Development of Opposed-Piston Variable Compression Ratio Engine for Automotive Applications using High-Performance Computational Combustion Methodologies

Project Description

Pinnacle’s engine technology is ready to provide immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum usage for light-duty vehicles. Additionally, the 1.2L engine is an excellent fit for range extending hybrid-electric vehicles to boost “well-to-wheel” efficiencies through higher brake thermal efficiency of the engine at light-load conditions where most transportation engines operate. Our variable compression ratio (VCR) ultra-dilute low-temperature combustion (LTC) engine concept will serve well to displace light-duty diesel due to its diesel-like fuel economy benefit at significantly reduced cost and emissions.The success of this proposed project will immediately enable Pinnacle Engines to dramatically improve the performance of an already underway high-efficiency automotive engine program and best display the capability of the variable compression ratio, opposed-piston combustion system against other state-of-the-art engine architectures. Additionally, the extensive exploratory nature of this study will provide insight into a whole promising class of engines in a way not easily tractable experimentally.Pinnacle Engine’s unique 4-stroke, opposed-piston, sleeve-valve, phased-piston variable compression ratio architecture has load and speed dependent bulk motion and turbulence management capabilities, thereby enabling advanced combustion recipes not otherwise feasible in traditional reciprocating piston engines. Using HPC capability at OLCF, the team would like to discover various mechanisms to extend stable combustion into highly dilute regimes for fuel economy gains and emission reduction capabilities.