The Future Engine - Efficient and Clean with Variable Valves

Research Project, 2018 – 2020

The project intends to investigate engine concepts that are utilizing a fully variable valve system from the Swedish innovative company Freevalve. The Freevalve system controls the valves using hydraulic/pneumatic actuators and thus gives full flexibility to control the valve lift height and opening and closing events individually and independently. This makes it possible to design engine concepts not otherwise possible. It also opens up for efficiency improvements beyond the potential of engines with standard valve systems and also provides opportunities for the total emission control of the vehicle. New innovative engine concepts will be explored and investigated. Two different fuels are at this stage in consideration: Diesel and methane (CNG or bio-gas). The target is to prove significant improvement in both peak efficiency and road cycle efficiency. Part of the benefits is also expected to come from efficient ways of warming up the exhaust after treatment system.