Cut heat loss for engine power
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THE FUTURE for further substantial development of the diesel engine is bright, according to William Schwab, vicepresident of Cummins research and engineering.
Speaking at the Commercial Motor Fleet Management Conference on Wednesday, Mr Schwab described some of the modern methods used in diesel engine design, including finite element modelling, which have allowed engines and engine components to reach the market place after a much shorter gestation period than was previously possible.
Mr Schwab went on to mention possible areas of improvement in the search for greater engine efficiency. Although he thought that the idea might seem far-fetched to today's operators, Mr Schwab said that experiments with insulated components such as pistons, valves and liners have demonstrated the potential significantly to reduce the amount of heat lost by the combustion gases through these components.
According to Mr Schwab, the reduction in heat dissipated in the cooling system would mean that less power would be needed to drive the water pump and fan.