Browse Topic: Exhaust emissions

Items (17,511)
The Ω-shaped Coriolis flowmeter, owing to its suitability for high-pressure and wide-temperature conditions, has become the preferred device for CO2 metering in CCUS-EOR projects. In practical applications, however, the volatile nature of operating pressures and temperatures triggers a persistent zero-point drift. This instability creates a ripple effect: it not only degrades metering precision but also fundamentally undermines the equitable basis of carbon trading markets. This study, through theoretical analysis, fluid-structure coupling simulation, and experiments, deeply investigates the patterns of zero-point drift in Ω-shaped Coriolis flowmeters and corresponding correction methods. The research reveals that the asymmetry of the measuring tube structure is the primary cause of zero-point drift, with changes in the vibration frequency of the measuring tube directly influencing the zero-point value, leading to the establishment of a related zero-point drift model. Based on the asymmetric structure of a DN15 Ω-shaped Coriolis flowmeter, simulations were performed to model the zero-point variation patterns under different pressures and temperatures using CO2 as the fluid, thereby verifying the effectiveness of the zero-point drift model. To validate our approach, we executed targeted zero-point experiments, employing the proposed model to predict zero-point shifts across a broad spectrum of pressures and temperatures. By integrating these predictions into a refined correction framework, we successfully neutralized drift-induced errors. These findings offer both a robust theoretical pillar and a practical toolkit for high-precision CO2 accounting, ultimately safeguarding the economic integrity of carbon trading within CCUS-EOR initiatives.
Yu, HaoboHua, ChenquanYu, WenxinZhao, Zerun
Proposed Tier 5 off-highway emission regulations for the 19–56 kW engine class pose significant technical and economic challenges. Unlike larger platforms, where selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is the standard nitrogen oxide (NOX) control strategy, engines in this class face cost and packaging constraints that limit complex aftertreatment adoption. This article investigates whether a production Tier 4 diesel engine and its existing aftertreatment can meet proposed Tier 5 limits through calibration and minor hardware changes alone, without major redesign or SCR. The approach combined a cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) strategy with start of injection (SOI) timing optimization to manage the NOX–particulate matter (PM) trade-off, using the stock diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and diesel particulate filter (DPF) system for particulate control. An EGR/SOI design-of-experiments (DOE) sweep identified an optimal calibration, validated over both the ramped modal cycle (RMC) and non-road transient cycle (NRTC) per Title 13 California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 2423 for certification of variable-speed engines in this power category. Results indicate that the system can be a viable pathway of meeting upcoming Tier 5 final emission standards.
Patil, Shubham VishwanathMichlberger, AlexanderBachu, Pruthvi R.Amaral Garcia, HerbertSmith, Edward M.
A modeling study was performed to find solutions to reduce the unburned hydrocarbons during cold start of a PFI (port fuel injection) SI (spark ignition) engine. Through modeling, the root cause for the high unburned hydrocarbons of the baseline engine during cold start was found. The slow combustion, which is due to the high amount of exhaust gas flowing back into the intake port and then becoming trapped inside the cylinder, is the root cause. A new valve lift, which can reduce the internal residual by 26%, was designed. Along with a fuel amount decrease of 35%, the UHC (unburned hydrocarbons) before the three-way catalyst can be reduced by 40%. The exhaust temperature using the new valve lift design increases by 400°C, which improves the performance of the three-way catalyst for further reducing UHC. In addition to the adoption of the new valve lift, an active SAI (secondary air injection) strategy was also investigated. Modeling results show that SAI can promote secondary combustion in the exhaust pipes to increase exhaust temperature and thus is beneficial for further oxidizing unburned hydrocarbons. The amount of active SAI mass flow rate should be controlled to less than 25% of the intake air flow rate to avoid the cooling effect dominating over the oxidation process. The duration of SAI should be from EVO (exhaust valve opening) to IVO (intake valve opening). For combustion modeling, a newly reduced iso-octane chemical kinetic mechanism was developed using carbon flux analysis to extract major reaction pathways for a wide range of practical engine temperature conditions. In the new reduced mechanism, a skeletal sub-mechanism for species starting from iso-octane to C4 is coupled with a recently updated H2/O2/CO/C1–C4 detailed sub-mechanism. Including a reduced NOx (oxides of nitrogen) sub-mechanism, the final mechanism has 681 species and 3332 reactions. Before the new reduced iso-octane mechanism was used, it had been validated with available experimental data of ignition delay times, laminar flame speeds, and important species profiles in the literature. Both the investigation of PFI engine unburned hydrocarbons reduction under cold start operating conditions and the development of a reduced chemical mechanism are the objectives of this work.
Guo, DongshaoZhang, LichengYang, ShiyouBourg, CyrusSun, YongAbidin, ZainalLin, Shujun
Cashew nut shell oil–based biodiesel (BD) is an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative energy source that can help decrease the depletion of fossil fuels and reduce environmental pollution. In this research, the BD extracted from cashew nut shell was enriched with green-synthesized nanoparticles with various blends and evaluated for its performance. The BD20A blend recorded the best thermal efficiency of the brake, 29.5%, which was a boost of about 20.4% over diesel when using a medium load of 2.7 kW. Furthermore, the decrease in brake-specific fuel consumption was 36.2%, and exhaust gas temperature improved by 26.1% due to enhanced combustion, indicating better combustion and utilization of heat. The BD10A and BD20A recorded a considerable decrease in emissions compared to diesel under full-load conditions, with carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons reducing by 35.7% and 33.3%, respectively, and a moderate increase of nitrogen oxides. Among the multi-objective optimization approaches, the Jaya algorithm exhibited the fastest convergence rate and identified the optimum operating condition that achieved the best trade-off between engine performance and exhaust emissions. BD blends, particularly BD20A, provide greater thermal performance and better combustion behavior as well as lower exhaust emissions, making them viable as green alternatives to the traditional diesel fuel.
Victor Soosai Irudayaraj, S.Thanigaivelan, V.Brucely, Y.Lenin, N.
Mehdi Ferhan said optimizing existing technology was a challenge but ultimately the right solution for Volvo to satisfy new NOx regulations. And he says he has never been bored a single day in his career as an engineer. SAE Media senior editor Chris Clonts had an exclusive opportunity at ACT 2026 to sit down with Volvo Group's senior vice president of powertrain technology, Mehdi Ferhan. The talk of the day was EPA 2027 and its new NOx emission standard. Other topics in the free-ranging conversation included BEVs, hydrogen and current opportunities for engineers. The following was edited for length and clarity.
Clonts, Chris
In the race to combat climate change, scientists are developing technologies to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels and chemicals. These innovations help curb greenhouse gases while providing a low-carbon fuel to power our future. As the U.S. shifts to a low-carbon economy, we need environmentally friendly fuels to power vehicles that are hard to electrify, like planes, ships and trains. Scientists are developing the technology to convert CO2 to fuel. However, this conversion requires a lot of energy and water.
In the present work, a novel method that combines accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was proposed to identify and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gasoline soot. The n-hexane was employed to extract the target analytes, and the optimal extraction conditions were identified (cycle times = 3, extraction time = 30 min, extraction temperature = 120°C, and extraction pressure = 100 MPa). The extraction efficiency of six analytes was measured to assess the ASE method; the formation mechanism of partial PAHs was discussed, and the 18 PAHs in gasoline soot were studied both qualitatively and quantitatively under the optimal conditions. It was found that our new method reached a high correlation coefficient (between 0.9987 and 0.9997); the limits of quantification (LOQs) (S/N = 6) for these PAHs were between 0.003 and 0.009 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.9–10.6%. Our method demonstrated good performance in determining the target analytes in soot samples, such as gasoline soot, some materials soot, co-combustion soot, gasoline, and materials. The PAHs differences in soot samples containing gasoline and materials soot samples were significant enough to obtain the observed discrimination. The method is an accurate and sensitive quantitative method to identify gasoline residues in soot samples of arson fire.
