Browse Topic: Fuel economy

Items (7,904)
Anticipated NOX emission standards will require that selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems sustain exhaust temperatures of 200°C or higher for effective conversion performance. Maintaining these temperatures becomes challenging during low-load conditions such as idling, deceleration, and coasting, which lower exhaust heat and must be addressed in both regulatory test cycles and day-to-day operation. Cylinder deactivation (CDA) has proven effective in elevating exhaust temperatures while also reducing fuel consumption. This study investigates a flexible 6-cylinder CDA system capable of operating across any combination of fixed firing modes and dynamic skip-firing patterns, where cylinders transition between activation states nearly cycle-by-cycle. This operational flexibility extends the CDA usable range beyond prior implementations. Data was primarily collected from a test cell engine equipped with the dynamic CDA system, while a matching engine in a 2018 long-haul sleeper cab
Baltrucki, JustinMatheaus, Andrew CharlesJanak, Robb
In the present work, the effect of HHO addition to gasoline was investigated using HHO produced via the HydroBoost™ electrolysis technology—a system specifically designed to overcome the limitations of conventional electrolysis methods, such as electrode degradation, low efficiency, and safety concerns. Engine performance, fuel behavior, and emission characteristics were evaluated both with and without HHO enrichment. A comprehensive four-phase testing protocol was adopted to simulate various real-world driving conditions. Through a multi-parameter assessment—including fuel economy (FE), engine response under different load conditions, fuel savings accounting for parasitic load, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—it was demonstrated that HHO addition significantly enhances both the performance and emission characteristics of a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine. Statistical significance of these parameters was assessed across four
Sherman, GregorySingh, Amit Pratap
The Dosing Control Unit (DCU) is a vital component of modern emission control systems, particularly in diesel engines employing Selective Catalytic Reduction technology (SCR). Its primary function is to accurately control the injection of urea or Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into the exhaust stream to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) emissions. This paper presents the architecture, operation, diagnostic features, and innovation of a newly developed DCU system. The Engine Control Unit, using real-time data from sensors monitoring parameters such as exhaust temperature, NOₓ levels, and engine load, calculates the required DEF dosage. Based on DEF dosing request, the DCU activates the AdBlue pump and air valve to deliver the precise quantity of diesel exhaust fluid needed under varying engine conditions. The proposed system adopts a master-slave configuration, with the ECU as the master and the DCU as the slave. The controller design emphasizes cost-effectiveness and simplified hardware, and
Raju, ManikandanK, SabareeswaranK K, Uthira Ramya BalaKrishnakumar, PalanichamyArumugam, ArunkumarYS, Ananthkumar
For the achievement of Net Zero Emission goals, various corporates have started with the planning towards the achievement of short-term goals which are well defined with the implementation of energy conservation and efficiency. In this direction, high cetane diesel is an optimized combination of diesel fuel with higher Cetane Number fortified with Novel & Optimized multi-functional additives (MFAs) formulation for improved performance and specially designed for heavy duty diesel engines & off-highway applications. This innovative concept is based on enhancement of fuel economics by enhancement in fuel combustion, injector cleaning characteristics and reduction of frictional losses. The benefits associated with high cetane diesel include superior cleanliness to keep high pressure diesel injectors clean, better lubricity providing longer injector life, superior combustion leading to lower noise and products formulated for benefits in overall reduction in emissions specially developed for
Kumar, PrashantMayeen, HafizSaroj, Shyamsher
Identification of different types of turns during field operation of off-road vehicles is critical in the overall vehicle development as it is helpful in identifying & optimizing machine performance, correct duty cycle, fuel economy, stability analysis, accurate path planning, customer usage pattern & designing the critical components, etc. In this study, a machine learning (ML) based methodology has been developed to detect the off-road vehicle turns using vehicle & GPS parameters. Three most common types of off-road vehicles turn conditions e.g., Straight line, Bulb turn, and Three-Point turn have been considered. Different vehicle parameters (like latitude & longitude, compass bearing, yaw rate, vehicle speed, swash plate angle, engine speed, percent load at vehicle speed, raise lower front & PTO channels) generated during field test have been used here. These vehicle parameters are further processed, analysed and used in ML learning model building. Four ML models e.g., SVM, K-NN
Gangsar, Purushottam
To provide needs of food, clothing and infrastructure for growing population of the world, off-highway vehicles such as those in construction, agriculture and commercial landscaping are moving towards electrification for enhanced precision, productivity, efficiency and sustainability. It has also paved way to adopt autonomy of these vehicles to address challenges like skilled labour shortage for timely and efficient execution. There are many challenges and opportunities of electrification in off-highway domain, be it through completely replacing engine in vehicles or efficiency improvements using hybrid architecture for powertrain and auxiliary power demands, electrification being key enabler precision and speed of the complex operations, automation of complex operation. This paper explains the need of electrification in electric off-highway vehicles and shows how the electrification solves the current challenges faced by off-highway heroes like farmers, construction site owners and
