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Driven by the desire to implement low-cost, high-efficiency NOx aftertreatment systems, such as Three Way Catalysts (TWC) or Lean NOx Traps (LNT), a novel 6-Stroke engine cycle was explored to determine the feasibility of implementing such a cycle on a compression ignition engine while continuing to deliver fuel efficiency. Fundamental questions regarding the abilities and trade-offs of a 6-stroke engine cycle were investigated for near-stoichiometric and lean operation. Experiments were performed on a single-cylinder 15-liter (equivalent) research engine equipped with flexible valvetrain and fuel injection systems to allow direct comparison between 4-stroke and 6-stroke performance across multiple hardware configurations. 1-D engine simulations with predictive combustion models were used to support, iterate on, and explore the 6-stroke operation in conjunction with the experiments.

Diesel engine manufacturers have faced stringent emission regulations for oxides of nitrogen and particulate emissions for the last two decades. The emission challenges have been met with a host of technologies such as turbocharging, exhaust gas recirculation, high- pressure common rail fuel injection systems, diesel aftertreatment devices, and electronic engine controls. The next challenge for diesel engine manufacturers is fuel-economy regulations starting in 2014. As a prelude to this effort the department of energy (DOE) has funded the Supertruck project which intends to demonstrate 50% brake-thermal efficiency on the dynamometer while meeting US 2010 emission norms. In order to simultaneously meet the emission and engine efficiency goals in the cost effective manner engine manufacturer have adopted a systems approach, since individual fuel saving technologies can actually work against each other if fuel economy is not approached from a total vehicle perspective.

A 13 L HD diesel engine was converted to run as a flame propagation engine using the HEDGE™ Dual-Fuel concept. This concept consists of pre-mixed gasoline ignited by a small amount of diesel fuel - i.e., a diesel micropilot. Due to the large bore size and relatively high compression ratio for a pre-mixed combustion engine, high levels of cooled EGR were used to suppress knock and reduce the engine-out emissions of the oxides of nitrogen and particulates. Previous work had indicated that the boosting of high dilution engines challenges most modern turbocharging systems, so phase I of the project consisted of extensive simulation efforts to identify an EGR configuration that would allow for high levels of EGR flow along the lug curve while minimizing pumping losses and combustion instabilities from excessive backpressure. A potential solution that provided adequate BTE potential was consisted of dual loop EGR systems to simultaneously flow high pressure and low pressure loop EGR.

The effects of different blends of Soybean Methyl Ester (biodiesel) and ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel: B-00 (ULSD), B-20, B-40, B-60, B-80 and B-100 (biodiesel); on autoignition, combustion, performance, and engine out emissions of different species including particulate matter (PM) in the exhaust, were investigated in a single-cylinder, high speed direct injection (HSDI) diesel engine equipped with a common rail injection system. The engine was operated at 1500 rpm under simulated turbocharged conditions at 5 bar IMEP load with varied injection pressures at a medium swirl of 3.77 w ithout EGR. Analysis of test results was done to determine the role of biodiesel percentage in the fuel blend on the basic thermodynamic and combustion processes under fuel injection pressures ranging from 600 bar to 1200 bar.

This paper investigates the effects of variable valve actuation on combustion in a Diesel engine. Early inlet valve closing (EIVC) lowered the pressure and temperature during the compression stroke, resulting in a longer ignition delay as the fuel mixed more homogenously with the charge air ahead of combustion. Combustion was characterized by prominent cool flame chemistry and a faster, more energetic, premixed combustion. Tests were performed on a 6.4L V8 engine at loads up to 5 bar BMEP. The use of EIVC showed significant reductions of soot (above 90%) and fuel efficiency improvements (of 5%) with NOx levels below the US 2010 standard of 0.2g/bhp-hr. The improvements in emissions and fuel economy came from controlling in-cylinder temperatures and optimizing combustion phasing. For a constant engine-out NOx emission, EIVC improved fuel economy as the amount of EGR and the engine back pressure requirement were reduced.

Development of new, competitive vehicles in the context of stricter regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy is driving OEM of commercial vehicles to further explore options for reducing aerodynamic drag in a real-world setting. To facilitate this in regards to the aerodynamics of a vehicle, virtual design methods such as CFD are often used to compliment experiments to help reduce physical testing time and costs. Once validated against experiments, CFD models can then act as predictive models to help speed development. In this paper, a wind tunnel experiment of a Class 8 truck is compared to a CFD simulation which replicates said experiment, validating the CFD model as a predictive tool in this instance. CFD is then used to evaluate the drag and flow around the vehicle in an open road scenario, and the results between the open road and wind tunnel scenarios are compared.

Many off-highway machines, including hydraulic excavators, perform cyclical motion in their everyday activities where there is significant acceleration, deceleration, load lifting and hydraulic implement lowering. During that time in conventional off-highway machinery, most of the potential or kinetic energy is dissipated as heat instead of being captured and reused. When these opportunities are well understood and consequently machine systems are designed and integrated properly, fuel efficiency improvements could reach double digit values. It should be noted that the mentioned machine efficiency improvements will still vary depending on the machine size, its application and the characteristics of machine system(s) being applied. An approach for excavator energy flow analysis, coupled with rapid machine control design changes directed to minimization of energy losses is discussed.