Liu, ShujunCao, HenanQi, LijieLiu, YangLi, Qi
In conventional braking systems, the kinetic energy of a vehicle is predominantly converted into heat through friction, a thermodynamically inefficient process. This not only causes progressive wear of components but also leads to the release of various materials, including heavy metals and organic compounds. With increasing concern over non-exhaust emissions, the search for innovative solutions becomes imperative. In electrified vehicles (xEVs), regenerative braking emerges as a strategic technology, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy to recharge the battery and extend range. This process not only enhances the vehicle's energy efficiency but also results in reduced frequency and intensity of mechanical brake usage. Consequently, there is a direct reduction in the wear of friction braking components, which translates into a significant mitigation of particulate matter emissions associated with this wear. The optimization of these systems occurs through Cooperative Regenerative Braking (CRB), which intelligently integrates with hydraulic braking. The primary challenge lies in managing the transition between modes to recover maximum energy without compromising safety and driver comfort. This technical paper explores how CRB employs 'torque blending' via advanced ECUs and software to adjust in real-time the proportion of each braking type, aiming for maximum energy recovery in diverse driving scenarios. To verify the effectiveness of this system, practical tests were conducted on a vehicle. The results obtained from these tests were conclusive, demonstrating significant gains in energy efficiency, with an increased battery recharging capacity during decelerations, optimized by the braking system. This improvement in efficiency directly impacts the reduction in the use of the conventional friction brake system and, consequently, a sharp decrease in particulate matter emissions. In this context, the intelligent and cooperative management of regenerative braking is a strategic and fundamental component for building a more sustainable future in vehicular mobility.
Batagini, EmersonRomão, Bruno
The jet-trapped vortex combustor presented in this study was designed based on the trapped vortex combustor with good flame stability by introducing a jet flame-stabilization method. Leveraging the superior air-fuel mixing efficiency and enhanced heat and mass transfer of the jet stabilization method, this configuration addresses the inherent limitations of heat and mass transfer between the mainstream flow and the cavity in a conventional trapped vortex combustor. To investigate the influence of different hydrogen-air equivalence ratios on the flow dynamics, combustion performance, and emission within the jet-trapped vortex combustor, numerical simulations were conducted in this study. The results show that under different equivalence ratios, a vortex pair structure can be formed in the mixing zone between the hydrogen jet and the air jet. Complete combustion can be achieved at all equivalence ratios except for Φ = 1.56. When Φ is below 0.86, the axial distance required to achieve complete combustion progressively decreases as the equivalence ratio is reduced. The temperature distribution in the combustor is more uniform with minimal variation, and the concentration of NO emissions decreases progressively. Among these cases, the combustion efficiency, temperature distribution, and NO emission characteristic of the combustor are relatively better at Φ = 0.34.
Yan, PinghuaHou, XinglongRen, GuanlongSun, HaijunLuo, KunYang, Shucheng
This SAE Information Report provides SAE’s recommendations for meeting the requirements for Real Emissions Assessment Logging (REAL) oxides of nitrogen (NOx) accuracy demonstration and for the implementation of REAL NOx binning requirements as defined in onboard diagnostics (OBD) regulations 13 CCR 1971.1 and 13 CCR 1968.2.
Vehicle E E System Diagnostic Standards Committee
Methanol use in marine engines has the potential to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, particulates, and greenhouse gas emissions. A turbocharged four-stroke marine diesel powerplant was converted to run as a double-DI (direct injection) diesel-methanol hybrid engine. Experimental studies using a non-premixed combustion scheme showed that higher methanol substitution ratios (MSR) led to increased peak heat release rates. The combustion process displayed distinctive two-phase behaviors. Increasing MSR caused retarded ignition timing, shortened combustion duration, and improved thermal efficiency. Combustion stability was significantly improved at higher MSR. Emissions results showed NOX and HC were increased in proportion to MSR, whilst particulate emissions and CO concentrations were inversely reduced. Methanol enrichment was found to enhance NOX and HC formation processes but also accelerate soot particulate decomposition and CO oxidation mechanisms.
Li, XiaoJiang, YuqiYan, PingZheng, LiangLi, HongmeiZhang, WenzhengChen, ChaoMan, Zhongguo
The transition toward climate-neutral transportation requires powertrain concepts that combine high efficiency with low pollutant emissions. In this context, hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines represent a promising solution when hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources. Owing to its specific molecular properties, hydrogen offers new possibilities for influencing and optimizing the combustion process and reducing the emission formation. This paper presents a numerical approach for characterizing the NOx formation in a single-cylinder research engine equipped with port fuel injection and a passive pre-chamber ignition system. The single-cylinder is operated over a wide range of engine loads and speeds, covering air-to-fuel ratios from λ=1.5 to 2.5 and achieving up to 23 bar indicated mean effective pressure. The study focuses on the influence of engine load and mixture composition on NOx emissions. A dedicated look-up table approach in combination with several reaction parameters based on the extended Zeldovich mechanism are evaluated through comparison with experimental data. Furthermore, multiple sampling positions within the CFD mesh are examined. The simulations reproduce measured trends across variations in load and air-to-fuel ratio with good accuracy. At high load and λ=1.5, NOx emissions of up to 6000 ppm are produced, decreasing exponentially with increasing excess air. Finally, potential NOx reduction strategies for the single-cylinder are examined. While influencing the mixture homogenization shows limited effectiveness, temperature-based actions prove to be more effective. Among the investigated approaches, a Miller intake valve strategy yields the largest benefit, achieving approximately 10% NOx reduction by lowering end-of-compression temperatures and increasing residual gas dilution under otherwise identical operating conditions.
Gal, ThomasVacca, AntoninoChiodi, MarcoSchmelcher, RobinKulzer, Andre Casal
Biodiesel blends (B7, B20, B100) were evaluated in a Stage V-compliant SCR on Filter (SCRoF) system for heavy-duty applications to quantify soot reactivity and filter regeneration capability. Compared to conventional diesel (B7), B20 showed slightly faster regeneration performance under real-driving conditions, while B100 resulted in reduced particulate formation and higher soot reactivity, with more intense exothermic events requiring careful management. These differences are attributed to the distinct physical-chemical properties of the fuels (oxygen content, lower heating value) and their interaction with Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)/SCRoF. All tests were conducted on an engine dynamometer with a Cursor 9 FPT (Fiat Powertrain). Findings are discussed in the context of EU Stage V limits and practical control strategies for heavy-duty applications.
Costa, Simone
The goal of reducing global CO2 emissions requires actions especially for the transportation sector. To achieve the goal, electric traction motors are frequently implemented in passenger vehicles, as well as in commercial vehicles like heavy-duty trucks or buses. Particularly electric city buses have the potential to reduce the local emissions in urban areas and provide local exhaust-emission-free mobility. While their number of registrations rises, research focusses on the improvement of the overall system in order to increase energy efficiency. High importance is gained by the thermal management of the whole system. This research investigates a simulative approach to improve the thermal management and therefore the energy efficiency of an electric city bus. The different thermal components of an electric city bus like drive system, battery system and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC system) are modelled. Their thermal behavior has been validated in previous research. Based on the validated model, this study proposes an improved thermal management that, state-dependent, combines the thermal circuits of the single components to reduce the overall energy demand. Cooling or heating is provided by the HVAC system. Furthermore, the simulation utilizes real driving cycles of a city bus in the Hamburg area. Measurement data from an entire year are examined by a cluster analysis that results in typical application profiles for urban bus traffic. These profiles are used as basis for further research. An operating strategy for the thermal management of an electric city bus under real driving conditions is developed using the simulation model. Results are presented, which show that the overall energy demand decreases due to an improved, application profile-dependent thermal management system.
