a 40 per cent reduction in wet weather spray obscuration caused by heavy vehicles, compared with existing devices already in use.
The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) also undertook controlled tests in measured comparative trials, which delivered a steady state fuel savings of 3.8 per cent at a constant 52mph and 3.65 per cent at 40mph.
The tests took place at Millbrook's high-speed circuit in Bedfordshire, using a Volvo FM 6x2 tractor unit with a Cartwright tri-axle curtainsider trailer, which is widely used across the industry. Each test involved forty miles of high-speed circuit with cruise control set to maintain relevant test speeds. The two speeds chosen for the tests were 40mph, to replicate typical A roads, and 52mph, to mirror a typical motorway journey. Weather conditions throughout the test period remained constant.
During TRL's original wet weather trials engineers noticed a significant change in the behaviour of the spray plume around the rear of the vehicle. Subsequent Computational Flow Dynamics (CFD) modelled by scientists at Strathclyde University predicted that aerodynamics associated with the Spraydown flap design cause a reduction in drag, leading to worthwhile reductions in fuel consumption.
HGV Spray Solution (
Car Keys)
If you've ever had to overtake a large lorry on a very wet road you'll know how badly visibility can be affected by spray. According to recent research by the Transport Research Laboratory, a new product developed by British company Spraydown can improve the situation by 43%.
The Spraydown system relies on vane design technology more familiar in the use of turbines in aircraft engines and power generators, though in this case the vanes are fixed rather than spinning. Their effect is to capture the spray as it's created, and then channel it so that it leaves the lorry only slightly above the surface of the road.
This is good news for car drivers, and pretty useful for transport companies too. The redirection of the spray - and particularly the road dirt that it carries - means that signwriting on the side of the lorry stays visible for longer. And because the system redirects airflow in an efficient manner even when there's no spray, it seems likely that fuel bills will be cut by over 2%.
Spraydown has already been tested by major fleet operators across the UK, and it will make its first formal appearance at the Commercial Vehicle Show, which is being held on April 15-17 at the NEC near Birmingham. It will then be sold nationwide through Sheffield-based Universal Components.
Now Spraydown delivers fuel savings of up to 4% (
Land Rover Forums)
As transport operators come under increasing pressure because of rising fuel costs, Spraydown, the revolutionary Heavy Goods Vehicle spray suppression system, has announced the results of recent fuel and drag tests - fuel savings of up to 4%. The system, launched at the CV Show in April, already achieves over 40% reduction in wet weather spray obscuration caused by heavy vehicles, compared with existing devices, currently in use.
Now, in further strictly controlled independent tests undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), measured comparative trials - using the same vehicle - delivered steady state fuel savings of 3.8% at a constant 52mph - and 3.65% at 40mph.
The tests were undertaken at Millbrook's high-speed circuit in Bedfordshire, using a Volvo FM 6x2 tractor unit with a Cartwright tri-axle curtainsider trailer - a typical combination - and widely used across the industry. The trailer was ballasted to give a gross vehicle weight of 28 tonnes - a weight calculated by scientists to replicate an average, typical whole-of-journey figure for lorry movements in the UK.
The same vehicle was used throughout the test programme - running first with standard manufacturer fitted spray suppression equipment - and then subsequently refitted with Spraydown flaps. Each test involved forty miles of the high-speed circuit with cruise control set to maintain relevant test speed. To ensure even, working temperature results, the vehicle was put through a thorough warming-up procedure before the commencement of the tests. The two speeds chosen for the tests were 40mph - to replicate typical 'A' road driving and 52mph to mirror a typical motorway journey. Weather conditions throughout the test period were constant.
Spraydown Managing Director, Steve Nesbitt says, "Reaction to the original 43% improvement in obscuration has been extremely positive from across the industry - fleet operators, manufacturers - and motoring and safety organisations. However, confirmation of fuel savings approaching 4% now delivers a compelling business case for fitting the equipment. Whilst actual savings in use will vary according to road conditions and the type of operation, we can be confident that the initial competitive costs of fitting the equipment will deliver a payback and more in a very modest period of time.
Expectations that the Spraydown system would deliver significant fuel savings emerged during TRL's original wet weather trials, when engineers noticed a significant change in the behaviour of the spray plume around the rear of the vehicle. Subsequent Computational Flow Dynamic (CFD) modelling by scientists at Strathclyde University predicted that aerodynamics associated with the Spraydown flap design caused a reduction in drag, leading to worthwhile reductions in fuel consumption.