Deshpande, Chinmay VasudevMujumdar, ChaitanyaBachhav, Kiran
The growing demand for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in diesel engines has led to significant advancements in power management technologies. This paper presents a dual-mode functional strategy that integrates electrified turbochargers to enhance engine performance, provide boost and generate electrical power. This helps in optimizing the overall engine efficiency. The engine performance is enhanced with boosting mode where the electric motor accelerates the turbocharger independent of exhaust flow, effectively reducing turbo lag and provides immediate boost at low engine speeds. This feature also improves high altitude performance of the engine. Conversely, in generating mode, the electric turbocharger recovers or harvest energy from exhaust gases depending on engine operating conditions, converting it into electrical energy for battery recharging purpose. Advanced control systems enable real-time adjustments to boost pressure and airflow in response to dynamic driving
Borle, ShraddhaPrasad, LakshmiCouvret, SebastienFournier, HugoChenuet, Laurent
Transmission tuning involves adjusting parameters within a vehicle's transmission control unit (TCU) or transmission control module (TCM) to optimize performance, efficiency, and driving experience. Transmission tuning is beneficial for optimizing performance, improving fuel efficiency, smoother shifting and enhancing drivability particularly when a vehicle's power output is increased or for specific driving conditions. Especially in offroad and agricultural machines, transmission tuning is vital to significantly improve vehicle performance during different operations. The process of transmission tuning is quite time consuming as multiple tuning iterations are required on the actual vehicle. A significant reduction in tuning time can be achieved using a simulation environment, which can mimic the actual vehicle dynamics and the real time vehicle behavior. In this paper, tuning during the forward and reverse motion of the tractor is described. A two-level PI control-based shift strategy
Varghese, Nithin
Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are vital for India’s construction, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. With growing demand for productivity and sustainability, the need for efficient customer support and precise diagnostic techniques has become paramount. This paper presents a comprehensive study of challenges faced in India, current and emerging diagnostic technologies, troubleshooting techniques, and strategies for effective customer support. Case studies, tables, and diagrams illustrate practical solutions.
Mulla, TosifThakur, AnilTripathi, Ashish
As global energy demands continue to grow and environmental challenges intensify, Biodiesel stands out as an environmentally sound and technically feasible alternative to curb fossil fuel use and emissions. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the performance and emissions profile of a compression ignition (CI) engine running on a renewable diesel fuel blend made from ethanol and cottonseed (Cs) combinations enhanced with aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. The experimental fuel blends, consisting of 10%, 20%, and 30% cottonseed biodiesel with 5% ethanol and remaining with conventional diesel, were analyzed under varying engine load conditions. The inclusion of ethanol improved fuel atomization due to its lower viscosity and higher volatility, while Al2O3 nanoparticles acted as advanced combustion catalysts, promoting enhanced oxidation rates and thermal efficiency. Among the blends, B10 (10% cottonseed biodiesel) exhibited superior performance metrics, achieving a brake
T, KarthiG, ManikandanSaminathan, SathiskumarM E, ChandhuruS, BavanyaS, Arunkumar
Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) routinely navigate unstable and varied terrains—mud, sand, loose gravel, or uneven rock beds—causing increased rolling resistance, reduced traction, and high energy expenditure. Traditional rigid chassis systems lack the flexibility to adapt dynamically to changing surface conditions, leading to inefficiencies in vehicle stability, maneuverability, and fuel economy. This paper proposes an adaptive terrain morphing chassis (ATMC) that can actively modify its structural geometry in real-time using embedded sensors, hydraulic actuators, and soft robotic elements. Drawing inspiration from nature and recent advances in adaptive materials, the ATMC adjusts vehicle ground clearance, track width, and load distribution in response to terrain profile data, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency and performance. Key contributions include: A multi-sensor fusion system for real-time terrain classification Hydraulic actuators and morphing polymers for variable chassis
Vashisht, Shruti
The calibration of automotive electronic control units is a critical and resource-intensive task in modern powertrain development. Optimizing parameters such as transmission shift schedules for minimum fuel consumption traditionally requires extensive prototype testing by expert calibrators. This process is costly, time-consuming, and subject to variability in environmental conditions and human judgment. In this paper, an artificial calibrator is introduced – a software agent that autonomously tunes transmission shift maps using reinforcement learning (RL) in a Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) simulation environment. The RL-based calibrator explores shift schedule parameters and learns from fuel consumption feedback, thereby achieving objective and reproducible optimizations within the controlled SiL environment. Applied to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) model of a Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV), the approach yielded significant fuel efficiency improvements. In a case study on
Kengne Dzegou, Thierry JuniorSchober, FlorianRebesberger, RonHenze, Roman
