Now Spraydown delivers fuel savings of up to 4%

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.