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Modernizing the Opposed-piston Engine for Clean, More Fuel Efficient Transportation
FISITA2014/F2014-CET-080

Authors

Redon, Fabien; Headley, John; Kalebjian, Christopher; Kessler, John; Rakovec, Nick; Johnson, David; Koszewnik, John; Regner, Dr. Gerhard - Achates Power, Inc.

Abstract

The opposed-piston, two-stroke (OP2S) engine was once widely used for ground, marine and aviation applications. Despite its record-setting combination of power density and fuel efficiency, historic opposed-piston engines suffered from high NOx and soot and poor oil control [1]. As a result, their use in on-highway applications eventually ceased with the introduction of global emissions standards.

This study’s objective was to demonstrate how modern technologies and engineering methods have been leveraged to develop an opposed-piston, light-duty engine that is clean and significantly more fuel efficient than today’s powertrains.

Included in the paper is a: 

Short overview of the opposed-piston engine’s inherent thermodynamic advantages 

Summary of the Achates Power engine’s performance and emissions results

Fuel economy and emissions comparison to a published light-duty benchmark, the Cummins 2.8L Advanced Technology Light Automotive Systems (ATLAS) diesel engine [2], designed to meet the fully phased-in Tier 3 or LEV III emissions requirements 

Discussion of an exhaust temperature control strategy used to achieve the aggressive catalyst light-off requirements of light-duty applications

The results of this study demonstrate that the Achates Power OP2S—which has already proven its benefits for medium-duty applications [3]—also features efficiency, emissions, cost and weight advantages for light-duty applications. In fact, the advantages for light-duty vehicles are even greater than those previously demonstrated for commercial trucks [4].

KEYWORDS – opposed-piston engine, two-stroke engine, internal combustion engine, compression ignition engine, fuel-efficient engine

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