Flettner eco-friendly ventilation and cooling
Founded in 1931, UK wind-ventilator manufacturer Flettner Ventilator Ltd reports continued progress in the global bus and commercial vehicle sector.
The company manufactures three roof ventilators for commercial vehicles, the Flettner 2000, TCX-2 and Flettner Slimline LPV. For vehicles which have an inner lining, adapters are available to bridge the gap between the outer skin and the inner lining.
A Flettner Floor vent is also available to help ensure a constant flow of incoming air to support effective extraction.
“Whether it’s a house or commercial vehicle like a bus, pollutants and unwanted contaminants need to be extracted to maintain a healthy internal environment,” said Flettner.
“This may include the excessive build-up of condensation especially during high humidity, cold periods. Buses that are full of people will also contribute to these issues, as multiple people breathing will impact on condensation.
“The poor air quality, which is clearly not ideal for passengers, can also damage interior surfaces and accelerate fabric deterioration in the vehicle.
“It’s also important to manage temperatures, which can clearly affect the comfort of passengers.
“To effectively manage the internal environment, buses will typically use heating, air conditioning and mechanically operated ventilation systems. Clearly, these systems have their place and are important but they do have their downsides.
“As fuel consumption is higher, they can be costly to run and can only operate when the engine is running. With EV buses, there is also the need to reduce electrical consumption to improve range.”
If adequate ventilation systems aren’t in place, windows must be opened.
“This has its own inherent problem in that it requires human intervention, which is another problem Flettner solves,” said the company.
“The Flettner roof and floor ventilators provide an economical and eco-friendly answer for bus fleets and commercial vehicles in preventing these problems, and they can work alongside traditional mechanical systems.
“With no electrical connection, a simple installation process and maintenance free, Flettner offers a straightforward and effective vehicle ventilation solution.
“When the vehicle is moving, the rotary roof ventilator spins to extract unwanted contaminants and condensation from the vehicle. Spinning will start at 5mph and greater extraction will occur at faster speeds.
“There is even a trickle of extraction when the vehicle is stationary… For larger vehicles, it’s perfectly fine to have more than one ventilator.”
Flettner says it discovered from its own testing that a roof and floor vent work well together, as the incoming air supports greater extraction. The combination of incoming air and extraction helps to improve cooling when the vehicle is travelling at sufficient speeds.
“By having Flettner ventilators installed, fuel consumption can be reduced as mechanically operated air conditioning and ventilation systems don’t have to work as hard or at all in some cases,” said the firm.
Flettner cites its significant international presence in the commercial van sector, with its rotary ventilators often installed on large commercial fleets and independent contractors.
“By managing the internal environment and reducing temperatures, driver comfort is maintained which, it can be argued, contributes significantly towards staff retention, especially in this world of driver shortages,” said the company.
“Cooling the vehicle is of paramount importance when transporting perishable goods.
“When carrying chemicals, gas cylinders or inflammable liquids, it is also important to extract unwanted contaminants for driver safety.
“Specialised trucks and vans carrying animals frequently utilise Flettner products because the superior airflow helps to keep the animals healthy.”
