Researchers develop low-consumption diesel engine
Researchers have created a new engine that decreases the emission of contaminating particles by over 80% as part of one of the European Comission’s Horizon 2020 research projects
RESEARCHERS from Valencia’s Polytechnic University (UPV) have taken part in the development of a new engine that has low consumption and high efficiency, and which decreases the emissions of contaminating particles by over 80% compared to current legal limits.
This new engine is the main result of the European Dieper project, headed by Austrian multinational company AVL, and in which companies such as Renault, Iveco, Fiat, Continental, Bosch and Siemens, as well as prestigious international research centres such as IFP Energies Nouvelles and the Istituto Motori, have taken part.
“The objective of the project was to search for the optimal combination of innovative and real solutions that could be available in the short term,” says Jesús Benajes, professor and researcher at the University's CMT Institute, and coordinator of the part of the project linked to the thermalfluidodynamic processes inside the engine.
Decrease in contaminating particles
Two demonstrator vehicles were presented in the final meeting of the project: one that will represent the future D and E classes for passenger transportation, and another light commercial vehicle destined to transporting goods.
“Equipped with the motor developed in the framework of the project, they both confirm the good results of the research we have conducted, both as regards fuel and the decrease in particles smaller than 23 nanometres that are emitted by the exhaust pipe,” explains Benajes.
The key to obtaining an engine with these characteristics, as the researcher adds, lies in the use of variable compression relations, an improvement of thermal management and the development of new particle filters. “They are solutions that are available today to be integrated in the engines that will equip future medium and large-sized cars, as well as light commercial vehicles or vans,” says Benajes.