Investigation into a stepped-piston engine solution for automotive range-extender vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles to meet future green transportation objectives
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online February, 2018
Investigation into a stepped-piston engine solution for automotive range-extender vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles to meet future green transportation objectives
Securing the objectives for future high-efficiency low-carbon-dioxide vehicles is a key target for automotive manufacturers. This paper considers a high-durability two-stroke cycle engine in terms of performance and computational modelling of the emissions characteristics for automotive range-extender or hybrid electric vehicle power plant application. The engine uses novel segregated pump charging via the application of stepped pistons, and a comparison of the engine characteristics is made with those of a comparable four-stroke cycle engine of similar expected power output (more than 60 kW/l). In the interests of cost minimisation, both engines are limited to parallel two-cylinder in-line configurations with the intention of still being able to achieve acceptably low noise, vibration and harshness characteristics. In order to achieve low engine exhaust emissions, computational modelling of direct injection is considered for the stepped-piston engine. A significant reduction in the nitrogen oxide emissions of between 31% and 55% is observed.
TurnerJBlakeDMooreJet al. The Lotus range extender engine. SAE paper 2010-01-2208, 2010.
2.
MattarelliERinaldiniCBaldiniP.Modeling and experimental investigation of a 2-stroke GDI engine for range extender applications. SAE paper 2014-01-1672, 2014.
3.
MackintoshTTatariaHInguvaS. Energy storage system for GM Volt – lifetime benefits. In: 2009 IEEE vehicle power and propulsion conference, Dearborn, Michigan, USA, 7–10 September 2009, pp. 321–323. New York: IEEE.
4.
BassettMHallJOudeNijewemeDet al. The development of a dedicated range extender engine. SAE paper 2012-01-1002, 2012.
5.
StanCPersonnazJ.Car hybrid propulsion strategy using an ultra-light GDI two stroke engine. SAE paper 1999-01-2940, 1999.
6.
MattarelliERinaldiniCCantoreGAgostinelliE.Comparison between 2 and 4-stroke engines for a 30 kW range extender. SAE paper 2014-32-0114, 2014.
7.
DuretPEcomardAAudinetM.A new two-stroke engine with compressed air assisted fuel injection for high efficiency low emissions applications. SAE paper 880176, 1988.
8.
SchlunkeK. The orbital combustion process engine. In: 10th Vienna Motor Symposium, Vienna, Austria, 27–28 April 1989, VDI Publication 122, pp. 63–68. Düsseldorf: VDI.
9.
OsborneRStokesJCeccariniDet al. The 2/4SIGHT project – development of a multi-cylinder two-stroke/four-stroke switching gasoline engine. JSAE paper 20085400, 79-08, 2008.
10.
TurnerJBlundellDPearsonRet al. Project Omnivore: a variable compression ratio ATAC 2-stroke engine for ultra-wide-range HCCI operation on a variety of fuels. SAE paper 2010-01-1249, 2010.
11.
BlundellDWTurnerJWGPearsonRJet al. The Omnivore wide-range auto-ignition: results to date using 98RON unleaded gasoline and E85 fuels. SAE paper 2010-01-0846, 2010.
12.
HooperPRAl-ShemmeriTGoodwinMJ.Advanced modern low emission two-stroke cycle engines. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering2011; 225(11): 1531–1543.
13.
StoneR.Introduction to internal combustion engines. 4th edition.London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
14.
ShawcrossDPumphreyCArnallD.A five-million kilometre, 100-vehicle fleet trial, of an air-assist direct fuel injected, automotive 2-stroke engine. SAE paper 2000-01-0898, 2000.
15.
HooperP.Low cost possibilities for automotive range-extender/hybrid electric vehicles to achieve low CO2 and NVH objectives. SAE paper 2016-01-1841, 2016.
16.
HooperPRAl-ShemmeriTGoodwinMJ.An experimental and analytical investigation of a multi-fuel stepped piston engine. Appl Thermal Engng2012; 48: 32–40.
17.
HooperPR. Stepped piston engines for multi-fuel UAV application. In: IMechE conference on propulsion systems for unmanned aircraft, Bristol, UK, 14 April 2005, pp. 83–95. London: Professional Engineering Publishing Limited.
18.
HooperP.Instantaneous engine torque analysis of compact low mass two-cylinder engines for automotive hybrid or range-extender applications. Int J Powertrains2015: 4(4): 371–387.
19.
HooperBFavillJE.Modern stepped piston engines. In: IMechE conference on design and development of small IC engines, Douglas, Isle of Man, UK, 31 May–2 June 1978, IMechE paper C133/78. London: Mechanical Engineering Publications.
WiebeI.Halbempirische Formel für die Verbrennungsgeschwindigkeit. Moscow: Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften der UdSSR, 1967.
22.
HeywoodJBSherE.The two-stroke cycle engine: its development, operation and design. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1999.
23.
SherE.The effect of atmospheric conditions on the performance of an airborne two-stroke spark ignition engine. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering1984; 198(15): 239–251.
24.
SherEZeigersonM.A stepped-piston two-stroke engine for high altitude applications. SAE paper 940400, 1994.
25.
SherEHarariR.A simple and realistic model for the scavenging process in a crankcase-scavenged two-stroke engine. Proc IMechE Part A: J Power and Energy1991; 205: 129–137.
26.
ChenSKFlynnP.Development of a compression ignition research engine. SAE paper 650733, 1965.
27.
WoschniG.A universally applicable equation for the instantaneous heat transfer coefficient in the internal combustion engine. SAE paper 670931, 1967.
28.
BirdRBStewartWELightfootEN.Transport phenomena. 2nd edition.New York: John Wiley, 2002.
29.
SAE J1349Engine power test code – spark ignition and compression ignition – net power rating. Warrendale, Pennsylvania: SAE International, 1995.
30.
MilloFRolandoLMallamoFFusoR.Development of an optimal strategy for the energy management of a range-extended electric vehicle with additional noise, vibration and harshness constraints. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering2013; 227(1): 4–16.
