Posted on 04/22/2024 12:23:54 PM PDT by Red Badger
The team concentrated effort into optimizing four vital systems: fuel supply, air intake, combustion, and friction reduction.
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Since the invention of the diesel internal combustion engine 127 years ago, engineers and scientists have strived to improve its thermal efficiency.
In a markable advancement, the first diesel engine in history with an intrinsic thermal efficiency of 53.09 percent was unveiled by Chinese firm Weichai Power.
The firm showcased its new technology at the 2024 World Congress on Internal Combustion Engines, which commenced in Tianjin, China.
The accomplishment was recognized by TÜV SÜD, an internationally respected testing organization, and the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, a specialized testing entity for Chinese internal combustion engines.
Leading efficiency innovation
The percentage of diesel combustion energy transferred into useful engine output work without needing a waste heat recovery mechanism is known as the base engine’s thermal efficiency. The engine’s economy improves with the base engine’s increased thermal efficiency.
Weichai Power achieved a noteworthy milestone in this regard on September 16, 2020, when it unveiled a diesel engine that set a new record with a body thermal efficiency of 50.23 percent.
On January 8, 2022, the business made even more progress, raising the engine’s thermal efficiency to 51.09 percent. The company most recently achieved 52.28 percent thermal efficiency on November 20, 2022, surpassing its prior records.
The firm compared to mainstream products, which typically achieve an average thermal efficiency of 46 percent for diesel engines on the market. Deploying thermal efficiency technology in base engines with a 52.28 percent thermal efficiency can lead to a significant 12 percent reduction in both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Fine-tuning existing technologies
Weichai Power’s research team built on its prior successes by investing over 500 days of concentrated effort into optimizing four vital systems: fuel supply, air intake, combustion, and friction reduction.
The team effectively advanced high-expansion combustion, mixed-flow pressurization, high-efficiency fuel injection, and low-resistance friction-reducing technologies.
A significant milestone was reached due to these advancements, which were attained by little advances of 0.1 percent at a time. The attempt lead to the engine breaking through the 53 percent thermal efficiency barrier for the first time globally. Researchers claim the achievement is comparable to a human running a 100-meter race in under nine seconds.
During this research and development phase, the group received 176 invention patents and 68 utility model patents.
Decreased fuel consumption
Upgrading from a thermal efficiency level of 45–46 percent to 53 percent can increase a diesel engine’s economy by about 14 percent. This figure is based on current estimates of diesel engine ownership in China.
This innovation results in yearly fuel savings of about 31 million tons and a decrease in carbon emissions of 97 million tons.
A heavy-duty tractor with a yearly mileage of 155,342 miles (250,000 kilometers) can save about 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel thanks to this technology. This results in an annual savings of almost $13,529 (98,000 yuan) for the owner, given the market price of diesel fuel at $1.08 (7.8 yuan) per liter.
According to the team, this technical breakthrough will benefit not only transportation but also other industries, such as construction machinery, agricultural equipment, ships, and power generation equipment, among others, adding new benefits.
DIESEL KNOCK!...........................
Chinese people are very bright but the history of collectivism in China has a tendency to remove the incentive for individual inventiveness.
How many mpg say in a volvo does his equate to?
Can I apply these innovations to my brace of ‘05 VW TDIs?
. This is the ultimate efficiency possible for a heat engine. Temperatures are degrees above absolute zero.
I’m holding onto my diesel longer than I otherwise would because I can’t get a new one.
On a personal basis that may not seem like much, but suppose you had a fleet of semi-tractor trailers that travel across country, thousands of miles each day. That would be a fuel savings in hundreds of thousands of dollars....................
Were any American companies there? Or are they all too cowed by Brandon and have totally repudiated ICE?
That's like saying "the efficiency goes up as the efficiency goes up."
Coincidentally, Brandon announced a new tax on diesel long-haul trucks of $13,529 per year. Purely coincidence, I'm sure.
“... the history of collectivism in China has a tendency to remove the incentive for individual inventiveness. “
Where does this goofy theory come from that scientific innovation and technical progress depends on the political Regime ?
Euler did some of his most important work while in Tsarist Russia.
Where does this goofy theory come from that scientific innovation and technical progress depends on the political Regime ?
Euler? Euler?
Mazda’s diesel.
Most Americans know that individualism and capitalism encourage inventiveness. Milton Friedman can explain it to you.
Tsarist Russian wasn’t collectivist, was it?
What was it when the diesel engine was invented? 20%?
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The problem with all these engines and a focus on peak efficiency is that most of the time passenger cars and even heavy trucks operate at low rpms and part throttle which is much less efficient.
Gas turbines, for example, are much more efficient at peak power than gasoline engines. But gas turbines are horrible gas guzzlers at part throttle and low rpm.
This is a typical diesel map from older less efficient diesel era. Gasoline would be similar with lower efficiency everywhere
I know you always find these articles and I too think diesel is the way to go.
In the 19th century, students at US Universities studying sciences had to learn German.
They needed to do that because Germans were the leading scientists of that time and the scientific literature was in German.
According to you, that couldn’t have happened because German scientists under the KaiserReich couldn’t possibly compete with American freedumbs.
My comment--now listen carefully--was that collectivist cultures have a negative effect on inventiveness.
You might want to take a look at your own tagline.
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