Could a gasoline engine outperform diesels? MUSIC might be the answer
Back in college, a teacher in a physics class explained to me and my classmates the models that rule diesel and gasoline engines. This stirred a classic debate: what's better: diesel or gasoline? The concept that explained the better efficiency of diesel engines was "thermal efficiency." This is also the concept that a prototype originally developed at Coventry University uses to claim that a 2.0-liter MUSIC (Merritt Unthrottled Spark Ignition Combustion) gasoline engine achieved more efficiency than a 2.4 liter diesel engine. For those unfamiliar with MUSIC engines, they are un-throttled, with high thermal efficiency, lean-burn, and work with a spark ignition system that uses an indirect combustion chamber to produce charge stratification by means of controlled air management. The tested engine was simply a new cylinder head mounted over a standard Duratec engine.
According to MUSIC performance data, brake thermal efficiency was about 20 percent higher than a diesel engine. However, the comparison used data not from a real engine but from a "reputable" engine R&D company, according to MUSI Engines Ltd. So, there is no information about parasitic loads, the specific diesel technology (what about comparing an old indirect injection diesel with modern common-rail units?) or test conditions were provided. Nevertheless, taken with a pinch of salt, let's hope this leads to a promising solution.
[Source: Green Car Congress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 6:12PM (12/24/2008)
This would impress me if it made gasoline engines more efficient than electric.
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BoneHeadOtto 10:44PM (12/24/2008)
Electric motors are not nearly as efficient as rainbow pixie dust engines. Thats my apples to orangutans comparison.
gorr 5:00PM (12/25/2008)
Gasoline engine as gas prices have fallen to 1.50$/gallon and will ends at 79cents/gallon should be constructed with over-square cylinders ratio technology like japanese sport motorcycles or porsches 911's. This give extra power and give nice music sound at 8 000 r.p.m. I won't buy a gasoline car if it's not with an over-square engine and a new 6 speed automated transmission with double-clutchs.
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MikeW 5:44PM (12/25/2008)
The new 911 has a 7 speed double clutch transmission.
EV-1 9:14PM (12/25/2008)
"hope this leads to a promising solution"
... a promising solution !? Well, a promising solution would be to quit the crap about burning stuff for power !
That over-complicated, over-weight out-dated combustion engine producing noise and poisonous emissions, polluting our environment, yet isn't even capable of running without the help to get started from ( you guessed it ) an electric motor.
They've been at it for over hundred years, and still they haven't even reached half - 1/2 - the efficiency of the electric motor !
It's the oil industrys greed and exploitation that runs these smokescreens they call 'development',
just to have us politely "wait just a bit longer" .
The technology is all ready - and it is NOT based on the PRIMITIVE AND INEFFICIENT PRINCIPLE of heating gas to get it to expand its volume - where massive thermal losses are unevitable.
Back then, they replaced the cumbersome steam engine with a method of "instant heating". But that was over hundred years ago, and tarmac wasn't even invented.
Now, WE DON'T HAVE TIME to let profit-hunger lead us down phoney dead-ends !
God help us.
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Brn 11:04AM (12/26/2008)
When you're overzealous, you actually hurt your cause.
EV-1 9:31PM (12/25/2008)
How many wars have been started over "the devils feces" ?
How many men have died because of the greed of oil ?
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Brian 12:51PM (12/26/2008)
EV-1
And please tell us - how do you get around? How about you put your feet where your mouth is for a month, then come back and tell us about the devil's excrement.
Or maybe you're driving a Tesla alreay? Several Americans, including a high-schooler, have converted their mobiles to electric. Have you , or are you just bitchin?
Yeah, it's always a conspiracy. The Trilateral Commission stole the plans for the 1000 MPG water carburetor, then they killed the electric vehicle, just to keep you buying oil.
Yeah, that's it.
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