Optimize air-oil cooler fan drive control with the XMD electronic controller

Air-oil coolers with hydraulically or electrically driven fans are very common components and are required in most hydraulic systems.

They are used, for example, in construction machinery, cranes, work vehicles, tractors, agricultural machinery, and industrial hydraulic power units.

When coolers are used, component size can be reduced, the oil maintains better quality, and the oil temperature can be kept within the optimal range for maximum efficiency.

Automatic fan speed control

To achieve optimal temperature and cooling capacity, the fan speed is regulated via the XMD controller. A temperature sensor is required to provide feedback on the oil temperature.

Based on this feedback, either a proportional pressure or flow control valve is regulated for hydraulically driven fans, or DC fans are controlled via a PWM signal. Through the CAN bus (SAE J1939), the XMD can also be controlled using additional parameters from the system.

Soft start and stop of the fan

With the ramp function in the XMD, soft start and stop can easily be configured for both DC fans and hydraulically driven fans. This eliminates voltage peaks or pressure spikes, helping extend the fan motor’s service life. Soft starting and stopping also reduce power consumption and noise levels.

Fan reversal

To clean the cooler element from dust that has been drawn in, the fan can be reversed. This can be done, for example, through a time-controlled auto-reverse function or by an external input signal. To prevent the fan from changing direction before it has come to a complete stop, a dwell time can be configured. The reversed mode can also be set to a maximum speed limit.