Schäfer, HenrikHellberg, TobiasMeywerk, Martin
As a contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, the indicated efficiency of SI engines can be increased via thermal swing coatings. Thereby, a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions can be achieved, although not at all operating conditions. Here, the often-observed increased hydrocarbon emission partially overcompensates the reduced wall heat losses. The main root cause is always attributed to the increased surface roughness and porosity, leading to an increased crevice volume. Further investigations were performed at a single-cylinder engine equipped with a FTIR for species analysis of hydrocarbon emissions. A comparison of direct injection and port fuel injection were performed for RON95 E10 and methanol to assess the influence of mixture preparation. 3D CFD was used to additionally investigate the in-cylinder processes. The comparison of port fuel injection and direct injection showed a significant influence on the fuel hydrocarbon emissions for the direct injection when the thermal swing coating was applied. The effect is more pronounced for methanol. For port fuel injection nearly the same or reduced fuel hydrocarbon emissions can be observed. This is mainly attributed to an increased wall film agglomeration at the piston for the thermal swing coating in case of direct injection, which can be observed in 3D CFD. Due to the low thermal effusivity of the coating, the droplet impingement leads to a notable decrease in the surface temperature. This results in lower evaporation of the fuel and a longer droplet lifetime. Consequently, a fuel wall film is still present at top dead center after ignition leading to additional hydrocarbon emissions.
Fischer, MarcusPischinger, Stefan
The closed-cycle hydrogen-fueled argon power cycle is a zero emissions concept that combines a carbon-free fuel with argon as a diluent replacement for nitrogen. The lack of nitrogen in the argon power cycle results in zero NOx emissions on an internal combustion engine platform. There is also massive efficiency improvement because argon is monatomic and has a very high ratio of specific heats. However, this will also result in combustion temperatures and pressures exceeding those normally achieved on an air-standard engine platform. The literature shows conflict between modeling, which promises incredibly high efficiency gains, and experiment, which show more modest efficiency gains. This work combined thermodynamic modeling, literature analysis, and experiments to understand this discrepancy and ultimately understand what level of efficiency gain can be expected for the argon power cycle. It was found that while low compression ratio engines stand to see the largest relative efficiency improvement, high compression ratio engines are the ones that can ultimately achieve ~60%+ efficiency, corresponding to a 15–20% relative improvement in efficiency over an air-standard engine platform operating at or above 50% efficiency. The elevated temperatures and pressures of the cycle result in knock in spark ignition, so either a high compression ratio knock mitigation strategy or mixing-controlled operation is required. Experiments conducted using a diesel-fueled compression ignition engine showed that a 30% argon replacement resulted in ~6% and full nitrogen replacement with argon resulted in ~14% relative efficiency improvement at 8 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEPg) without intake boosting on a heavy-duty engine with a compression ratio of 20.0 and late intake valve closing, agreeing with modeling results. The key takeaway to match modeling and experimental trends is to accurately model heat transfer, which increases significantly for the argon power cycle.
Gainey, BrianAhrling, ChristofferTunestal, PerTuner, Martin
Mitigation of harmful emissions from oil-based engines is essential to avoid environmental pollution and comply with various NOx regulations across the globe. This can be partially achieved by injecting urea to produce ammonia (NH3), which reacts with NOx in a catalyst to produce harmless nitrogen (N2) and water vapor (H2O). However, urea deposition in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system poses a significant threat to the NOx removal process by not only reducing the urea conversion rate but also blocking the incoming flow and causing an additional pressure drop. Numerical modeling of this urea deposit formation involves multiphase flow physics coupled with accurate heat transfer calculations. Additionally, since urea decomposes into various by-products like biuret, cyanuric acid (CYA), and ammelide, detailed chemical kinetics modeling is equally important. Accurate and fast computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can help accelerate SCR system design cycles, leading to a reduction in experimental cost. In this study, we employ CONVERGE CFD to model the whole process from urea–water solution (UWS) injection to droplet evaporation and decomposition (using 12-step detailed-chemistry), film formation, and final deposition as a solid. A new spray-wall interaction model is introduced based on published experimental observations. The efficacy of the numerical model is demonstrated using an S-bend tube, where the UWS is injected just at the end of the S-bend. The predicted deposit mass and patterns are compared with the experiments, and good agreement is observed for three different operating conditions. A novel boundary morphing feature is activated to model the deformation of the tube walls because of urea deposition. Finally, to accelerate the simulations, a spray database approach is introduced. Coupled with the fixed-flow feature, this results in around 58% reduction in computational time without compromising accuracy. The present work thus provides a numerical framework to accurately capture urea deposition with a fast turnaround time.
Morab, Sumant R.Khalate, SurajAnsari, ShoaibYang, Pengze
Hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE) have emerged as a promising solution for decarbonisation of the transport sector, due to low cost and potential for rapid deployment. However, abnormal combustion and high nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions limit stoichiometric operation, making dilution strategies essential. While lean combustion has been widely studied, combined dilution strategies of air and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) require further investigation. This work presents experimental results from a boosted 0.5-litre spark-ignition direct-injection single-cylinder research engine equipped with high-tumble ports and cooled high-pressure EGR. Relative air–fuel ratios (lambda) of 1 to 3 and EGR rates of 0 to 40% are evaluated at 5, 10, and 15 bar of indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) at 2000 rpm to assess effects on net indicated thermal efficiency (nITE), combustion, and emissions. A peak nITE of 43.5% is achieved at 10 bar IMEP, λ = 2.5, and 30% EGR, which can be primarily attributed to low heat losses while maintaining lower combustion losses than at higher dilution levels. NOx emissions are effectively mitigated with increasing EGR and are largely independent of lambda at 5 bar IMEP under EGR dilution. At high load, EGR is shown to be beneficial to achieve high efficiency and lower NOx at lower dilution rates, thereby reducing boosting requirements. Equivalent dilution parameters are used to investigate combined effects of EGR and air dilution, from a mass dilution perspective with the mass dilution rate (MDR) and equivalent thermal reduction with the thermal dilution parameter (TDP). Indicated efficiency and unburned hydrogen emissions correlated strongly with MDR, while temperature-dependent parameters showed a high correlation with TDP. At constant engine speed, burn durations are shown to depend mainly on degree of thermal dilution, with no effect of load observed. At high dilution rates, combustion became increasingly insensitive to further dilution, indicating the presence of thermodiffusive instabilities under high levels of both EGR and air dilution.
King, AidanIslam, RezaPickering, SimonYuan, HaoMudge, HenryGiles, KarlGoyal, HarshJones, PeterAkehurst, SamEsposito, Stefania
Ammonia (NH3) is a carbon-free fuel with strong potential for spark-ignition (SI) engine applications. However, the engine can produce complex nitrogen-based emissions not adequately captured by conventional engine models. This study consolidated the results of experimental and numerical studies on the use of neat NH3 combustion in a heavy-duty compression-ignition engine converted to spark-ignition operation, first for a sweep of equivalence ratios (ϕ) from 0.7 to 1.0, and another from varying the energy substitution ratio of methane (CH4)– NH3 blends from neat CH4 to neat NH3 at constant ϕ = 0.8. Two 0-D two-zone SI engine models with detailed chemistry (called “original” and “extended”) predicted engine thermodynamics and emissions. While the original model reproduced in-cylinder pressure and combustion phasing, it failed to capture the effect of fuel composition or operating condition on NO trends, both under- and over-predicting them for neat NH3 and CH4-rich operations. An extension of the model incorporating a burned-zone batch reactor and two more reactors simulating the post-combustion oxidation of the mixture exiting crevices and the DeNOx processes during exhaust blowdown were implemented to address these limitations. Analysis of NO formation pathways highlighted the differences between modeling approaches. The equilibrium assumptions in the original model restricted NO formation primarily to thermal (Zeldovich) mechanisms. In contrast, the kinetics-driven model showed that non-thermal pathways dominate NO formation for all NH3-containing cases, which shows the limitations of conventional SI models developed for hydrocarbons when applied to nitrogen-containing fuels. Post-combustion homogeneous reactors for crevice-based oxidation and exhaust blowdown revealed significant NO and N2O formation after the end of combustion at moderate temperatures (850–1200 K), suggesting that N2O formation was dominated by secondary thermal processes. Therefore, the inclusion of post-combustion chemistry and more consistent models are essential for accurate emission prediction in NH3-fueled SI engines.
Trujillo Grisales, JuanSaenz Prado, StefanyAlvarez, Luis F.Akkerman, VyacheslavDumitrescu, Cosmin E.
