UPDATE: $2.4 million support for cooling & heating of Advanced Tactical Vehicles

Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl has announced $22 million for state defense projects. A minimum of $2.4 million could be given for research and development of cooling and heating systems for advanced tactical vehicles developed by leading U.S. manufacturers such as Modine.

According to Senator Kohl's Website, the U.S. government will direct up to $22 million towards defense projects, including $2.4 million for cooling and heating developers such as Modine Manufacturing Co., as part of the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill already approved by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. This award is subject to the government’s open bidding process, which has not yet commenced.

”Modine looks forward to the public bidding process on this important defense project,” said Sam Collier, Program Manager – Army Research Programs for Modine. “We bring significant experience in vehicular heating and cooling technology, including our pioneering work with advanced systems that utilize environmentally friendly refrigerants.”

Modine’s project for cooling and heating of advanced tactical vehicles with carbon dioxide instead of more traditional freon for air-conditioning was rated as a high priority by Senator Herb Kohl’s office. The government expects the programme to capitalize on previous technical breakthroughs for evaporator and condenser design to produce demonstrators that can be rapidly converted to active tactical vehicle programs.

This would reduce the logistics burden, protect the environment and make it easier to repair and maintain these cooling systems. The air-conditioning systems developed would also be lighter and more energy-efficient, while still capable of dealing with desert heat.

Modine ready for CO₂

Last year, Modine announced that it would intensify work on R744 (CO₂) components and systems, following the decision of German carmakers to use the natural refrigerant in cars’ air conditioning before 2011. With over 20 CO₂ component and system patents, Modine is well positioned to supply CO₂ Technology on a global scale. For more than a decade Modine has been investing in the optimization of R744 mobile and stationary air conditioning and cooling.

Last July the thermal solution supplier was awarded its seventh in a series of research contracts to develop heating and cooling systems for military applications, including vehicular HVAC systems and Environmental Control Units in tent enclosures. Modine's past experience proved that the non-toxic and non-flammable refrigerant is especially suited to operate under extreme conditions and in harsh climates.

About Modine

Modine specializes in thermal management systems and components, supplying heating and cooling technology and solutions to diversified global markets, including light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, HVAC (heating, ventilating, air conditioning) equipment, industrial equipment, refrigeration systems, fuel cells, and electronics.

Contact Information

If you would like to contact Modine for any enquiries, you may send a request to Frank Vetter directly.