Didn't we already have one of those:
Posted on 07/26/2007 1:48:20 PM PDT by decimon
If you’re one of those people who like the frugality of diesels, but cannot bear to move away from petrol engined motoring Mercedes-Benz may well have developed a combined technology engine that will answer your prayers.
The Stuttgart company’s DiesOtto concept (named after Rudolph Diesel father of the oil-burner and Nicolaus Otto, German inventor of the internal combustion engine) is being touted as the first feasible mass production petrol engine that combines the fuel economy and torque of a modern diesel engine with improved emissions. Herbert Kohler, Mercedes-Benz head of group research and advanced engineering vehicle and powertrain and DaimlerChrysler's chief environmental officer remarked that due to the market enthusiasm for diesels and conventional gas engines, the company is "giving our attention to both engine types — including a full hybrid option for diesel and gasoline vehicles."<
The initial concept is a small capacity (1,8-litre) four-cylinder petrol engine that features such technologies as direct petrol injection, turbocharging and variable compression. This engine also utilises a technology called “controlled auto-ignition”. Kohler describes this technology as a “highly efficient combustion process similar to that of a diesel.”
Basically, the engine makes use of a sparkles ignition system when load conditions are low, an reverts to a spark plug ignition system for cold starts and heavy engine load conditions.
Volkswagen is also attempting to develop an engine using similar technology to the DiesOtto, but where this unit will only run on a synthetic fuel, the Benz concept can run effectively on both synthetic fuel and normal petroleum.
According to Kohler, this powerplant will return a fuel consumption figure of less than 6 l/100 km, and that’s with the unit being bolted to a vehicle the size of the current S-Class. Before you wince at the idea of a 1,8-litre mill powering a car the size of Benz’s flagship model, bear in mind that the DiesOtto is capable of delivering a respectable 175 kW and 400 N.m of torque.
It has also been suggested that the engineers at Mercedes-Benz may be able to extract even better fuel economy from this engine by adding hybrid technology that integrates a starter-generator attached to the flywheel.
The company has not yet given a firm schedule for the launch of this technology, stating that “the new drive concept is a feasible proposition in the midterm.”
400N.m. = 295 lb/ft
6 l/100 km = 39.2 MPG
How heavy is a current S-Class?
I’ll bet that “sparkles ignition system” looks really snazzy, especially at night!
Surely better than the farkles system it replaces.
Didn't we already have one of those:
Arranging...chairs...Titanic.
I know we need to stretch the fossil fuel thing out, but I’m getting a little nervous that we’re clinging to a dying technology with no single energy source being promising enough to take over when the price of fossil fuel exceeds most people’s ability to pay.
There’s the promise of nuclear power plants and electric cars using some future battery technology, but it takes 10 years to build a nuke due to regulations and protests.
We’re going to regulate and protest ourselves into the stone age.
Dr. Sparkles looks snazzy anytime!
you must be older than dirt.
A combination spark-ignition/Diesel engine was actually built by International Harvester back in the late 1940’s, and installed on the Farmall “M” series tractor. The design was a switch between gasoline spark-ignition, on which the engine was started up, then, while running, a lever was engaged that pushed a slide-through casting that effectively reduced the volume of the combustion chamber, raising the compression ratio, sealing off the spark plug, and starting the injection pump on the Diesel operation. The sealed-off spark plug was switched off from firing, and the engine went on full Diesel operation. The original reasoning was that Diesels were notoriously hard to start from cold, and took a HUGE starter motor, using about 24 volts, to get the first charge ignited on the Diesel. This compromise made it possible to start the engine with a 6-volt system, or a hand crank if necessary, then enjoy the virtues of higher thermodynamic efficiency once the engine was running.
There never were very many of these old “MD” semi-Diesels around, as they were a pretty finicky piece of machinery. But when they ran right, they could beat the gasoline model for pulling power and relative fuel economy under load.
I wouldn’t argue with what you’re saying but coercion (regulation) is not the germ or gist of the article.
I’d love a part-electric auto engine and mostly if I could use a ‘proximity charger’ rather than a plug-in.
I would be willing to bet that if they let me put it on my dyno the hp wouldn’t be any better than 150 or so. Now if it is turbocharged and running 9000 rpm, maybe.
It's the sparkles. ;-)
Actualy the concept was used throughout the IH line during the 40’s & 50’s. They made in addition to the farmall M versions, I believe about 40 drawbar HP, equal to the W-6,a W-9, and tracked versions TD-9, and TD 14. They also made stationary versions for pumps and Generators. They were easy to start in cold weather.
Didnt the military have a multi fuel engine that used the same system in the 70’s
barbra ann
I had 185hp at the wheels with my 2000 1.8Turbo GTI.
And I was on the low side of some of them. 250,300,350 was not uncommon.
Yes, I think you're right.
I will let you in on a little secret ^_^ They show what is called corrected hp. Basically they add in a huge fudge factor to compensate for the transmission, drive train, alternator, water pump, exhaust, intake, mechanical friction, etc.
When I do dyno runs, I calibrate the machine and compensate for altitude and temperature, period.
Normally aspirated a 1.8 L engine is apx. a 100 hp engine, at a reasonable rpm. If you boost it a lot, 180 to 200 is possible. And yes if you add intercoolers, nitro, tuned exhaust, etc. etc., you can probably even get up to 500 hp and it may last long enough to make it to the end of the quarter mile.
Take hp claims with a grain of salt.
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