ON THE USE OF THE AUXILIARY POWER UNIT AS PART OF THE BTR-4E ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER

Abstract

During operation of light armored vehicles (armored personnel carriers) the main engine runs at idle speed for a considerable amount of time at minimum stable crankshaft speed in order to provide the vehicle consumers (such as means of communication, weapon systems, illumination, life support systems and other consumers) with electric current, the source of which is the main engine generator or storage batteries.In order to ensure start-up of the main engine, preserve its life cycle and avoid discharge of storage batteries, especially at low ambient temperature, the work was carried out to equip the BTR-4E armored personnel carrier with an auxiliary power unit (power plant).In order to confirm theoretical analysis and design solutions, several stages of testing and research of the BTR-4E APC operation were conducted in summer (at ambient temperature above +50C) and winter (at ambient temperature below +50C) periods of its operation.At the first stage of testing it was confirmed that it is possible to get the maximum generator power of the power unit and maintain its value to ensure the operation of electrical equipment of the armored personnel carrier.The second stage confirmed the possibility of providing electric current supply to electrical equipment of the armored personnel carrier (fire control system, means of communication, illumination and life support systems), as well as ensuring charging of the APC's batteries during the six-hour operation of the power unit. The tables of the article show the test results.On the basis of the obtained test results, as well as taking into account further improvement of the auxiliary power unit and development of competitive samples of light armored vehicles, recommendations were given regarding the direction of future work to increase the effective power and reduce the weight and size parameters of the power units.