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Bosch Carbon Dioxide Sensor Saves Fuel


March 2007
 Filed under: FUEL AND ECONOMY Car News | FUEL AND ECONOMY Headlines
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Bosch has developed a new Climate Control Sensor (CCS) that monitors the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a vehicle's passenger compartment while increasing the efficiency of the air conditioning system. The result is an enhanced electronic control of the air conditioning system and a corresponding reduction in energy demand.

When fresh air is fed into the passenger compartment, the CCS-controlled air conditioning system switches to recirculation mode. This mode saves energy because the amount of power needed for cooling is reduced. Using less power for cooling requires less load on the engine, which drives the air conditioning compressor. Bosch engineers calculate fuel savings of up to 10 percent when the system is operating in maximum cooling mode.
The robust and compact CCS uses infrared-based spectroscopy to measure CO2 levels in the air. This system can reliably measure even minute concentrations of less than 0.02 percent by volume. The sensor constantly measures the CO2 level of the air in the passenger compartment, while an enhanced version also measures air humidity and temperature. This data is used to precisely control all the actuators of the air conditioning system and provide for a balanced management of air recirculation.

The Bosch Group is a leading global manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology. In fiscal 2006, approximately 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros, or $54.9 billion USD. Set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering," the Bosch Group today comprises a manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service network of approximately 280 subsidiaries and more than 12,000 service centers in over 140 countries.

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs 24,750 associates in more than 80 primary and 20 associated facilities throughout the region with reported sales of $8.8 billion in 2006.

For more information on the company, visit www.bosch.us

Source: Robert Bosch LLC

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