The energy transition requires a rapid reduction in the use of fossil fuels, whose combustion generates substantial greenhouse-gas emissions. In Europe, transport alone accounts for roughly a quarter of total greenhouse-gas emissions, with road transport being the predominant component. In this context, the use of biofuels has emerged as a potential solution for limiting further increases in CO₂ emissions. However, most studies available in the literature evaluate the performance of these fuels on modern engines, while their effects on historic carburetted engines remain largely unexplored. This is particularly significant given the large fleet of historic vehicles across Europe, supported by a long-standing tradition of vehicle preservation, associations, and classic car collectors. The main historic-vehicle federations advise caution and the use of low-ethanol formulations so as not to damage elastomers, fuel tanks, and carburettor float bowls. For this reason, a few suppliers have developed fuels specifically for classic vehicles. Among this minority, in 2023 Coryton Advanced Fuels introduced the SUSTAIN Classic line, including the Super 80 variant. In the present study, the performance, fuel consumption, and emissions of an air-cooled, four-stroke Fiat 500 engine fueled with commercial RON 95 gasoline and Coryton SUSTAIN Classic Super 80 were analyzed. A first test comprised a complete sweep from 1000 to 5000 RPM and a second test evaluated four different main jets at maximum torque speed and maximum power speed. To evaluate the performance, the engine was installed on a test bench equipped with a torque meter. Static pressure and temperature sensors were employed to characterize the engine operating conditions, while a dynamic pressure sensor installed in the combustion chamber was used to analyze the combustion characteristics. Exhaust emissions were also measured using a gas analyzer, allowing for a detailed and accurate comparison of the effects associated with the use of the two fuels.
Tarchiani, MarcoFossati, FedericoRaspanti, SandroBaroni, AlbertoFerrara, GiovanniRomani, Luca
The automotive industry is facing increasingly stringent regulatory constraints, driving the need for faster and more efficient powertrain development. This results in higher systems complexity, making internal combustion engine calibration progressively more challenging to meet performance and emissions targets. This, combined with the manual nature of traditional calibration workflows, leads to a time-consuming process that heavily relies on human expertise. Although virtualization can reduce development time and costs, the overall workflow remains largely dependent on manual decision-making and iterative refinement. In this context, this work presents a virtual calibration framework based on a genetic algorithm, aimed at the automated optimization of engine calibration maps to satisfy performance and emissions constraints, while reducing manual effort. Each calibration map is represented through a polynomial parameterization. Specifically, a generic three-dimensional polynomial with map-specific order encodes the shape of each map, ensuring smoothness which directly impact on drivability. Accordingly, the calibration problem is reformulated as the optimization of a compact set of polynomial parameters that uniquely define the full set of calibration maps, rather than individual set-point. Each candidate solution is assessed by generating the corresponding calibration maps and simulating the engine behavior through a neural-network-based digital twin, providing predictions of operating conditions, hardware limits, performance metrics, and emissions. The proposed framework was validated on a passenger-car diesel engine, considering a reduced yet representative set of calibration maps, including main injection start of injection, air mass, boost pressure, and injection rail pressure. The objective of optimization was the minimization of brake mean fuel consumption, subject to an upper bound constraint on nitrogen oxides emissions. The global optimization process explored approximately 106 different calibration candidates within about 36 hours, leveraging parallel computation on a standard laptop. The results indicate that the procedure can deliver multiple near-optimal preliminary calibration solutions, providing an effective starting point for subsequent manual finetuning.
Romano, GianvitoAglietti, FilippoSpedicato, TonioCozza, Ivan FlaminioCapra, Andrea
The ongoing efforts for reduction of the traffic-related greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, the mitigation of harmful pollutant emissions from vehicle exhaust emissions are important development tasks for the entire automotive industry worldwide according to demand to provide clean and efficient products. Further tightened fleet average FE standards and ultra-low limits for exhaust emissions require the continuous development of new propulsion system types. Due to the given reluctance of the end customer and corresponding low acceptance of fully electrified vehicles, especially in the commercial vehicle segment, new and innovative topologies are needed to meet regulatory requirements and maintain the high versatility of today’s dominating solutions. For further optimization of operating conditions with enhanced fuel efficiency, the technical strategy is also determined by uplifting the attractiveness of electric driving incl. the avoidance of areas with poor ICE efficiency and as well as the coverage of emission-critical operations by electric propulsion. In this context, the support provided by an electric drive on board the vehicle in a combined drive system is becoming increasingly important. This article discusses accordingly various platform strategies for hybridized Diesel powertrains in different sectors of commercial vehicle applications and delivers a comprehensive comparative analysis of different hybrid drive concepts. Specifically, several hybrid powertrain configurations that extend an electric drive platform (hybridized BEVs), such as series and parallel-series topologies, are compared with traditional parallel hybrid powertrain topologies based on internal combustion engines (ICE). The study focuses mainly on two different cornerstone applications: a large light commercial vehicle, ranging from 3,5 to 6,5 to. and a heavy-duty long-haul truck with 40…44 to. gross vehicle weight. It evaluates the advantages in terms of CO2 emissions and Diesel fuel savings and investigates the effects on emission controls aspects. In addition to technical comparisons, the paper addresses also regulatory demands and end customer merits, assessing the integrational effort and commonalities in components with pure ICE and battery electric topologies. Furthermore, it explores the additional impact of advanced operational strategies for Hybrid Diesel powertrains, incorporating insights from innovative observations from executed hybrid technology demonstrator vehicles.
Koerfer, Thomas
As vehicle technologies evolve toward electrification and advanced aftertreatment, understanding the biological implications of their exhaust emissions remains essential. This study presents a harmonized comparative toxicological assessment of five Euro 6 vehicles representing gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, compressed natural gas (CNG), and diesel technologies. Vehicles were tested under realistic driving conditions on a chassis dynamometer. Diluted exhaust was delivered directly to human lung epithelial cells (A549) using a controlled air–liquid interface (ALI) exposure system. Solid and total particle number emissions were measured, and deposited particle mass was estimated from size-resolved distributions and deposition efficiency. Vehicles equipped with particulate filtration showed lower solid particle emissions overall, while differences between gasoline particulate filter-equipped vehicles indicated that hybridization can further influence emission levels. Diesel operation during active diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration produced more than two orders of magnitude higher particle number emissions compared to normal operation. When expressed as deposited mass, vehicle ranking differed from number-based emissions, highlighting that emission metrics do not directly translate into delivered biological dose. Exposure to whole exhaust consistently induced stronger cytotoxic and inflammatory responses than to gaseous phase alone. Membrane integrity disruption and IL-1β release showed clear particle-associated amplification, with the strongest effects observed during diesel DPF regeneration. These findings demonstrate persistent technology-dependent differences in particle emissions and acute biological responses among modern low-emission vehicles.
Tsakonas, GeorgiosStamatiou, RodopiLazou, AntigoneSamaras, ZissisElihn, Karine
Hydrogen-fueled rotary engines offer a promising zero-emission solution for compact commercial powertrains. This study reports experimental results from the further development of a naturally aspirated, direct-injection hydrogen rotary engine by HTM. Initial applications, such as an airport baggage tractor, demonstrated technical feasibility but revealed pre-ignition that limited maximum torque. To address this, mixture formation was investigated using an experimental setup with two independently controlled injectors feeding a single rotor injection channel. The effects on operating behavior, efficiency, and NOx emissions were evaluated. The dual-injector configuration significantly shortens injection duration and improves spatial distribution of hydrogen within the combustion chamber. Enhanced mixture control suppresses pre-ignition and enables higher mean effective pressure. Systematic variation of injection timing under representative steady-state conditions also shows potential for NOx reduction through differentiated injector operation. In-cylinder pressure analysis and exhaust gas measurements provide detailed insight into combustion characteristics and abnormal events. The dual-injector setup increases torque capability and operational robustness without additional mechanical complexity, supporting the use of hydrogen rotary engines in compact hybrid systems and stationary power applications.
