SwRI launches second heavy-duty gasoline engine consortium

21 January 2009

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will launch its second cooperative research program aimed at developing a high-efficiency gasoline engine for both light- and medium-duty engine markets. The four-year program will expand on earlier efforts to improve the heavy-duty gasoline engine technology.

The first HEDGE (High-Efficiency, Dilute Gasoline Engine) consortium focused on high levels of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) combined with supporting technologies such as high-energy ignition and advanced boosting systems to develop strategies for high efficiency. EGR levels of up to 50% were applied as the key element in knock mitigation strategy. The HEDGE engine was able to achieve roughly the same fuel consumption as a modern diesel engine, said SwRI.

HEDGE II consortium members are drawn from members of the transportation industry in Asia, Europe and the United States. The members represent light-, heavy-duty and off-road engine manufacturers, component suppliers and oil and fuel companies. The consortium will seek to extend the fuel efficiency and performance gains from HEDGE I and develop supporting technologies for high efficiency, including ignition technology, air handling systems and other hardware to address new combustion concepts for highly dilute gasoline engines.

The new projects will continue work undertaken in the first HEDGE consortium, with high levels of EGR again playing a prime role in developing an aggressive knock mitigation strategy.

More information about HEDGE can be found at hedge.swri.org.

Source: SwRI