Project Details
Description
This research project sought to address the knowledge gap with the internal combustion engine (ICE) and answer the question ‘how far can you go?’. The research considered methods for reducing fuel consumption of the ICE from two directions: first by improving in-cylinder combustion processes and second through the use of designed fuels from sustainable sources, with the fuel chemistry matched to advanced high efficiency combustion systems. Three novel ICE concepts, aimed at achieving a step improvement of 20 to 33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption from ICEs at near zero emissions were investigated, with holistic integration of energy recovery.
Researchers from the University of Brighton collaborated with teams from Brunel University, Oxford University, University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London and worked with project partners BP (International), Delphi Diesel Systems, Jaguar Land Rover and the Ricardo Group. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) provided a funding award of £2,999,605 for this project, commencing on 1 February 2015 and ending on 31 July 2018.
The aim of Ultra Efficient Engines and Fuels was to research and define the long-term future of the internal combustion engine.
Objectives included:
> To investigate novel combustion and thermodynamic processes combined with integrated energy recover and storage capable of achieving a step change of 20 to 33 per cent improvement in fuel consumption at near zero emissions
> To examine the effects of the physical and chemical properties of sustainable fuels for these novel combustion processes
> To gain fundamental understanding of the in-cylinder processes for the new combustion systems and fuels through fundamental experiments and through the development and application of novel optical diagnostic techniques.
Three novel ICE concepts, aimed at achieving a step improvement of 20 to 33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption from ICEs at near zero emissions will be investigated, with holistic integration of energy recovery (WP1). The concepts investigated are applicable to commercial vehicles, passenger cars and as electric vehicle range extenders. Novel designed fuels, will be investigated in WP2, including how the fuel molecule can be tailored to improve the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel in a novel ICE combustion system. The spray and ignition processes of the new fuels will be characterised through the application of optical diagnostic techniques. WP3 covers the simulation of the ICE combustion concepts and evaluation of current state-of-the-art modelling methods when applied to such combustion systems and designed fuels, with potentially very different fluid characteristics to conventional diesel and petrol. Novel optical diagnostic techniques, including two-line Planer Induced Fluorescence to track the vapour concentration and laser induced thermal grating spectroscopy to measure vapour temperature will be developed in WP4 and applied to the research in WP1 and WP2, providing validation for the modelling in WP3.
In Work Package 1 (WP1), led by the University of Brighton, three novel ICE concepts, aimed at achieving a step improvement of 20-33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption from ICEs at near zero emissions were investigated, with holistic integration of energy recovery. The concepts investigated were applicable to commercial vehicles, passenger cars and as electric vehicle range extenders.
Novel designed fuels, were investigated in WP2 (led by University College London), including how the fuel molecule could be tailored to improve the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel in a novel ICE combustion system. The spray and ignition processes of the new fuels would be characterised through the application of optical diagnostic techniques.
WP3 (led by Brunel University) covered the simulation of the ICE combustion concepts and evaluation of current state of the art modelling methods when applied to such combustion systems and designed fuels, with potentially very different fluid characteristics to conventional diesel and petrol.
Novel optical diagnostic techniques, including two line Planer Induced Fluorescence to track the vapour concentration and laser induced thermal grating spectroscopy to measure vapour temperature were developed in WP4 (led by the University of Oxford) and applied to the research in WP1 and WP2, providing validation for the modelling in WP3.
Researchers from the University of Brighton collaborated with teams from Brunel University, Oxford University, University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London and worked with project partners BP (International), Delphi Diesel Systems, Jaguar Land Rover and the Ricardo Group. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) provided a funding award of £2,999,605 for this project, commencing on 1 February 2015 and ending on 31 July 2018.
The aim of Ultra Efficient Engines and Fuels was to research and define the long-term future of the internal combustion engine.
Objectives included:
> To investigate novel combustion and thermodynamic processes combined with integrated energy recover and storage capable of achieving a step change of 20 to 33 per cent improvement in fuel consumption at near zero emissions
> To examine the effects of the physical and chemical properties of sustainable fuels for these novel combustion processes
> To gain fundamental understanding of the in-cylinder processes for the new combustion systems and fuels through fundamental experiments and through the development and application of novel optical diagnostic techniques.
Three novel ICE concepts, aimed at achieving a step improvement of 20 to 33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption from ICEs at near zero emissions will be investigated, with holistic integration of energy recovery (WP1). The concepts investigated are applicable to commercial vehicles, passenger cars and as electric vehicle range extenders. Novel designed fuels, will be investigated in WP2, including how the fuel molecule can be tailored to improve the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel in a novel ICE combustion system. The spray and ignition processes of the new fuels will be characterised through the application of optical diagnostic techniques. WP3 covers the simulation of the ICE combustion concepts and evaluation of current state-of-the-art modelling methods when applied to such combustion systems and designed fuels, with potentially very different fluid characteristics to conventional diesel and petrol. Novel optical diagnostic techniques, including two-line Planer Induced Fluorescence to track the vapour concentration and laser induced thermal grating spectroscopy to measure vapour temperature will be developed in WP4 and applied to the research in WP1 and WP2, providing validation for the modelling in WP3.
