Leading combustion engine
experts from around the UK are collaborating to develop
heavy-duty diesel engines based on the HCCI (Homogeneous
Charge Compression Ignition) principle. The diesel
engine manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. is leading the
major project to develop the combustion techniques
needed to build a practical HCCI diesel engine, with
assistance from the technology and product developer
Cambridge Consultants, and City, Loughborough and
Sussex universities. The group has been awarded a
£1.5 million grant via the UK Department of
Trade and Industry-led Technology Programme.
Welcoming the project, Science and Innovation Minister
Malcolm Wicks said, “The UK has a proud history
of innovation in science and technology. We believe
that we must work with industry to develop the marketable
products and services of tomorrow, so that we can
maintain our position as a leading global economy.
That’s why we’re supporting this project,
not to mention it having great potential to help the
environment. It provides an opportunity to harness
the UK’s world-class expertise."
"The benefits of developing HCCI technology are
potentially enormous. HCCI diesel engines will deliver
near-zero NOx and particulate emissions, with minimal
requirement for exhaust gas treatment" says Dr
Derek Wallis of Cambridge Consultants.
Diesel engines are used in buses, trucks and other
large vehicles and around a quarter of the carbon
dioxide (CO2) is generated by UK road transportation.
In today's diesel engines, combustion takes place
at high temperatures, generating nitrogen oxides (NOx)
and particulates. In an HCCI engine, the fuel disperses
very evenly throughout the combustion chamber as a
vapour mist. This process allows it to burn extremely
efficiently at a low temperature, resulting in exceptionally
low emissions. But, although the HCCI combustion principle
has been demonstrated, there are many design problems
and to-date nobody has managed to build an engine
that can sustain HCCI efficiently over the range of
real-world operating conditions.
This project - which will run until December 2008
- will study the complete combustion cycle, focussing
on the injection system, the in-cylinder design and
combustion processes and the turbocharger systems.
New, dedicated three-dimensional modelling tools will
be developed to understand the complex air flow, fuel
spray and in-cylinder processes, to help the designers
to bring HCCI to market more quickly.
The impact of HCCI could be hugely significant as
more stringent emissions regulations for diesel engines
come into force in Europe over the next few years.
Alternative approaches to meet these future standards
require exhaust gas filtering or treatment, resulting
in a substantial increase in both fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions. HCCI can deliver very low emissions
and would also be able to operate on bio-based fuels,
further supporting countries' commitments to reduce
greenhouse gases. For example, the UK government has
recently announced that it is targeting a 60% reduction
of CO2 by 2050, compared with 1990 levels.
The team members contribute expertise in a range of
engine design areas. Cambridge Consultants will develop
a predictive controller for management of the engine's
air system. Loughborough University is working on
the design of the fuel injector flow path and nozzle.
City University is working on a model to simulate
the nozzle flow and the spray characteristics inside
the engine cylinder. Sussex University will model
and control the combustion process and the exhaust
gas temperature to better understand how HCCI combustion
can be implemented on a commercial engine.
Caterpillar UK is the lead partner in the project,
and will integrate the models into its own system
simulator at its engine manufacturing plant in Peterborough,
as well as evaluating the design ideas.
Background information
Cambridge Consultants is providing
the project with expertise in control techniques for
engine air management. This will enable an adaptive,
predictive, control strategy to operate in real-time
on a commercial engine control unit (ECU). Cambridge
Consultants' experience in this field includes a patented
transient EGR/VGT (exhaust gas recirculation/variable
geometry turbine) controller for use in meeting the
highly dynamic requirements of HCCI charge air delivery.
The technology employs a self-learning algorithm to
predict requirements and tune air control parameters
for combustion efficiency. The company will also employ
its rapid-prototyping skills to help the speed and
efficiency of the project.
Caterpillar Inc. For more than 80
years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible
and driving positive and sustainable change on every
continent. With 2006 sales and revenues of $41.517
billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer
of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural
gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company
also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar
Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services,
Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services.
More information is available at http://www.cat.com.
Caterpillar is the lead programme partner and main
integrator of the technology.
The City University, better known
as the University for Business and the Professions,
incorporates within its School of Engineering and
Mathematical Sciences a strong research group focusing
on the fluid mechanics of reciprocating engines. The
engine group was formed in 2001 when Prof. Arcoumanis
and his team relocated to City from Imperial College
London, with its expertise centred on the CFD modelling
and measurement with laser diagnostics of the two-phase
flow in automotive injectors for diesel and gasoline
engines and its link to the emerging spray characteristics
in the engine cylinder.
DTI. The DTI Technology Programme
provides funding using two of the DTI's business support
products: Collaborative Research & Development
and Knowledge Transfer Networks. Over the period 2005-2008,
£320 million in funding is being made available
from DTI to businesses to support research and development
in technology areas identified by the Government’s
Technology Strategy Board. This funding is increased
by contributions from other Government Departments
such as Defra (£30m), Regional Development Agencies
and Devolved Administrations (£30m) and Research
Councils (£26m). The Programme is investing
directly in new and emerging technologies and has
been designed to help businesses work collaboratively
with each other or with academic partners to develop
technologies that will underpin products and services
of the future. On July 1st, the Technology Strategy
Board will become an Executive Non Departmental Public
Body taking over responsibility for the delivery of
the Technology Programme. Since 2004, the Technology
Programme has supported over 600 projects across 40
technology areas with a combined business and Government
investment worth over £900m. Twenty two Knowledge
Transfer Networks have also been established with
funding of around £40m over 3 years. www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/technologystrategy
Loughborough University is one of
the country's leading universities, with an international
reputation for excellence in teaching and research
and strong links with industry. It is also the UK's
premier university for sport research, education and
development. In the 2006 National Student Survey,
Loughborough was ranked in the top five institutions
in the country. It was also placed 6th in the 2007
Times Good University Guide and named winner of the
2006 Times Higher Education Supplement award for the
UK's Best Student Experience. In recognition of Loughborough's
contribution to the sector, the University has been
awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes - an achievement
bettered by no other institution. Loughborough has
one of the largest university IC engines research
groups. It conducts innovative research ranging from
laser measurement and computer modelling of engine
fluid flow, combustion and emissions, to engine tribology
and control.
About Cambridge Consultants
Cambridge Consultants develops
breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual
property, and provides business consultancy in technology
critical issues for clients worldwide. For nearly
50 years, the company has enabled its clients to turn
business opportunities into commercial successes,
whether launching first-to-market products, entering
new markets or expanding existing markets through
the introduction of new technologies. With a
team of over 250 engineers, designers, scientists
and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and
Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions
across a diverse range of industries including medical
technology, industrial and consumer products, automotive,
transport, energy and wireless communications. For
more information visit: http://www.CambridgeConsultants.com
Cambridge Consultants is part
of the Altran group of companies. Altran Technologie,
which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (FR:003463),
employs over 17,000 consultants in 20 countries around
the world. In 2006 the group generated a turnover
of €1,495.6 million. For more information visit:
www.altran.com