Spraydown, based near Stirling in Scotland's central belt, recently received funding from Souter Investments. The company is already backed by Edinburgh-based Melville Capital.
Souter Investments confirms
stake in Spraydown
Spraydown Limited, the Scotland Central Belt-based transport technology company, has agreed an undisclosed equity investment with Souter Investments. Spraydown recently launched its new revolutionary spray suppression system for commercial vehicles, which achieves a step-change performance improvement over devices in current use.
The company is presently making its debut appearance with the system at the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre
(Hall 17, Stand 17/229).
Spraydown Managing Director, Steve Nesbitt says, "We are delighted to welcome Brian Souter's investment vehicle to our panel of stakeholders in the business. This significant vote of confidence in what we are doing comes from a source well qualified in the operational demands of the transport sector. The initial reaction to the new Spraydown system has been extremely encouraging, both from fleet operators and OE vehicle and trailer builders. We have a further series of independent tests scheduled very shortly to confirm some additional operational benefits of the system.
The Spraydown system is being marketed through Universal Components of Sheffield and the company is also in advanced negotiations regarding distribution arrangements for key EU markets and the US.
Spraydown achieves step change in spray suppression
Commercial Vehicle Show, 15th-17th April 2008 NEC, Birmingham Stand 17/229
Wet weather spray caused by heavy goods vehicles is amongst the most serious everyday driving hazards with which road users have to contend. Now, a patented innovation by a British company, Spraydown Limited, has achieved a major reduction in spray obscuration - over and above the performance of existing mandatory spray suppression equipment. The device, which will make its debut appearance at next month's Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, has been granted full type approval under EU regulations.
In tests carried out and verified by Britain's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) at Crowthorne, Berkshire, vehicles equipped with Spraydown's new technology air-water separation flap, achieved a reduction in drive-by obscuration of 43%, compared with existing systems. Spraydown's system draws on leading edge vane design and technology, normally associated with high performance turbines in the aero engine and power generation industries.
The system comprises a rigid panel, made up of a series of fixed, vertical, lightweight, extruded vanes. Each vane incorporates three shaped channels which, when assembled in sequence, form a progressive series of water trapping gullies. The juxta-position and pitch of the vanes are also crucial.
Spray water within the wing and mudguard cavity on a commercial vehicle or trailer is drawn aerodynamically through the matrix of the Spraydown flap, where it is progressively scavenged, retarded and drained down the gullies almost to surface level, before discharging freely back onto the road surface.
The spray plume around the vehicle is also significantly reduced, lowered and controlled - and associated aerodynamics effectively draws the air swirl and excess water spray back within the vehicle envelope. Spraydown is now conducting additional tests on drag and fuel economy as the results of a Strathclyde University Flow Dynamic Modelling (FDM) programme suggest that the reduced drag performance could yield worthwhile fuel savings of over 2%.
A further spin-off of the new Spraydown system is that vehicle liveries - often regarded as important high profile media for corporate and brand visibility, stay much cleaner - and for longer in bad weather. Operator trials with a number of major fleets across the UK have been ongoing for several months. The product is to be marketed nationwide through Universal Components Limited of Sheffield, via its factor and distributor network.
Spraydown Managing Director, Steve Nesbitt says, "Improving visibility for following or passing motorists is about to take a step change - and that is important both for road safety and for the image of the road transport industry and its operators. If we can deliver the predicted reduced drag and fuel savings as well, then the adoption of our new technology spray suppression system will also make a contribution to the environment. Most of the current spray suppression devices date back to the original mandatory requirement in 1991. Traffic density, vehicle design, aerodynamics - and the performance and technology of composite materials have all moved on and these factors have had a significant influence in the development of the Spraydown system".
Transport News Brief - Water separator system cuts spray by over 40%
SpayDown says its spray suppression kit separates water and air to cut spray by up to 43% at the back of a truck, compared to ordinary spray suppression devices. "And those figures are from tests done by the Transport Research Laboratory," said Steve Nesbitt, managing director. The system works on both trucks and trailers and also vastly reduces the spray plume at the side of the vehicle, giving the driver and other road users a much better view. "TRL told us that a 10% cut would be good, 20% spectacular and 40% unbelievable without the film and statistical evidence - which is exactly what they've got." Nesbitt says he already has some big fleets to help with trials but is keen to find more. He'll supply the kit and expects all involved will benefit from widespread road safety publicity when the system is launched
Transport News Brief - Water separator spray system wins first Type Approval
SprayDown says its new, water separator spray suppression system has won the first Type Approval to EEC Directive 91/226. "In fact we managed a water separation value of 96% against the requirement of 85% at the VCA test," said Steve Nesbitt, managing director. "Ours is the first air/water separator device (as against the less effective 'absorber' type of flap) to do this. And we've research from Strathclyde University to show that the aerodynamics of the system should mean around a two per cent fuel saving. This means that the device should pay for itself in about three months."Nesbitt says he now has more big fleets to help with trials but is keen to find others. He'll supply the kit expects all involved will benefit from widespread road safety publicity when the system is launched.