Endres, JonasBeidl, ChristianHerold, TimLavall, PhilippSchmidt, MarvinHofmann, SilasKahl, Jonas
Low-load natural gas–diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) in medium-speed marine engines is constrained by an insufficient charge thermal state. This limitation leads to partial fuel oxidation, producing high methane emissions. This work evaluates the use of negative valve overlap (NVO) combined with NVO diesel injection as an in-cylinder reactivity enhancement strategy. The simulation study was performed using the University of Vaasa’s advanced thermo-kinetic multi-zone model (UVATZ), extended for reactive simulations during NVO. The extended framework was validated against test-bench data from a prototype Wärtsilä 6L20 dual-fuel engine operating in RCCI mode. The baseline low-load operating point for reforming simulations was defined by reducing the intake manifold temperature to replicate conditions close to partial misfire with 52% combustion efficiency. The parametric sweeps of NVO injection timing and ratio showed that the strategy can be used for in-cycle fast thermal management, effectively restoring complete combustion on an individual cycle basis. In simulated conditions, the best performance was obtained with an NVO injection ratio of 0.3, with the injection scheduled before top dead center. In contrast, increasing the NVO fraction beyond ~0.3 provided no benefit and led to complete misfire due to excessive reduction of main-event high-reactivity fuel. The simulations revealed a coupled thermal–chemical control mechanism. Early NVO injections stabilize combustion through recompression heat release and an increased next-cycle intake valve closing temperature. Sufficiently late injections stabilize combustion by carrying unreacted diesel into the subsequent cycle. Injections near NVO TDC primarily undergo fuel conversion to CO, H2O, and unsaturated light/mid-range hydrocarbons with negligible thermal boost, yielding an overall reactivity deficit.
Soleimani, AmirNurmi, MikaelHunicz, JacekKim, JeyoungHyvonen, JariMikulski, Maciej
Emissions reduction remains a major concern for internal combustion engines in view of increasingly stringent environmental regulations. To address these challenges while maintaining acceptable engine performance, a wide range of alternative fuels and fuel blends have been investigated to ensure the continued viability of CI engines. This study reports the effects of blending the oxygenated fuel diethylene glycol diethyl ether (DGDE) with hydrotreated vegetable oil biodiesel (HVO) on engine performance and emissions. The investigation is conducted on a 2.3-liter, four-cylinder, common-rail diesel engine, equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger and a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system. The objectives of this study are achieved by developing a one-dimensional predictive engine model using the commercial GT-SUITE software. The engine model is developed and experimentally validated, at various operating conditions and HVO–DGDE fuel blends, to predict their effects on combustion characteristics and emissions formation. The validation is performed against measurements collected at the engine test bed. The results indicate that increasing the blending ratio of oxygenated fuel leads to improvements in indicated mean effective pressure and a more favorable Soot–NOx emissions trade-off compared with neat HVO operation. The findings highlight the potential of oxygenated fuel blends to enhance CI engine performance while reducing emissions. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining experimental and numerical approaches to evaluate biodiesel–oxygenated fuel blends and provides insights for future research aimed at minimizing CI engine emissions.
Arain, M Wajahat RasoolFoglia, AntonioFrasci, EmmanueleVitek, OldrichPianese, CesareArsie, Ivan
Though the U.S. EPA has rolled back many emissions regulations surrounding the mobility industry, its HD rules remain intact, meaning manufacturers must hit the world's most stringent NOx requirement. It was clear at a panel of industry experts that the new rule was still causing confusion among operators and fleet owners. The EPA's new limits are set at 0.035 grams per horsepower-hour during normal operation, 0.050 grams at low load and 10.0 grams at idle. A panel immediately following revealed how companies have hit the tough target, which goes into effect in January of 2027.
Clonts, Chris
Air Traffic Management (ATM) must be familiar with the exact Aircraft Take-off Weights (ATOWs) of airplanes to make the most use of runways, maintain safety margins high, and keep utilization and resources in balance. This paper aims to present a dependable ATOW forecasting methodology that can assist the air transport industry in enhancing operational decision-making. This research used datasets acquired from the EUROCONTROL Performance Review Commission (PRC) 2024 Aircraft Take-Off Weight Estimation dataset featuring 527,000 flights over Europe containing aircraft details, air trips and flight conditions. Technique comprises structured data input, inspection of missing data, timestamp aggregation to identify demand cycles over time, and domain-specific feature engineering using distance_per_minute, block_minutes, taxiout_ratio, and a strong wake turbulence metric The two supervised learning models used were Linear Regression (LR) for understanding and XGBoost for performance prediction In comparison to LR's 4,409 kg MAE (mean absolute error), 7,061 kg RMSE (root mean square error), and 0.9825 R2 value, XGBoost significantly excelled with validation results showing an R2 value of 0.9992 and an RMSE of 1,514 kg In the absence of labelled test targets, cross-validation nevertheless showed a constant degree of generalizability The residual diagnostics showed that the model was reliable for practical execution with low-variance deviations that were unbiased An accurate ATOW estimate improves the demand-capacity balance and On-Time Performance (OTP) in ATM, which in turn affects the runway schedule, wake turbulence diversion, slot allocation, and fuel planning The results highlight the need to include ATOW predictions in both tactical and strategic planning to reduce delays, increase airspace usage, and promote sustainable aviation operation and possesses significant improvements will consist of weather and runway conditions, stochastic ambiguity computation, and drift monitoring to keep up with ever-changing operating variables while maintaining accurate forecasts.
Senthilkumar, N.S, GopalakrishnanGopinath, S
Grid fins are non-conventional aerodynamic lifting and control surfaces which are made of a frame supporting lifting surfaces positioned in the form of a lattice structure. Grid fins are also called as lattice fins and are used as control surfaces in launch vehicles, crew escape systems, missiles etc. to achieve static stability. Each panel of the grid fin acts as fin and it produces force which increases stability of the vehicle. For a crew escape system module, grid fins are used as a passive aerodynamic control surfaces to achieve static stability. Grid fins are positioned at the end of crew escape system module to provide required static margin by increasing moment arm. In contrast to conventional fins, grid fins incorporate a distinctive waffle-like pattern or grid pattern configuration, offering superior aerodynamic performance in supersonic regimes and enabling compact storage in stowed position during launch followed by deployment at the time of exigency. In case of an emergency, crew escape system is activated and it will take crew escape module away from the launch vehicle during atmospheric regime. In this scenario, grid fins are deployed simultaneously along with firing of high-thrust, fast-acting solid rocket motors (SRMs) which provide the impulsive force needed for clean separation. Grid fins help to stabilize the crew escape system module by counteracting aerodynamic instabilities, especially when the module is moving through the atmosphere at high speeds. The primary structural loads acting on grid fins include deployment forces (hinge forces, locking), aerodynamic, and inertial forces. Additionally, the exhaust plumes from the firing of SRMs impinge directly upon the grid fins, generating intense thermal loads characterized by rapid temperature gradients and localized heating. The simultaneous presence of thermal and structural loads influences displacements, stresses, interface joints integrity and maximum buckling loads. Furthermore, elevated temperatures degrade mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate strength, and Young’s modulus, therefore a thermo-structural analysis is carried out to study the effects of these combined loads on grid fins. This paper presents typical grid fin configuration, thermo-structural formulation, finite element model details, and thermo-structural analysis results including stress margins, deformations, buckling load factors and preload variations for the maximum design load case.
Mali, Somanath NanduSundar Raj, RSundaresan, MKR, Suresh
The aviation industry contributes to around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. As various sectors of the economy look to reduce their global carbon footprint, the aviation industry is positively acknowledging alternatives to jet fuel. Hydrogen proves to be one such alternative having a high energy density and producing zero carbon emissions on combustion. Hydrogen when used in a jet engine produces water vapour and NOx emissions. In order to reduce the effect of GHGs, the current study aims to develop aircraft concepts suitable with hydrogen propulsion through fuel cells for a short-haul commercial mission profile. Aircrafts such as Metro-23 and Dornier 228-212 were referenced for the requirements of a utility turboprop aircraft. The weight estimation was done to obtain the take-off weight of 10,863 kg following the optimization of thrust to weight ratio and wing loading to calculate the initial dimensions. OpenVSP was used to model the initial structure of the aircraft. For the propulsion system, the PEM fuel cell was sized for the aircraft to achieve a range of 2,065 km and endurance of 6 hours in two configurations. Also, various configurations of fuel tanks and their positions were analyzed. The design was able to achieve a reduction of up to 18% in the propulsion system weight through fuel stack configuration. Iterations were performed to achieve static stability and CG was estimated to be 31% of root chord. The final configuration layout with cabin seats, propellers, fuel tank and fuel cells were analysed for static stability. The flight performance of the aircraft is comparable to the reference aircrafts. The proposed design leads towards the path of sustainable aviation.
