When Danfoss engineers analyzed the energy flow in an excavator, they discovered that 70% of the useful energy made by the engine disappeared as waste heat. By using Digital Displacement our engineers replaced the conventional pump with a digital pump. Adding intelligence and digital control over the engine so that the individual cylinders are only called into action when required – reducing losses system-wide.
Now, the technology is being launched to market and it will have a global impact. With Digital Displacement we can save 25-30% – and in the future even 50% fuel in excavators. We can save 40 million tons of CO2 – the annual energy use of 4.6 million homes – just by reducing waste heat in excavators.
“Whether it is zero emissions or lower emissions, the unique aspect of Digital Displacement is that it allows for much lower energy use. And it doesn’t matter whether the energy source is fossil fuel or a battery. So, the technology is future-proof,” says Jeff Herrin, Vice President, Research and Development, Danfoss Power Solutions.
He adds that the technology allows OEM’s to build differentiation directly into the software.
“Digital Displacement is completely controlled by software and electronics allowing for a new level of machine customizations.”