Outline

Traditional automobile engine

compression ratio
What it is
How to calculate
Characteristics
Disadvantages
Strategies for the reduction of fuel
consumption
Variable compression ratio
What it is
Advantages
Disadvantages
Ways to modify CR
Design Examples
Investigation of MCE-5 Configuration
Conclusion
References
Compression Ratio (CR)
What is it?

Is the ratio by which the fuel/air mixture is
compressed before it is ignited.

Limited in conventional engines due to auto-
ignition.

Determines how efficiently the engine can utilize
the energy in the fuel.





CR How is it determined?

CR =


-or-



Where b=cylinder bore (diameter)
s = piston stroke length
V
c
= volume of the combustion
chamber

vol cylinder
vol cylinder
min
max
s
b
CR - Characteristics
CR of traditional engine is
fixed and is a compromise
across a wide range of
operating conditions.

CR for passenger cars
ranges between 8:1 and
10:1, while CR for diesel
engines can be much
higher.
Typical Compression Ratios
Disadvantages of Fixed CR
Because CR cannot vary to fit a wide
range of operating conditions:

Power output is reduced

Fuel efficiency is not optimized

Pollution from combustion is not minimized.
A reduction in fuel consumption is achieved by increasing the work
output and/or decreasing the frictional and pumping losses.
Fuel Consumption Reduction
Strategies
Fuel Consumption
Reduction Strategy
Sources of effectiveness
Engine strategies
1 - Increased effective
expansion ratio
Improved indicated
efficiency
High Fixed Compression
Ratio (FCR)
Variable Compression
Ratio
2 - Downsizing Pumping losses reduction
Internal heat transfer
surface reduction
Flame travel distance
reduction
Friction losses reduction
High supercharging
Increased average BMEP
10:1 Compression Ratio
(FCR)
From 8:1 to 16:1
Compression Ratio (VCR)
3 - Downspeeding Pumping losses reduction
Friction losses reduction
High supercharging
Increased average BMEP
4 - Unthrottled load control Pumping losses reduction Load control by air/fuel
ratio
Load control by Late Intake
Valve Closing
5 - Engine mechanical
efficiency improvement
Friction losses reduction Reduction of all friction
sources
Variable Compression Ratio (VCR)
What is it?

The combustion chamber volume, Vc, is
altered to meet the power needs to the
vehicle.
At low power levels, high CR captures fuel
efficiency benefits.
At high power levels, low CR prevents
knock.

VCR - advantages
CR modified to meet power demand (CRs
range from 7:1 to 21:1)
Increased fuel efficiency
Claims of up to 30% reduction in fuel
consumption
Adding variable valve actuation and turbo-
charging further improves fuel efficiency (7-
10% additional reduction in fuel consumption)
Reduced combustion emissions
Increased Efficiency and Pollution
Reduction with VCR:
VCR - Disadvantages
New technology results in high research
and development and manufacturing
costs.
Reliability is not proven.
Consumer reactions are unknown and
unpredictable.
Repairs and maintenance initially may be
difficult and costly.
Ways to Modify CR
Moving the cylinder head.
Variation of combustion chamber volume.
Variation of piston deck height.
Modification of connecting rod geometry.
Moving the crankpin within the crankshaft
(effectively varying the stroke).
Moving the crankshaft axis.
Ways to Modify CR:

A: articulated cylinder
head
B: hydraulic pistons
C: eccentrics on bearings
D: multilink rod-crank
mechanisms
E: additional piston in
cylinder head
F: gear-based
mechanisms
VCR Design Examples
Saab Tilting Monohead Design
Articulated cylinder head
2 part engine block allows cylinder head to be
lowered closer to the crankshaft to dynamically alter
V
c
CR varied by adjusting the slope of the monohead
in relation to the engine block
Upper block is pivoted about the hinge point using a
hydraulic actuator

Unfortunately, Saab shelved project due to cost.


VCR - Saab Tilting Monohead
Design
Lower
Engine
Block
Actuator
Upper
Engine
Block
Pivot
Point
Increased
Volume
VCR - Saab Tilting Monohead
Design
1 2 3
MCE-5 VCR Engine Block
The control jack is connected to a control
rack. Between the control rack and the
piston rack is a gear wheel, which has a
fulcrum supported by the connecting rod.
Up/down movement of the control jack
effectively changes the TDC placement,
therefore increasing or decreasing the
compression volume.

MCE-5 VCR Piston Arrangement
MCE-5 VCR in Action
Control Jack: up and down
movement results in the
displacement of the
control rack and ultimately
a change in the volume of
the combustion chamber.
Control
Rack
MCE-5 VCR Gear and Piston
Arrangement
MCE-5 VCR Engine Block
Gear
Wheel
Pistons
Crankshaft
Control jack
Control
Rack
Piston Kinematics
With the MCE-5 configuration, kinematics never varies,
regardless of CR.
Allows VCR to be easily implemented on future SI
engines.

Rotational Speed (MCE-5
configuration)

Rotational speed limit of crank is
comparable to conventional SI engines.
Expected key speeds:
Max torque speed at 2,000 rpm
Max power speed at 5,500 rpm
Limit speed at ~ 7,000 rpm (not due to the
load applied to gears, but to the tensile force applied
to the connecting rod).
MCE-5 CR Control
CRs adjustable from 7:1 to 20:1.
Fast response (<100 ms to move from max CR
to min CR) .
Electronically controlled sensors allow the
engine to quickly tailor itself to the ideal
operating conditions.
Control jacks function as hydraulic ratchets,
moving piston TDC location (changing the
compression volume and therefore the CR).

Frictional Losses In Pistons
Conventional engines have
losses due to contact with the
piston skirt.
But the VCR (MCE-5
configuration) piston only
moves up and down, greatly
reducing the frictional losses
by eliminating radial forces
and moments.
Due to the
decreased radial
forces between the
piston and the skirt,
stress and ultimately
wear are greatly
reduced.
Therefore, low piston
wear and no piston
slap lead to a better
piston and ring
durability.
Reliability and Durability (MCE-5
configuration)

Size is comparable to
conventional engine blocks with
less power and similar
displacement, bore, and stroke.
Because MCE-5 requires no
unique attachments and requires
no new technologies for its
integration into existing systems,
it connects easily with pipes and
peripherals.

Overall size and vehicle integration
(MCE-5 configuration)
Conclusions
Variable Compression Ratio engines have great
potential to increase engine power and fuel
economy.
When coupled with technologies such as
turbocharging, variable valve actuation, and
direct fuel injection, the effectiveness of the
system is further increased.
Once established, this technology will likely
become commonplace due to increasing energy
and environmental concerns and the ease of
integration.
References
Power Plants, Dr. Richard Gould
http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/courses/mae442/gould/index.html
Automotive Engineering Fundamentals, Stone, R. and
Ball, J., 2004
Websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels
http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm
http://www.mce-5.com
http://www.saabnet.com
http://www.vehicular.isy.liu.se/Lab/SVC/index.html
http://www.prodrive.com/uploads/Benefits%20and%20challenges%20of
%20VCR.pdf