Bhattacharya, AnishaSeetha Ramu, Sree ValliC N, Lakshmi ManasaRohit, Benjamin
Aerospace and defense systems demand materials capable of maintaining performance under extreme environmental and operational stressors, including wide thermal cycling ranges, exposure to hydrocarbon fuels, vacuum conditions, and repeated mechanical strain. Silicone-based materials have become essential in these environments because they can retain elasticity, stability, and functionality where many traditional materials fail. Silicones are widely used as coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers in aircraft and spacecraft applications. Their chemical structure enables resistance to both high and low temperatures, while also providing durability against solvents and fuels such as jet fuel. In contrast, many conventional elastomers degrade under prolonged thermal exposure or become brittle at cryogenic temperatures.
Sealing systems in space applications must perform reliably under demanding conditions in engineering: cryogenic temperatures, vibration, leakage control, ultra-high vacuum, ionizing radiation, abrasive particulates, and repeated thermal cycling. Each factor strains conventional sealing technologies. In combination, they can rapidly cause failure in systems where margins are unforgiving and maintenance is impossible. As spacecraft architectures evolve toward longer operational lifetimes and broader mission profiles, sealing requirements continue to tighten. Launch vehicles, satellites, and exploration platforms now operate across wider temperature ranges and in contact with more aggressive propellants and media. As a result, both metal seals and engineered polymer alternatives are evaluated-and selected-against increasingly specific, measurable performance criteria.
Abstract This study investigates and evaluates systematically the combustion, performance, and emissions characteristics of heavy-duty diesel engines fueled by diesel–ammonia–compressed natural gas triple blends. While dual-fuel systems are well-documented, the interactive effects of ammonia and CNG within a single compression ignition (CI) engine remain largely unexplored. Experiments were conducted on a 300 Nm, 660 rpm diesel engine by testing pure diesel, diesel–ammonia blends (10–20 wt.% aqueous ammonia), and triple-fuel mixtures containing 10% of the total energy from compressed natural gas. Pure diesel was first tested to provide baseline data, and subsequently blends were tested for a comparative study. The primary contribution of this work is the identification of a synergistic effect of the fuel triple blends on engine performance and emissions. Results indicate that all fuel blends improve thermal efficiency and reduce fuel consumption compared to conventional diesel. The blend containing 20% aqueous ammonia, 80% diesel, and 10% of the total fuel energy supplied by compressed natural gas achieved the highest thermal efficiency of 39.7% (7% higher than diesel) and the lowest brake specific fuel consumption of 211.22 g/kWh. Furthermore, emissions analysis revealed that carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions were significantly reduced with this triple blend. The blend decreased carbon dioxide by 26.6% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 32.1%, while hydrocarbon emissions were also lowered by up to 29.2%. Carbon monoxide emissions increased slightly for the triple blends, reaching a maximum value of 3.9028 g/kWh for the A20D80CNG10 mixture, compared to diesel operation. The slight increase in carbon monoxide emissions for triple blends highlights a trade-off in emission behavior. These findings address the combined utilization of diesel–ammonia–compressed natural gas triple-fuel mixtures in heavy-duty engines, demonstrating that strategic blending can simultaneously improve efficiency while mitigating environmental impact. Graphical Abstract
Sinkala, HappySarıtaş, MehmetKül, Volkan SabriAkansu, Selahaddin OrhanÜnalan, Sebahattin
Against the backdrop of growing global demands for energy sustainability and stricter emission regulations for diesel engines, this study investigates the performance implications of incorporating cyclohexanol—a renewable oxygenated fuel—into diesel fuel blends. Using a marine medium-speed diesel engine as the experimental platform, the research systematically evaluates engine performance and emission characteristics across a range of cyclohexanol-diesel blend ratios under low, medium, and high load conditions. Experimental findings reveal multifaceted effects of cyclohexanol blending on engine operation. Combustion of the blended fuels enhances the engine’s dynamic performance, particularly under medium and high loads, where the maximum in-cylinder burst pressure exhibits a noticeable increase. This improvement is attributed to cyclohexanol’s oxygen-carrying capacity, which promotes more vigorous and sustained combustion reactions. In terms of emissions, increasing the proportion of cyclohexanol in the fuel blend leads to significant reductions in soot and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, reflecting the cleaner-burning properties of the oxygenated component. However, this is accompanied by an uptick in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, likely due to the elevated combustion temperatures generated by the more efficient fuel oxidation process. From an economic perspective, cyclohexanol blending at consistent load levels induces a postponement in the crank angle at which peak heat release occurs during combustion. This temporal shift prolongs the effective combustion duration, enabling more complete fuel utilization within the cylinder. Consequently, fuel consumption rates decrease, and overall engine efficiency improves, highlighting the potential of cyclohexanol blends to enhance operational economy in marine propulsion systems. In summary, this study underscores the complex trade-offs associated with cyclohexanol-diesel blends: while they offer tangible benefits in power output, fuel efficiency, and reduced particulate emissions, managing the increase in NOx emissions remains a critical challenge. The results provide a foundational framework for advancing biofuel applications in marine engines, emphasizing the need for integrated emission control strategies to optimize the balance between performance and environmental sustainability.
Chen, KeYang, ChenxiWang, YibinFan, JinyuLiu, YuchenYe, ZixiaoHuang, Jialiang
Current emission regulation in China (National VI b) adopts the work-based window (WBW) method to statistically analyze PEMS experimental data. This method cannot fully account for experimental data under low load and cold start conditions. In light of this, this paper proposes a statistical method for low-load condition experimental data. Firstly, the adaptability of the WBW method to low-load condition experimental data is analyzed. Secondly, the representativeness and authenticity of statistical results from different methods are compared. The results indicate that when the power threshold of the WBW method is set at 20%, the effective window qualification rate in six experiments is less than 40%. And as the load decreases, the power threshold required to meet regulatory requirements needs to be further reduced, meaning more low-power data points are discarded. The WBW method eliminates many low output power data points with high CO and NOx emissions from test data on an urban road section with low driving speed, significantly underestimating the CO and NOx emission data under low load conditions, with NOx emissions 56.8% lower than the cumulative averaging (CA) method results. It is recommended to use the CA method for calculating CO and NOx emissions under low load conditions.
Tang, GangzhiLiu, JiajunWang, ShuaibinDu, BaochengDeng, Xuefei
To reduce high NOx emissions from diesel-cyclohexanol blends, this study employed a marine medium-speed diesel engine as the experimental platform. An in-cylinder combustion model was developed and meshed using AVL - FIRE software, with model validity validated against experimental data. Tests were conducted at four load conditions (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% load) with a 30% cyclohexanol blend (C30) and four EGR rates (0%, 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%) to analyze combustion characteristics, emissions, and fuel economy. The results showed that the introduction of EGR had a striking inhibitory effect on NOx emissions. At 100% load with 12.5% EGR rate, NOx emissions were substantially reduced compared to baseline operation without EGR. However, EGR implementation led to delayed ignition timing, reduced in-cylinder pressure, and worsened fuel economy. Therefore, an appropriately calibrated EGR strategy can effectively reduce NOx emissions, though it requires optimization to mitigate adverse effects on combustion performance and efficiency.
