Optimizing components for greener combustion

Research agencies and engine manufacturers around the world tackle combustion with new materials, configurations, and fuels.

It's a simple formula that connects engine combustion and the environment. One problem emission, CO₂, is purely a function of the amount of fuel burned. Reduce fuel burn, and CO₂ goes down.

If the desire is to reduce the harmful emissions that stay closer to the ground-such as NOx, unburned hydrocarbons, particulate emissions and aerosols, and smoke coming out the back end of the engine-then attention has to be turned to the combustor, where the oxygen and fuel are mixed and burned. That's a challenge that includes injectors, swirlers, and the atomization of fuel.