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Boosting technologies have been key enablers for automotive engines development through downsizing and downspeeding. In this situation, numerous multistage boosting systems have appeared in the last decade. The complexity arising from multistage architectures requires an efficient matching methodology to obtain the best overall powertrain performance. The paper presents a model aimed to choose the best 2-stage boosting system architecture able to meet required criteria on boosting pressure, EGR ratios for both short and long route loops while respecting the engine thermo-mechanical limits such as in-cylinder pressure, compressor outlet temperature and exhaust manifold temperature. The model includes filling-and-emptying 0D elements together with mean value. The engine model is set in a way that, for given requirements and boosting system layout, calculates in seconds if the requirements will be achieved and the position of variable geometry, waste-gate, EGR and by-pass valves.

In this paper the performance of a new EGR cooler with double efficiency capabilities is presented. This device allows for temperature modulation between the actual cooled and non-cooled EGR temperature. The cooler has a double circuit in its interior controlled by a valve. The outer dimensions of the cooler remain the same as current fixed geometry coolers. The prototype has been characterized on test flow and thermal efficiency rigs and also tested on the engine test bed. Tests show that for steady partial load conditions little benefits may be achieved in CO and HC emissions with a small increase of NOx emissions. More promising results have been obtained during engine warm-up tests in which significant reductions of HC and CO are attained with low increases of NOx emissions. This shows a potential to reduce CO and HC emissions which are mostly generated during the first stages in the emission certification test in Europe.

Calibration of internal combustion engines at different altitudes, above or below sea level, is important to improve engine performance and to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in these conditions. In this work, a flow test rig that reproduces altitude pressure variation is presented. The system stands out by its altitude range, compactness, portability and easy control. It is based on the use of turbomachinery to provide the target pressure to the engine intake and exhaust lines. The core of the system is composed of a variable geometry turbine (VGT) with a waste-gate (WG) and a mechanical compressor. Given a set of turbomachinery systems, the operation pressure and the air mass flow are controlled by the speed of the mechanical compressor and the VGT and WG position. A simple modification in the installation setup makes possible to change the operating mode from vacuum to overpressure. So that simulating altitude increase or decrease with the same flow test rig components.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is employed widely in compression-ignited engines and currently under consideration for being implemented into spark-ignited engines. EGR cylinder-to-cylinder dispersion is one of the features of such engines that developers are challenged to abate, because low EGR rates increase NOx emissions and excessive EGR rates can produce a significant amount of particulate matter. Taking into account the complex geometries of some automotive manifolds, the treatment of this topic through 3D computational fluid-dynamics (CFD) simulations seems mandatory to study the transport phenomena in a proper way. The main objective of this work is the analysis of the influence of the numerical setup main parameters (mesh, time-step size, turbulence modeling) in a CFD URANS simulation of an automotive engine intake manifold in the EGR distribution.