Liu, YuchenYang, ChenxiFan, JinyuChen, KeYe, ZixiaoHuang, Jialiang
In order to allow for the precise prediction of the CO2 emissions of light-duty vehicles during the road design phase and to methodically examine the effect of road alignment on CO2 emissions, this paper classifies the operating conditions of light-duty vehicles according to Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) and the design speed of different road levels. The test vehicle’s environmental data and operational parameters under various road conditions were gathered using a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS). The CO2 emissions of the test vehicle under different operating conditions were statistically analyzed. Based on the road’s horizontal and vertical alignment, the road was separated into analytical units, including straight sections, longitudinal slope sections, horizontal curve sections, and curve-slope combination sections. The indicators of each analysis unit were used to anticipate the speed and acceleration of light-duty vehicles in each unit, and a model for forecasting light-duty vehicle CO2 emissions based on road alignment was developed. The results show that the predicted CO2 emissions based on road alignment have a relatively small error compared to actual emissions, indicating high model accuracy. This model enables relatively accurate predictions of CO2 emissions for light-duty vehicles on target road sections during the road design phase. Among the various road alignment indicators, slope has a greater effect on the test vehicle’s CO2 emissions.
Liang, YaoWang, YixuanZhao, XiaoyanCheng, ShenzhenWu, BingZeng, Weiyi
This study focuses on the engineering application and performance evaluation of shipboard carbon capture systems. A process combining amine absorption and membrane separation was constructed, and the combined process was applied to a typical 7000 TEU container ship. After sea trials, the average carbon dioxide capture efficiency achieved by the system exceeded 87%, and the power consumption was maintained within an acceptable range. The integrated system greatly improved the EEXI and CII index levels and verified its economic feasibility in the medium and high carbon price scenario. The payback period of the investment costs was reduced to five years. After port coordination tests, the operability of ship-shore carbon dioxide transfer was verified, which promoted future scalability. The engineering layout, energy recovery design, and operation data worked together to provide a practical solution for maritime decarbonization. This study provides a valuable technical reference for the implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) carbon reduction strategy, and also lays a solid foundation for subsequent legislation and system standardization.
Yang, Yongjian
As the global pursuit of carbon neutrality accelerates, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is emerging as a critical strategic pillar for achieving significant emission reductions and facilitating the transition to green development. This review systematically summarizes the principal technological pathways and recent advances in carbon capture, resource utilization, and storage within CCUS systems, with particular attention to innovative directions including advanced adsorption and separation materials, synergistic catalytic conversion, biological carbon sequestration, and mineralization-based storage. By examining representative engineering practices and industrialization cases both domestically and internationally, this paper summarizes the major challenges currently facing CCUS, including material costs, energy consumption, environmental risks, and large-scale deployment. The positive impacts of interdisciplinary integration, process system optimization, and policy coordination on the commercialization of CCUS are also discussed. The review indicates that overcoming bottlenecks in core materials and process technologies, improving regulatory frameworks and market mechanisms, and establishing clustered industrial ecosystems are essential for CCUS to spearhead the forthcoming low-carbon energy and green industrial revolutions. This paper envisions future development trends for CCUS technology, highlights its multidimensional strategic value for global carbon governance, energy security, and the circular economy, and offers theoretical references and cutting-edge insights for scientific research, policy formulation, and industrial decision-making in related fields.
Wang, Yingfei
The decarbonization of heavy-duty trucks (HDTs) is a crucial path for China to achieve its “dual-carbon” goals and transition to decarbonized freight transport. Zero-carbon fuels are key alternatives to fossil fuels for these high-emission vehicles. This study develops an integrated scenario analysis framework to quantify the theoretical CO₂e emission trajectories of China’s long-haul HDT fleet from 2020 to 2060. Functioning as a macro-level stress test, the model derives theoretical equivalent stock from anticipated logistics turnover demand, integrating them with well-to-wheel (WTW) emission factors under six distinct policy stringencies (Projects 1 through 6), representing varying paces of fossil fuel vehicle phase-out. The results demonstrate that policy stringency primarily governs the timing and depth of emission reductions, while fuel technology defines the minimum achievable emission level. Three-dimensional visualization analysis reveals a nonlinear “emission cliff” under aggressive policies, marked by accelerated HDT fleet renewal and exponentially growing mitigation benefits. This cliff is more pronounced for the green hydrogen pathway and demonstrates its superior potential for deep decarbonization. In Project 1, CO₂e emissions reach a mid-term peak in 2035. Compared to the diesel baseline, the green hydrogen and green ammonia transition pathways reduce peak CO₂e emissions by 158 and 137 million tons, corresponding to reductions of 10.0% and 8.6%, respectively, under the modeled theoretical boundaries. In contrast, the aggressive Project 6 policy suppresses this peak, triggers the “cliff” effect much earlier, and achieves an extremely low stabilization level by 2040—15 years ahead of Project 1. This study provides a macro-theoretical quantitative decision-support tool for policymakers. It demonstrates that transparent and aggressive phase-out policies are essential to accelerate fleet turnover, trigger the “emission cliff,” and firmly cap total cumulative emissions.
Wu, YunmeiHuang, HuaLi, RuiHe, GuijiaLiu, BoLiu, RuoweiXie, Yongliang
In response to the 42nd (2025) Annual VFS Student Design Competition, the Graduate Student Design Team from the University of Maryland introduces Wyvern, a novel hydrogen-powered electric compound rotor-craft engineered for maximum loiter and operational safety. Named after a mythical dragon that defies convention by not breathing fire, Wyvern only breathes water vapor by forgoing hydrocarbon combustion in favor of the quiet and clean power of hydrogen. This design reflects not only an aeronautical solution to an engineering challenge but a greater aspiration to reshaping how practical and clean vertical flight can be achieved.
Basak, KumardipOgle, William
The maritime industry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors, characterized by high fuel consumption and significant environmental impact. As global trade relies on shipping, the challenge of reducing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions becomes ever more pressing. Natural gas (NG) is considered as a transitional fuel, capable of lowering CO₂ emissions by 20–30% compared to conventional marine fuels. However, to fully harness this potential, significant advances in combustion technology are necessary, particularly with ultra-lean combustion strategies. One of the most promising pathways is pre-chamber combustion, a solution that can simultaneously improve the efficiency and sustainability of NG marine engines. In this scenario, the passive pre-chamber geometry plays a key role, as it directly influences ignition behavior, combustion stability, and exhaust emissions. This work presents an experimental study conducted on a single-cylinder marine engine prototype, retrofitted from a diesel baseline, and equipped alternatively with four passive pre-chambers featuring different geometrical configurations. The tests were conducted at an engine speed of 1500 rpm and different loads to evaluate the influence of pre-chamber geometry on engine performance and exhaust emissions. Key parameters such as combustion phasing, efficiency, and pollutant formation were analyzed and compared between the four setups. Results showed that pre-chamber design affects the interaction between the turbulent jets and the main chamber mixture, leading to significant variations in both combustion efficiency and emission trends. These findings provide new insights into the role of passive pre-chamber geometry in optimizing large-bore NG marine engines, offering a valuable contribution to the development of cleaner and more efficient propulsion systems for the maritime sector.
Marchitto, LucaTornatore, CinziaPennino, VincenzoMariani PhD, AntonioBeatrice, CarloAccurso, FrancescoGorietti, ValentinaPesce, FrancescoGiardino, AngeloVitti, Luciano
Utilizing low carbon fuel in lean burn combustion presents a compelling strategy for improving thermal efficiency and reducing NOx emissions. Methane, the main content of natural gas, still receives challenge of a rapid and complete combustion process because of its low flame speed. The long combustion duration deteriorates the performance of a spark ignition engine, in terms of poor combustion instability and misfire. Although ignition timing can be utilized to adjust the combustion phasing, the ignition process faces challenges due to reduced background pressure and temperature at advanced spark timings. In this paper, a rapid compression machine equipped with a specially designed flow chamber is utilized to enhance the turbulence flow, and a custom-built ignition module is utilized to provide boosted discharge current to enhance the ignition stability under flow conditions. An effective spark energy required to enhance the combustion process is investigated under both stoichiometric and lean conditions. Further increase of discharge current amplitude beyond this boundary yields minimal impact on the flame propagation process. This study will offer important insights for developing an on-demand ignition energy profiling strategy to reduce sparkplug electrode erosion.