Freight Industry Times - Aerodynamic mudflap ready for action
Report by Michael Parry
Edinburgh-based SprayDown (Scotland) Limited has announced that it will launch a revolutionary vehicle spray suppression mudflap in October. The product will reduce the spray created by heavy goods vehicles in wet conditions by up to 43% in comparison to spray suppression mudflaps already in the marketplace1. During extensive spray emission tests the new mudflap was also proved to reduce drag and, importantly, improve fuel economy by up to 2.3%2.
The groundbreaking product was the brainchild of John Downes - now a director of SprayDown (Scotland) Limited - who is employed on engineering design contracts for the oil and gas industry and has a keen interest in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The idea gained fruition after John has been subjected to a particularly fraught journey along the old A74 on a dark and very wet winter's evening. On the evening in question, the level of spray being thrown up by HGVs, meant that visibility was extremely limited and driving conditions were markedly hazardous.
As John explains: "In saying that the experience was horrendous, the obvious question was, why hasn't something been done about this problem? So, I decided to look at what had been tried before and what could be done. My quest was, in effect, to come up with a solution that better addressed the problem of separating two elements - air and water - by creating a mudflap that would allow air to pass through its structure, while capturing virtually all of the water and pass it down to the surface of the road.
"After some initial thoughts on the design of such a product, I spoke to Dr Chris Sutcliffe at University of Liverpool, one of the foremost authorities in fluid dynamics and a founder member of the Manufacturing Science and Engineering Research Centre based at the University. The prototype mudflap was eventually tested in the University's wind tunnel facility."
The product has since been independently assessed, using standard HGVs, by both the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), to verify its effectiveness and measure the level of the reduction in spray, and by the University of Strathclyde, which undertook CFD modelling to assess the performance of the mudflaps in relation to reduced aerodynamic drag and increased fuel efficiency. Copies of the two reports can be requested from SprayDown (Scotland) Limited.
Recently, the product has gone through its paces at the Millbrook Testing Centre. The tests carried out by the Centre's highly qualified staff, to gain the accreditation standards required by the EEC directive (91/226) on spray suppression legislation, were witnessed by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA). It is the VCA that issues certificates for such products to be fitted to vehicles. The results were impressive to say the least, with the prototype mudflap achieving an outcome of 95% against a test requirement of 85%.
Steve Nesbitt, SprayDown (Scotland) Limited's Managing Director, says: "The findings in reports we have had commissioned are of great significance. We wanted the product to be independently tested. This process started at the University of Liverpool's wind tunnel facilities, continued via the reports from the University of Strathclyde and TRL, and culminated at Millbrook.
"The results for Millbrook are really important, in that this is the first air/water separator to gain such accreditation to meet the EEC directive (91/226) on spray suppression legislation. Until now, all approved suppression flaps have been of the absorption type, which have had a much lower pass rate in terms of the amount of water they disseminate. We believe that our design will be the first air/water separator to enter the commercial vehicle market.
"This product has come about after many years of research and effort and its design has since been significantly refined, particularly over the past three years. It is the first of its type, the tests have proved that it works and makes a significant difference. Being a universal product it can be tailored to meet specific requirements of individual haulage companies and manufacturers."
The new vehicle spray suppression mudflap is durable, self-cleaning and will be competitively priced. As an innovative solution it will make driving in wet conditions considerably safer for all road users. It will be launched and will be readily available in October.
SprayDown (Scotland) Limited would be interested in talking with major fleets and operators who would be interested in becoming - early adopters - of the device and assist with initial roadtesting.
1. An evaluation of the SprayDown HGV spray suppression equipment. C J Glover, TRL Limited.
2. Spray and Performance Analysis of 6x4 Truck Fitted with Standard and Spraydown Mudflaps. Dr M T Stickland and Dr T J Scanlon, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Strathclyde.