Mexican Media Brands
A New Way to Hone Fuel Economy
Researchers in Germany say the adjustable cylinder honing tool they developed can make piston engines 3% more fuel efficient.
#economics
Share
Researchers in Germany say the adjustable cylinder honing tool they developed can make piston engines 3% more fuel efficient.
The tool contains tiny piezo actuators that can alter its shape and expand its diameter. The resulting adjustments add "imperfections" in the cylinder bore during production to offset distortion that occurs when the engine is assembled and operated.
Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU determine how to guide the tool by first calculating static distortion that occurs when a finished cylinder head is bolted onto the block. Then they estimate the thermal distortion to the cylinder bore that occurs when the engine operates.
Feeding the calculations into the tool enables the bore to be honed to offset both types of distortion simultaneously, according to the Fraunhofer researchers. They developed the prototype honing tool in collaboration with an unnamed carmaker and machine tool producer.
The team expects to complete validation tests by the end of the year to determine how well the honing system reduces internal engine friction, prolongs engine life, improves fuel efficiency and reduces lubrication requirements.
RELATED CONTENT
-
China and U.S. OEMs
When Ford announced its 3rd quarter earning on October 24, the official announcement said, in part, “Company revenue was up 3 percent year over year, with net income and company adjusted EBIT both down year over year, primarily driven by continued challenges in China.” The previous day, perhaps as a preemptive move to answer the question “If things are going poorly in China, what are you doing about it?, Ford announced that it was establishing Ford China as a stand-alone business unit.
-
Mazda, CARB and PSA North America: Car Talk
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars, an annual event, was held last week in Traverse City, Michigan.
-
Porsche Doubles EV Target for 2025
Porsche AG says about half the vehicles it sells by 2025 will be equipped with hybrid or all-electric powertrains, twice the ratio it forecast four weeks ago.