Jin, LongCong, BinghaoYu, XiaoKong, XiangxinReader, GrahamZheng, Ming
The applicability of three-way catalyst (TWC) models for system-level aftertreatment simulations under transient operating conditions of natural gas engines depend on accurate integration of reaction kinetics as a function of the air-fuel equivalence ratio lambda(λ). A comprehensive global kinetic model has been developed for an aged commercial three-way catalyst (TWC), incorporating key reaction pathways including oxidation of CO, CH₄, C₂H₆, and H₂; reforming of CH₄ and C₂H₆; the water-gas shift reaction; and NO reduction via CO and H₂. The model also accounts for oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and its dynamic interaction with CO and H₂. To calibrate kinetic parameters, systematic bench-scale flow reactor experiments were conducted under lean, stoichiometric, and rich conditions. Performance metrics focused on CH₄ and C₂H₆ oxidation and reforming across varying O₂ and CO concentrations, and NO reduction with CO and H₂ under different oxygen levels. Experimental results revealed that CO suppresses the reforming of CH₄ and C₂H₆. NO conversion was observed between 150°C and 600°C, with H₂-driven reduction producing NH₃, N₂, and N₂O depending on lambda (λ). Under rich conditions, complete NO conversion occurred from 150°C, while lean conditions showed reduced NO conversion at elevated temperatures due to H₂ oxidation. NO reduction with CO initiated at 250°C, achieving full conversion under rich conditions. The model accurately captures the influence of λ on NO reduction with both H₂ and CO, predicts NH₃ formation under rich conditions, and simulates H₂ generation via the water-gas shift reaction above 400°C. It successfully reproduces λ sweep data (λ = 0.95–1.02) and demonstrates CO inhibition effects on H₂ oxidation and NO reduction. This global model is validated with dithering reactor data and qualitatively captures key trends in data which aids in catalyst sizing, calibration robustness and the system level modeling of end of useful life parts. Further validation of the current developed model with lean-rich cycle tests confirms the model’s ability to predict NOx slip at the onset of rich cycles impacting the ability to accurately predict NOx emissions during engine braking events in system level models.
Raj, RichaKim, Mi-YoungAigbiremolen, GraceSrinivasan, Anand
Diesel aftertreatment systems continue to play a critical role in compliance of tailpipe criteria pollutant compliance for commercial transportation applications. Quantification of performance of the aftertreatment system in particular Selective Catalytic Reduction component as a function of aging is critical in ensuring real world tailpipe NOx standard for aged systems. As part of A2CAT-II consortium at Southwest research Institute this aspect of the production AT system was studied for different aging conditions using a set of DAAAC aged components. The performance of these aged components was quantified through a set of steady state reactor tests and transient ECTO burner lab tests that simulate on engine performance. The data was collected at 0, 33 and 100% equivalent aging conditions and this data was used to develop a GT suite-based model with a set of inhibition factors to simulate the loss of Ammonia Storage Capacity and reduced SCR reaction rates caused by thermal load and chemical poisons. A quantitative and qualitative discussion of the degradation mechanism is presented based on the inhibition factors determined as part of the simulation study. Primary mechanism of performance degradation for fully aged component consisted of a 12% drop in ammonia storage capacity and a 10% and 12% drop in standard and fast SCR reaction rates leading to reduced NOx conversion rate. Due to catalyst degradation up to 11% reduced NH3 oxidation rate was observed which led to increased NOx conversion for temperatures above 350C. These trends can have a significant impact of systems designed for ultra low NOx standards by EPA and CARB which require precise control over NOx conversion of the system.
Chundru, Venkata RajeshSharp, ChristopherGankov, StanislavEakle, Scott
Accurately measuring NOx emissions under transient engine conditions is becoming increasingly important with upcoming Euro 7 and EPA 2027 regulations. Traditional physical sensors often struggle with cost and response time, especially with aging of sensors in dynamic operation. This paper introduces a machine-learning–based virtual NOx sensor that can provide real-time emission estimates while reducing reliance on hardware sensors. The approach uses multiple machine-learning methods (Random Forest, Bootstrap Aggregating, Adaptive Boosting, Gradient Boosting, Extreme Gradient Boosting) and selected best one to establish correlations between engine operating parameters, measured steady-state data, and transient duty cycle NOx emissions. Validation across different duty cycles has shown strong alignment with physical sensor readings, with R2 values above 99.95% for training cycle data sets and above 95.34% for held-out cycles during training. The model needs to be trained with larger training samples to further improve accuracy for unseen data sets. By reducing sensor costs, this solution supports scalable use in production engines. The NOx virtual sensor can also serve as a redundancy measure to back up physical sensors, reducing the risk of compliance failures in case of physical sensor faults. Overall, the proposed method offers a cost-effective pathway to improve compliance monitoring, engine performance optimization, and regulatory readiness for the next generation of efficient powertrains.
Kumar, ChandanDahodwala, MufaddelThawrani, Kiran
As hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) gain traction, optimizing exhaust aftertreatment technologies for nitrogen oxide (NOx) control has become increasingly critical. While selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems remain the primary approach for NOx mitigation, oxidation catalysts are also being explored to facilitate hydrogen oxidation and improve overall exhaust treatment efficiency. This work presents a multifunctional catalyst (MFC) concept that combines supported Pd and Cu-zeolite to enable simultaneous NOx reduction and hydrogen oxidation within a single catalytic unit. Preliminary results show that hydrogen oxidation on supported Pd occurs above 300 °C, while Cu-zeolite achieves nearly complete NOx conversion. Experiments on individual components indicate that supported Pd initiates ammonia oxidation only after hydrogen is depleted. In the presence of hydrogen, ammonia conversion remains below 20%, indicating that hydrogen availability suppresses ammonia oxidation, which is favorable for SCR operation. The MFC can be configured either on a substrate or as an on-filter catalyst (MFCoF), providing simultaneous chemical conversion and urea-derived particulate filtration. In addition to hydrogen engines, the MFCoF concept can be applied to diesel and biodiesel engines, enabling effective filtration of soot particles while maintaining NOx reduction performance along with hydrocarbon oxidation capability. By combining NOx reduction, hydrogen/hydrocarbon oxidation, and particulate filtration in one unit, the MFCoF approach provides a promising pathway for next-generation exhaust systems across diverse engine platforms.
Danghyan, VardanBecker, Jan MartinHünnekes, EdgarPatchett, Joseph
Accurately modeling and controlling vehicle exhaust emissions, particularly during highly transient events such as rapid acceleration, is crucial for meeting stringent environmental regulations and optimizing modern powertrain systems. While conventional data-driven modeling methods, such as Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, have improved upon earlier phenomenological or physics-based models, they often struggle to capture the complex nonlinear dynamics of emission formation. These monolithic architectures attempt to learn from all available data, which increases their sensitivity to dataset variability. They often require increasingly deep and complex architectures to improve performance, thereby limiting their practical utility. This paper introduces a novel approach that overcomes these limitations by modeling emission dynamics in a structured latent space. Using a rich dataset combining real-world driving data from a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) with high-frequency hardware-in-the-loop test bench measurements, a Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture (JEPA) is leveraged. This framework learns to abstract away irrelevant information and encode only the key factors governing emission behavior into a compact, robust latent representation. The resulting model demonstrates superior data efficiency and predictive accuracy across diverse transient regimes, exhibiting stronger generalization than the high-performing LSTM baseline. Structured pruning and post-training quantization are applied to the JEPA framework to enhance the model’s suitability for real-world deployment. This combined strategy significantly reduces the model’s computational footprint, minimizing inference time and memory demand, with only a marginal impact on accuracy. This yields a highly accurate model well suited to on-board implementation of advanced control strategies, such as model predictive control or model-based reinforcement learning, in both conventional and hybrid electric powertrains. The results indicate a clear pathway toward more efficient and robust emission control systems for next-generation vehicles.
Sundaram, GaneshGehra, TobiasUlmen, JonasHeubaum, MirjanGörges, DanielGünthner, Michael
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