In Work Package 1 (WP1), led by the University of Brighton, three novel ICE concepts, aimed at achieving a step improvement of 20-33 per cent reduction in fuel consumption from ICEs at near zero emissions were investigated, with holistic integration of energy recovery. The concepts investigated were applicable to commercial vehicles, passenger cars and as electric vehicle range extenders.
Novel designed fuels, were investigated in WP2 (led by University College London), including how the fuel molecule could be tailored to improve the ignition and combustion characteristics of the fuel in a novel ICE combustion system. The spray and ignition processes of the new fuels would be characterised through the application of optical diagnostic techniques.
WP3 (led by Brunel University) covered the simulation of the ICE combustion concepts and evaluation of current state of the art modelling methods when applied to such combustion systems and designed fuels, with potentially very different fluid characteristics to conventional diesel and petrol.
Novel optical diagnostic techniques, including two line Planer Induced Fluorescence to track the vapour concentration and laser induced thermal grating spectroscopy to measure vapour temperature were developed in WP4 (led by the University of Oxford) and applied to the research in WP1 and WP2, providing validation for the modelling in WP3.
Key findings
The potential long term impact of this research aimed to be a cost-effective reduction in CO2 emissions from the transportation sector through breakthroughs in combustion and fuel formulation, providing societal and economic benefit.
In the medium term, improved ICE efficiency would reduce CO2 emissions from legacy fuels derived primarily from non-renewable sources. In the longer term, higher ICE efficiencies would reduce the transport sector’s overall fuel demand, thereby reducing the land-use and renewable energy requirements associated with the production of next-generation bio fuels and synthetic fuels.
Industry and policy makers would benefit from a clearer picture of the long-term future of the ICE in a low carbon economy, promoting evidence based decision-making on policy and R&D and manufacturing infrastructure investment.
The UK has a vibrant ICE manufacturing base that earns significant export revenue. The project supported the UK’s ICE manufacturing industry, thereby providing economic benefit to the UK economy. The consideration of designed fuels is a significant opportunity for the UK’s energy companies to develop new sustainable fuel products supporting their businesses transitioning into a low carbon economy.
The project also delivered a unique data set of optical measurements on novel combustion systems and designed fuels. This data would prove highly valuable to simulation code developers, both in the academic and industrial communities.
Finally, the project left a significant equipment legacy in terms of the engines at Brighton and at Brunel and optical equipment at Oxford and Brunel. It was the intention of the partners to build a lasting partnership in ICE combustion and fuels research to continue exploiting these world-leading facilities and provide ongoing support to the UK’s OEMs, tier 1 and 2 suppliers and energy companies beyond the life of the project.
For a full list of publications resulting from the project as well as engagement activities and awards, see the pdf download.
In the medium term, improved ICE efficiency would reduce CO2 emissions from legacy fuels derived primarily from non-renewable sources. In the longer term, higher ICE efficiencies would reduce the transport sector’s overall fuel demand, thereby reducing the land-use and renewable energy requirements associated with the production of next-generation bio fuels and synthetic fuels.
Industry and policy makers would benefit from a clearer picture of the long-term future of the ICE in a low carbon economy, promoting evidence based decision-making on policy and R&D and manufacturing infrastructure investment.
The UK has a vibrant ICE manufacturing base that earns significant export revenue. The project supported the UK’s ICE manufacturing industry, thereby providing economic benefit to the UK economy. The consideration of designed fuels is a significant opportunity for the UK’s energy companies to develop new sustainable fuel products supporting their businesses transitioning into a low carbon economy.
The project also delivered a unique data set of optical measurements on novel combustion systems and designed fuels. This data would prove highly valuable to simulation code developers, both in the academic and industrial communities.
Finally, the project left a significant equipment legacy in terms of the engines at Brighton and at Brunel and optical equipment at Oxford and Brunel. It was the intention of the partners to build a lasting partnership in ICE combustion and fuels research to continue exploiting these world-leading facilities and provide ongoing support to the UK’s OEMs, tier 1 and 2 suppliers and energy companies beyond the life of the project.
For a full list of publications resulting from the project as well as engagement activities and awards, see the pdf download.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 1/01/15 → 31/12/17 |
Funding
- EPSRC
Keywords
- internal combustion engine
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