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Product category: Engineering Industry Developments and Awards
News Release from: Ricardo
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 26 June 2001

Laser diagnostic technology designing
new engines

Sophisticated laser diagnostic technology is now being used by Ricardo to design the next generation of advanced, fuel efficient, ultra-low emission engines

Collaborative research between Ricardo, one of the world's largest independent automotive engineering consultancies, and the universities of Brighton and Cardiff has led to the development of sophisticated laser diagnostic technology, which is now being used by Ricardo to design the next generation of advanced, fuel efficient, ultra-low emission engines Increased legislation has put growing pressure on internal combustion engineers to reduce tailpipe emissions such as NOx, soot and hydrocarbons while improving the fuel economy of the engine

The motor industry has already taken great strides forward to enhance both combustion technology and exhaust emission control devices.

Although major reductions in both 'engine out' and tailpipe emissions have already been achieved, a new generation of technology will be needed if engineers are to continue to meet the challenges of new environmental regulations.

The goal of achieving super fuel-efficient ultra-low emission engines can only be achieved through a more in-depth fundamental understanding of the combustion processes.

Working with researchers at both universities, Ricardo engineers have pioneered a number of laser-based tools to enhance measurement techniques while taking understanding of the combustion engine into the twenty first century.

Although laser technology is not new, the teams have developed new and unique application techniques and calibrating methods to give accurate quantitative results.

Additionally, through a better understanding of the physics and chemistry involved within the combustion chamber, Ricardo's pioneering laser diagnostic techniques can be used to aid system design, enabling rapid low-cost development of new engine concepts thereby reducing overall vehicle development times.

Commenting on the importance of collaborative research to help meet the needs of the automotive industry, Ricardo technology director, Neville Jackson, said: "Much of Ricardo's success is founded on our extensive research programmes.

Collaboration with leading research groups such as the combustion analysis teams at the universities of Brighton and Cardiff is a major element of this, and enables Ricardo to stay at the forefront of technological advances and provide innovative solutions to meet the needs of our customers." Ricardo and both universities have collaborated on a number of different laser diagnostic research projects.

One unique method pioneered has been Quantitative Laser Induced Fluorescence (QLIF).

Although LIF is not new, Ricardo and researchers at the university of Brighton have developed a novel approach for calibrating the system and applying the technique to direct injection engines.

Using a high-energy laser, QLIF generates a picture of how fuel and air mix inside the engine, a process that is pivotal in determining efficiency and emissions performance.

The ultra-violet laser light shone into the engine excites the fuel molecules, which then fluoresce.

The returned light is captured on a digital camera equipped with an intensifier, allowing post-processing of the image for calibration while also providing the ability to pin-point more precisely potential areas for improving combustion.

Another technique used is Laser Induced Incandescence (LII), which similarly involves shining a high power laser into the combustion zone.

The laser burns any soot particles that may be present, which then incandesce, and this light is captured on a digital camera, again equipped with an intensifier.

The brighter the light, the greater amount of soot present.

Significantly, Ricardo is using the data obtained from these laser diagnostic techniques to develop and validate its VECTIS computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code, which is widely used by manufacturers throughout the automotive industry and now has the potential to be developed into a highly sophisticated 'virtual combustion' system.

This means that the combustion and exhaust after-treatment systems can be optimised for efficiency and low emissions on the computer, a process that is far quicker than experimenting with hardware.

This approach only works if the computer simulation gives the same answers as the experimental results, hence Ricardo's substantial investment in this pioneering research.

Not only is the code applicable to the automotive industry, but also can be beneficial in other areas of transportation and power generation design.

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