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This paper describes an investigation of emissions from an engine featuring variable valve timing, a swirlcontrol valve and exhaust gas recirculation. Design of experiments has been used to model the response of hydrocarbons and other emissions to the engine operating variables. The experiments identified the potential of VVT for simultaneous NOx, and HC reduction. The type of experiment employed was the Central Composite Rotatable Design; this is a fractional factorial design that maximises the amount of information obtained from a minimal number of test runs. A Fast Response Flame Ionisation Detector has been used to clarify the reasons for the effect of inlet and exhaust VVT on hydrocarbons.

Mechanisms exist to vary valve lift, duration and phasing either simultaneously or individually but it remains a challenge to find the optimum settings. An experimental investigation involving a statistical approach has been applied to a 4-litre, 90° vee-8, 4-valve engine in which intake valve lift, duration and phasing were chosen as variables along with exhaust valve phasing. The intake valves were operated symmetrically for the first phase of testing, but subsequently asymmetric operation was also investigated. The results indicated possible strategies that could be applied to reduce emissions.