Large Climatic Chamber

This chamber is unique due to its exceptionally long test section, accommodating vehicles as large as an articulated bus. It also contains a Mustang 900 horse-power chassis dynamometer and a solar array to simulate the sun. You also have the option of connecting to the Small Climatic Chamber through an inter-chamber door, which permits the insertion of a test bench to effect a 'three-chamber' mode that includes:

Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel
Large Climate Chamber
Small Climate Chamber

Testing examples:

Cold or hot starts for vehicles
Engine tuning (on Mustang dynamometer)
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) testing
Physiological/cognitive human trial tests
Product validation in extreme temperatures or solar conditions

A white Dodge Ram is on the dyno in the Large Climatic Chamber.

Key features

Exceptionally long test section to permit articulated buses.
Temperature from -40^oC to +60^oC and relative humidity from 5% to 95%.
Chassis dynamometer.
Solar simulation system up to 1,200 W/m² intensity.
Inter-chamber door to small climate chamber, which permits the insertion of a test bench to effect a ‘three-chamber’ mode.
Complete suite of ancillary systems for customer vehicle operation, including hydrogen and electric vehicle compatibility.
Up to 350 kW in-chamber modular DC fast-charge capability.
Up to 19.2 kW of AC power capability.

350 kW DC Fast Charger specifications

Specifications	Terra HP 350
Max Output Power	350 kW peak 320 kW continuous
Current THD	IEEE 519 Compliant; <8%; option for 5%
DC Output Voltage	150 – 920 VDC
DC Output Current	500 A CCS-1 200 A CHAdeMO
Efficiency	95% at full load

AC Mobile Charger specifications

Charger/EVSE	Location	Output	Capacity	Charging Protocol
Power Charge EX-1193 EVSE (Two Available)	Mobile	208-250 VAC 89A Continuous	19.2 kW	SAE J1772
Clipper Creek DS-100 EVSE	Mobile	240 VAC 32A Continuous	7.2 kW	SAE J1772

An ACE employee wearing a blue shirt is plugging in the AC charger into a grey Jeep Sahara in the Large Climatic Chamber.

Test section features

Overall Dimensions	Length: 20.8 m (68.24 ft) Width: 6 m (19.69 ft) Height: 5.55 m (18.21 ft)
Vehicle Entry Clearance	Width: 4.49 m (14.73 ft) Height: 3.93 m (12.89 ft)
Inter-Chamber Door Clearance	Width: 2.01 m (6.59 ft) Height: 2.01 m (6.59 ft)
Primary Exhaust Extraction System	Dual mode: open-pipe or closed-pipe with back-pressure regulation. Maximum flow rate: 0.62 kg/sec (8.5 litre, 400 horse-power engine) Maximum inlet exhaust temperature: 650^oC.
Secondary Vehicle Exhaust Extraction System	Garage-type open pipe (two pipes).
In-Chamber Power	Outlets for plug-in vehicles.

Thermal performance specifications

Thermal Performance Specifications

Chassis dynamometer specifications

Manufacturer and Model	Mustang Engineering Co (MD-AWD-500-SE)
Vehicle Types	Passenger car, light duty trucks
Axle Configurations	front-wheel drive (FWD) rear-wheel drive four-wheel drive all-wheel drive (AWD)
Roll Width	940 mm (seven identical per side: five front, two rear)
Wheelbase Range	2,134 to 3,556 mm
Mechanical Inertia	888 kg (front) 983 kg (rear)
Total Inertial Simulation Range	907 to 5,448 kg
Maximum Axle Load	2,727 kg
Maximum Vehicle Weight	5,448 kg
Maximum Speed	280 kph FWD 240 kph AWD
Motor Type	Eddy current, power-absorbing only
Nominal Maximum Power	447 kW (front roll set) 894 kW (total)
Continuous Tractive Force Rating	6,227 N (front roll set) 12,455 N (total)

Solar simulation system specifications

Manufacturer	KHS Steuernagel
Target Size	Length: 5.6 m (18.37 ft) Width: 2.5 m (8.20 ft) 1.5 m (4.92 ft) above test section floor
Intensity Range	600 to 1,200 kW/m²
Spectrum	ASTM Std E-892
Intensity Quality	Uniformity ±10 per cent Stability ±2 per cent
Lamps	Metal halide 18 total

The solar array lights are on in the Large Climatic Chamber.