Societal and regulatory demands to lower emissions and increase engine-operating efficiencies have forced engine designers to adopt new technologies and control strategies. This has resulted in dramatic evolutions of the technology of internal combustion engines and their support systems in recent years. These operational management strategies have evolved into more robust control systems and sensory packages, which in turn has driven the need for more accurate and specific information being communicated between the various systems found within a modern automobile.
This seminar will expose you to the emerging technologies in engine design and operation that can significantly improve operational efficiencies. The fundamental science and implementation technology of the various internal combustion engine systems will be presented. Attendees will learn how the Engine Control Module (ECM) uses information related to the operational status to implement real-time running efficiency of the engine. You will also learn how the ECM effects changes in the operation of the engine through the control systems that manage its operation. With this understanding, you will be able to derive your own set of improvement criteria that could be made to address the limitations of current engine technology.
- List the typical sensors, the sensory information they collect and describe the use of that information as it addresses improved fuel economy and reduced combustion emissions
- Describe the significance, technology, and application of:
- Direct Injection (DI) of both gasoline and diesel fuels
- Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI)
- Displacement on Demand (DoD) Systems
- Variable Cam Timing (VCT) and Variable Valve Timing (VVT)
- Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine designs
- Explain the fundamental physics of the various technologies
- Specify the operational parameters and inter-relationships of each of the sub-systems of the enabling hardware
- Describe the basic design synthesis and analysis techniques for each of the major operational improvement technologies
- Operation of ECM and Sensor Systems
- Information requirements
- Use and distribution of collected information
- Control theories and implementation of fuel management strategies
- Direct Injection (DI) of Both Gasoline and Diesel Fuels
- Overview and historical perspective of DI technologies -- Gasoline; Diesel
- DI hardware review
- Potential and proven benefits of DI -- Theory; Aspects of gasoline combustion; Aspects of diesel combustion; Engine hardware development
- Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) Technologies
- Overview and historical perspective of HCCI technologies
- Hardware review
- Gasoline based HCCI -- Theory; Aspects of gasoline combustion; Engine development
- Diesel based HCCI -- Theory; Premixed HCCI; Historical direct inject systems; Current technology direct inject systems; Water injection systems for HCCI control
- The chemistry of HCCI -- Alternative fuels; Fuel blends; Fuel additives
- HCCI control -- Operating range extension; Key parameters for control; Control strategies
- Kinetics of HCCI combustion
- Displacement on Demand (DoD) Systems
- Theoretical improvements to engine system performance and efficiency
- Historical mechanisms to implement DoD systems
- Modern approaches to DoD systems
- Practical results
- Variable Cam and Valve Timing (VCT, VVT)
- General theory and potential system benefits of varying valve timing
- Variable cam timing or phasing -- Benefits associated with VCT; Mechanisms to implement VCT; Modern approaches to VCT systems
- Variable valve timing -- Benefits associated with VVT; Mechanisms to implement VVT systems; Modern approaches to VVT systems
- Practical results
- Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) Engine Designs
- Theoretical improvements to engine system performance and efficiency
- Mechanisms to implement VCR technology
- Modern approaches to VCR systems
- Practical results
- General Discussion
- Use of alternate fuels
- Implementing dual-fuel engines
- Engines designed to run multiple fuels (not dual-fuels)
- Control strategies for implementing and combining above technologies
- Emerging technologies
- New technologies
Dr. William Mark McVea, P.E., is currently Chief Technology Officer for Torvec, Inc., an industry leader in the design and development of patented powertrain engineering technology used primarily in the automotive industry. He is also President and Principal Engineer of KBE+, Inc. where Dr. McVea and his team design and develop complete powertrains for automotive and off-highway vehicles. His prior positions include Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Powertrain Sciences in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology and adjunct professor at Purdue University in their Automotive Sciences Department. He was also formerly a manager of the CAE group within a tier-one powertrain supplier to global automotive markets, a consulting engineer in vehicle dynamics with Gear Consultants, Inc., and a project manager of traction systems for off-highway vehicles with Clark-Hurth International. Dr. McVea has published extensively on the topics of transmission systems, automated design assistant systems, knowledge systems and knowledge based engineering in general. He also holds or is listed as co-inventor on numerous patents related to mechanical power transmissions. Dr. McVea holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in Design Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Eric Sauck
Product Quality Engineer
Kia Motors America