Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PaREGEn (Particle Reduced, Efficient Gasoline Engines)

Teaser

In the “Particle Reduced, Efficient Gasoline Engines” (PaREGEn) project, development of gasoline engines as used in mid to premium sized passenger cars is being made. With the electrification of smaller vehicles, suitable for zero emissions in urban environments...

Summary

In the “Particle Reduced, Efficient Gasoline Engines” (PaREGEn) project, development of gasoline engines as used in mid to premium sized passenger cars is being made. With the electrification of smaller vehicles, suitable for zero emissions in urban environments, addressing mid to premium sized cars is especially important: the requirement for clean, efficient and economic engines for cars regularly used for inter-urban and regional transport becomes more urgent and more effective to address the challenges of air quality, decarbonisation and cost-effective mobility.
Through the use of state of the art development techniques, such as optical single cylinder engines, a range of modelling and simulation tools, and the application of novel engine componentry, the optimal trade-off between cleanliness and efficiency is being identified. Of special attention throughout this process is the contribution of such technologies to the reduction of particle emission numbers, including those small particles between 10 and 23nm in size.
The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate a new generation of gasoline direct injection engines achieving a ≥ 15% reduction in CO2 emissions through the optimal combination of advanced engine and robust catalyst plus filter (aftertreatment) technologies. Modelling and simulation software will be verified that can improve the design and the control capability of the resulting vehicles. These vehicles will comply with upcoming Euro 6 RDE limits with particle number emissions measured down to a 10nm size threshold.

Work performed

The PaREGEn project progress over the first 18 months has been in accordance with the original objectives, plan and organisation.
WP 1: Advanced Combustion Technologies
This work package (WP) is looking to determine the optimal combination of measurement technologies and simulation methods for understanding the cause and effect relationships of particle emissions, with a focus on a model supported design and calibration approach to get closer to the optimal combination of engine and robust aftertreatment technologies. Two main activities have been initiated: establishing the solid basis for model-supported design and control of the in-cylinder processes; and, secondly, establishing the basis to realize optimal combination of advanced engine componentry for the two demonstrator concepts.
WP 2: Advanced Aftertreatment Systems
A three-way catalyst plus gasoline particulate filter (TWC+GPF) combination is being developed (for WP3) and a lean NOx filter combination (for WP4). New technologies have been tested and primary aftertreatment system concepts have been defined for both work packages, for example for WP4 this includes:
• a three-way lean NOx trap for both stoichiometric performance and lean NOx conversion;
• an optional heated catalyst for improved light-off performance;
• a GPF, giving additional carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons conversion and high filtration efficiency; plus
• a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst, for lean NOx conversion with ammonia (urea) dosing.
WP 3: Stoichiometric Small Turbocharged, Variable Valve Actuation, Direct Water Injection (TC-VVA-DWI) Engine Demonstration
To enable a stoichiometric engine operation mode, which in turn reduces raw engine-out soot emissions and combustion temperatures, leading to lower raw NOx emissions and combustion knock mitigation, the benefits of water injection are being investigated by means of both engine and vehicle tests. Two different water injection strategies are available, port or direct injection. Both technologies will be investigated on the engine test bench to judge the potential and risks of each and decide on the appropriate strategy. The wet dilution strategy also requires the investigation and specification of viable water harvesting from exhaust gas and filtering technologies: first investigations are being carried out with special attention to the risks for combustion efficiency due to unwanted by-products. As a second means of dilution, internal EGR will be combined with water injection as a strategy. These efforts to minimise fuel consumption, NOx and soot emissions under real driving conditions will be complemented by the integration of a particulate filter into the exhaust aftertreatment system. All systems are being installed in a new demonstration engine and vehicle.
WP 4: Dry Dilute Combustion Demonstrator
This work packages seeks to advance the state-of-the-art on lean burn engine technology by combining advancements in fuel injection technology, boosting technology and Continuously Variable Valve Lift (CVVL) technology in a high compression ratio engine operating on the Miller Cycle. The fine sub 23nm particles are also a special focus, these must be addressed in the context of lean stratified combustion, which is likely to generate more in-cylinder particulate matter than homogeneous charge combustion, and in the context of RDE, which may exacerbate the particulate problem because of greater transient behaviour of the engine. With the Dry Dilute Combustion Demonstrator, advancements against these challenges are being made also through using improved fuel injection equipment with higher injection pressures than are currently used in gasoline engines, a variable geometry turbocharger with higher boost pressures in the lower speed ranges, and CVVL to realise the Miller Cycle and take advantage of the higher expansion ratio.
WP 5: Target Setting, Tracking and Impact Assessment
WP5 has started with the definition of the targe

Final results

Over the next one-and-a-half years the component, engine and aftertreatment technologies, now specified in concept, are being evaluated on the engine test bed and, if effective, will be fitted into two demonstrator vehicles for independent evaluation. The simulation tools will be validated through further experiment and the learning transferred into the control systems of the future vehicles. The step thereafter is market introduction: it is the full intention that the innovative technologies developed will be applied by others in the industry to ensure the maximum impact from the project. A roadmap to implementation of the technologies has been devised and is supported by more detailed plans relating to how the supply industry, for either the hardware or the simulation tools and techniques, will feed into this implementation.
The project PaREGEn has committed to achieve a 15% CO2 reduction along with real driving emissions targets. If successful and adopted across all light vehicle classes, these short-term gasoline engine developments are projected to reduce the European vehicle parc CO2 emissions by about 2.0 Mtonnes CO2 in 2025 and up to 10 Mt CO2 together with a 10% reduction in particle numbers >10 nm in 2030. In addition to improving the European competitiveness, one of the most valuable contributions from this project will be that the new modelling and simulation tools to benefit engine design, development and control in general long after project\'s end.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.paregen.eu.