Electrical heaters for fuel systems

MAHLE electrical heaters are used in diesel and ethanol engines for cold starting and operation at low ambient temperatures. For diesel engines, they ensure that flowability is maintained and prevent flocculation of fuel components that could lead to clogging of the filter. In ethanol engines, MAHLE heaters significantly improve the critical cold start. When designing the heaters, MAHLE drew upon the company’s broad knowledge base in the area of fuel systems, thus achieving a high level of integration in the fuel filter module. Other salient features of the heaters include low pressure loss during high heat transfer to the medium, a robust design with separate chambers for the electronics and heating element, a low energy requirement, and a high power output (600 W). The heater is controlled by the integrated electronics or the engine management system. The heating element is based on modern resistance technology with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), and the integrated overheating protection ensures maximum safety. With its modular design, MAHLE’s electric heaters can be flexibly adapted to the specific requirements of passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers.