Researchers Isaac Ekoto, pictured, and Benjamin Wolk work on low-temperature gasoline combustion operating strategies for affordable, high-efficiency engines that will meet stringent air-quality standards. (Photo by Randy Wong)
By Michael Padilla
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories’ Combustion Research Facility are helping to develop sparkplug-free engines that will help meet ambitious automotive fuel economy targets of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
They are working on low-temperature gasoline combustion (LTGC) operating strategies for affordable, high-efficiency engines that will meet stringent air-quality standards. Sandia researchers Isaac Ekoto and Benjamin Wolk said the goal of the LTGC project is an engine in which chemically controlled ignition initiates the combustion of dilute charge mixtures.
“The use of dilute mixtures avoids high flame temperatures that can lead to nitrogen oxide formation,” Ekoto said. “LTGC operation increases engine efficiency relative to conventional spark-ignited gasoline engines through reduced heat transfer and pumping losses, along with increased conversion of fuel chemical energy into usable work via higher compression ratios and mixture specific heat ratios.”