The two-stroke engine, known for its small displacement and high performance, is space-efficient when installed in a vehicle. As such, incorporating two-stroke engines into HEVs is an effective way to reduce vehicle weight and optimize engine space. However, one downside is that the amount of unfired elements in the exhaust gas increases due to the air/fuel mixture being expelled into the exhaust system during the scavenging process. Moreover, combustion can become unstable due to the large volume of residual burned gases in the cylinder. To address these issues, we propose a two-stroke engine equipped with intake and exhaust valves that directly inject fuel into the cylinder. In our first report, we presented an engine design and method that enable high scavenging efficiency and stable combustion in a two-stroke engine [1]. In this second report, we share the results of our research aimed at improving fuel efficiency and achieving low emissions, all while maintaining the high
Sakurai, YotaHisano, AtsushiSaitou, MasahitoIchi, Satoaki
There is growing demand for energy utilization due to stricter environmental emission norms to reduce greenhouse gases and other threats posed due to the emissions are major motivation factors for researchers to adopt on strategic plans to decrease the usage of energy and reduce the carbon contents of fuels, the usage of hydrogen or blend of hydrogen with CNG as a fuel in internal combustion engines is the best option. As hydrogen has lower volumetric energy density and higher combustion temperature, pure hydrogen-fueled engines produce lower power output and much higher NOx emissions than gasoline-fueled engine at stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. Blending of hydrogen with CNG provides a blended gas termed as hydrogen-enriched natural gas (hCNG). hCNG stands for hydrogen enriched compressed natural gas and it combines the advantages of both hydrogen and methane. The addition of Hydrogen to CNG has potential to even lower the CNG emissions and is the first step towards promotion of a
Syed, KaleemuddinChaudhari, SandipKhairnar, GirishSajjan lng, Suresh
In recent years, diesel engine emissions regulations have been strengthened worldwide, necessitating the evaluation of regulatory values under transient conditions. Consequently, the need to assess transient states in the development of diesel engines has increased significantly. The evaluation using MBD (Model Based Development) is considered a promising method for achieving both low fuel consumption and simultaneous reduction of NOx and soot emissions. However, the mechanism of soot formation is complex, making it challenging to model mathematically directly. In this paper, hybrid machine learning approaches combining a physical model and a machine learning model are used to validate the prediction of soot emissions under transient conditions in a diesel engine with an EGR system. Various parameters such as fuel consumption and emissions predicted by the physical model are compared with measurements to validate the accuracy of the physical model. The prediction of soot emissions by
Kitamura, TakahiroMatsuoka, AyanoSuematsu, KosukeOkano, Hiroaki
This paper presents measurement results of emissions and fuel economy on real-world driving of two-wheelers in India using a state-of-the-art FTIR PEMS technology. The study aimed to characterize the emissions profiles of a small motorcycle under typical Indian driving conditions, including congested urban traffic and highway driving. This is the continuation of the study conducted previously on bigger motorcycle using gas analyzer [1], with necessary adaptations to suit the specific conditions of Indian roads and traffic. Key parameters such as NOx, CO, CO2 and Fuel consumption were measured during real-world driving cycles and comparison is done with standard WMTC emission testing cycle. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the actual on-road emissions of two-wheelers in India, which can be used to develop more accurate emission models and guide the development of cleaner and more efficient two-wheeler technologies. Key Considerations: Specifics of Indian Driving
Agrawal, RahulJaswal, RahulYadav, Sachin
Rotary engines offer a highly attractive solution for uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and portable power generation, thanks to their compact design, high power-to-weight ratio, fewer moving parts, and ability to operate on multiple fuels. Despite their promising advantages, these engines still require significant improvements to match the efficiency and lifespan of traditional reciprocating internal combustion engines. In particular, fuel consumption is impacted by heat losses due to the high surface-to-volume ratio of the combustion chamber, as well as the unfavorable interaction between the rotor and stator, which slows down flame propagation. To address these challenges, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become an important tool for the study and optimization of Wankel engines, providing insight into how fuel efficiency is influenced by the complex interactions between combustion chamber design, flame dynamics, flow characteristics, and turbulence distribution. This work
Lucchini, TommasoGianetti, GiovanniRamognino, FedericoCerri, TarcisioMarmorini, LucaButtitta, Marco
Yamaha Motor Engineering Co., Ltd. provides plastic processing technology based on fuel tank press forming technology, and is developing various plastic processing methods, including forging, and developing mold equipment to realize them. This time, the core parts of the YECVT unit mounted on Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.'s small premium scooter "NMAX" were not made by welding individual parts to each other, but by integrally forming them from a single thick plate using the cold forming method, resulting in lightweight, compact, high-strength, high-precision parts. By incorporating a composite plastic processing method that takes advantage of the characteristics of the material while making full use of analysis technology and mold technology, we were able to develop a composite plastic processing method (plate forging method) that creates new added value and mass produce it. In addition,this development has made it possible to achieve a thickness increase of 1.7 times the standard material
Hongo, HironariTamaru, ShogoUda, Shinnosuke
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