Opposed-piston engines: the powerplant of the future
- Magazine Article
- 17MEIP09_01
- English
The invention of the IC engine has not only facilitated but revolutionized civilization. Since its inception, it has undergone multitude of improvements in design and size. Although it has generated wealth and improved the standard of living, it also brought the problem of air pollution. Globally, air pollution is demonstrating a dominant and costly effect on human health and the climate, and automobiles are contributing significantly to global warming.
About 14% of greenhouse-gas emissions is attributed to the transportation sector (per a 2014 IPPC report). Combustion-engine pollution is a major contributor to overall global air pollution and is directly correlated to the transportation sector. Increasing pollution levels and dependence on fossil fuels are causing engine researchers and automotive manufacturers to focus on other alternative technologies to address these issues. Additionally, heavy dependence on fossil fuels is affecting many countries' economies.