Downsized pressure charging engine gets TSB funding boost 12 November 2010

A highly efficiency, high power, downsized concept engine, designed to return diesel-like fuel economy with gasoline levels of engine refinement, has got the go-ahead from the Technology Strategy Board.

The Ultra Boost engine is based on "novel pressure-charging techniques" and "advanced combustion systems", for tomorrow's downsized engines – and, according to its developers, is aimed not only at the automotive sector, but also vans and even trucks.

TSB has earmarked £2.2 million of funding, which will be supplemented by the consortium to a total of £4.2 million, as part of the Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP) Competition for Low Carbon Vehicles.

The Ultra Boost consortium is led by Jaguar Land Rover and includes partners Lotus Engineering, GE Precision Engineering, CD-Adapco, University of Leeds, Imperial College London, University of Bath and Shell.

Over the next three years, they intend to develop an engine delivering 35% CO2 tailpipe reduction, compared to a V8 5.0 litre naturally aspirated engine, but with equivalent performance and transient response. First demonstrators are scheduled for next year.

"This hugely challenging project will help provide a range of technologies that will form the core of our engine downsizing, down-cylindering and down-speeding strategy," says Malcolm Sandford, chief engineer of engines at Jaguar Land Rover.

"The successful deployment of this technology will help support our wider strategic goals to deliver class-leading sustainability performance, emissions and fuel economy," he adds.

GE Precision Engineering will be responsible for the design work and development and manufacture of the cylinder head, valve train, inlet system, piston and rod assembly. Lotus Engineering is providing its Lotus T6 engine management controller and optimising the engine management strategy. Shell is to supply fuels and lubricants, as well as its knowledge base around abnormal combustion.

Author
Brian Tinham

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