High efficiency Otto combustion engine with diluted combustion

Research Project, 2012 – 2014

For a combustion engine, the main losses are heat losses. It can be said that at least 50% of the supplied energy is converted into heat losses. By using dilution (air or EGR) it is possible to increase the thermal efficiency and thus reduce the heat losses. For an Otto engine, dilution is identified to be the singularly most efficient way to increase the potential of the engine. In this project the possibility to adopt this technology in a down sized turbo charged direct injected gasoline engine, without introducing a Nox penalty, will be evaluated. The work will be performed in VCCs research department, Haldor Topsö and Chalmers (KCK and Applied Mechanics). The aim is to develop technologies adoptable for future up-grades of gasoline engine. The project will focus on diluted combustion through the use of variable valve timing and lift, external EGR and lean homogeneaus combustion.