Diesel & Gasoline Working Together?

The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine pictured has a thermal efficiency of 50% (the best in the world). There is new research going on in the University of Wisconsin, Madison that got 53% thermal efficiency out of a Cat Diesel Engine.

I just read the article about this new technology mixing gasoline and diesel into a diesel engine. This system increases the thermal efficiency by 20% but reduces the temperature in the combustion chamber by 40% creating less unburned fuel out the tail pipe.

The mix would be computer controlled and since there would be less energy loss through heat transfer, improved combustion would cause an increase in power with less emissions.

The computer age has allowed scientists and researchers to stretch the resources we have right now to the limit in a very efficient way. Without computer programming, monitoring, and adjusting operating parameters this new technical solution for decreasing vehicle emissions would not be possible.
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New Study Heavy Duty Diesel Emissions Reduced Drastically-New York Times

I'm Guessing The Next Study Will Be Lowering Emissions On Super Duty Diesels like the one ABOVE!

Here's an interesting article on a 5 year study by several Environmental Groups including the Health Effects Institute, Coordinating Research Council, Energy Dept., EPA, Engine Manufacturers Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

Read The Full Article HERE

Researchers have found particulate matter called soot has been reduced by 99% from levels allowed in 2004. Emissions are also 90% lower than 2007 standard requirements. Good news for us and the air that keeps us alive!

Right now the new DPF (diesel particulate filter) mufflers are collecting soot and burning it off into the atmosphere automatically by way of computer technology. The DPF has sensors that tell the computer the temperature is getting excessive on one end and needs to start a regeneration.

Regeneration is computer activated which injects atomized diesel into the exhaust system burning off accumulated soot. If the soot buildup gets too much to handle, a manual regeneration is required using laptop software.

This manual regeneration takes about 45 minutes and the temperatures get at high as 1200 degrees. This is a very efficient way to burn off particulates/soot. Every Mechanic involved with today's diesel engines will be repairing and maintaining these emission controlled systems for many years to come.

Cat 3116 Fuel System Schematic

The Cat 3116 fuel system has 3 check valves, a fuel priming pump [if equipped], transfer pump and fuel regulating orifice [#7] on the return side diesel fuel circuit that exits out the back of the cylinder head.
The fuel regulating orifice provides adequate fuel gallery fuel flow for low idle fuel flow.





Check valve #8 prevents bleed off of fuel from the head during engine shutdown. This could cause a hard start after engine shutdown overnight [depending on how bad the bleed off is].

{click on photo to enlarge}

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