CONTACT:
Charles Roberts
Spark Ignition Engines
(210) 522-5521
E-mail: Charles Roberts

KEY TERMS:
engine development
engine testing
performance testing
performance
development
engine benchmarking
valve deposits
pleasure boats
ultra low emissions
small engine
generator set testing

Spark Ignition Engines Project Brief Development of Gasoline Engines to Meet ULEV

Reference:  03-4632

Client:         Worldwide
                    Industrial
                    Consortium

Duration:     Forty-eight Months

This four-year multi-client effort evaluated a number of precompetitive engine and aftertreatment technologies for meeting ultra-low emissions vehicle (ULEV) standards. The approach included detailed research in a number of areas:

Mixture Preparation

Air-assist injectors and various other strategies were employed to achieve efficient fuel transport in-cylinder, leading to rapid, misfire-free, low-emissions engine starts. These research efforts resulted in excellent cold engine performance.

Controls

The original equipment manufacturer's (OEM) control system was completely replaced with a custom Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) control system. This allowed rapid synchronization of the control system to the engine within one half of a crankshaft revolution on startup. Cylinder-event-based logic was used during startup to obtain misfire-free starts. Model-based control including a manifold air pressure observer and fuel wall-wetting models were used to obtain excellent transient fuel control.

Combustion Chamber Design

The effect of swirl and other air motion on cold-start performance was measured.

Aftertreatment

A key to low-emissions is the coordination of the engine control and the aftertreatment system. A technology for exhaust port combustion was used to raise the front-face temperature of a close-coupled catalyst to 400°C within three seconds of the beginning of cranking. Hydrocarbon emissions approach zero in about 30 seconds following cranking.

Please browse this web site to see the full capabilities and experience of SwRI and the Engine, Emissions & Vehicle Research Division. Then give us an opportunity to become an extension of your engineering department. E-mail Charles Roberts or call him at (210) 522-5521 for more information.

  
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Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.