Diesel Efficiency

Ryan Macaluso & Wayne LaDow

Department of Chemical Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin Fall 2006

Outline

• Diesel Fuel• Engine Mechanics• Engine

Thermodynamics• Modern Diesel

Engines• Future Advancements

Fuels

• Gasoline • Diesel

Spark Ignition

Compression Ignition

Engine Thermodynamics

• Otto Cycle– Thermodynamic cycle most widely used in

modern spark-ignited combustion engines

• Diesel Cycle– Thermodynamic cycle used in diesel engines

accounting for the different properties of diesel fuel.

– Thermodynamic cycles

Fears

Modern Diesel Engines

• Piezo-electric Injectors– Allows for finer control of injection timing and

amount of diesel injected

Modern Diesel Engines

• Common Rail Fuel Systems– Common source of evenly-mixed, high pressure fuel

delivered to each injector in a finer spray than original fuel pumps

Future Advancements

• Atkinson Cycle– Sacrifices power for

efficiency– Used presently in

several hybrid vehicles