The Adaptive Thermal Engine ― The Best Suitable for Turbocharging

摘要

The fixed compressior ratio and valve timing of conventional internal combustior engines are a compromise between a wide variety of drivin conditions intended to balance the demands of urban streets and high-speed freeways. Conversely, the adaptive thermal engine concept continually adjusts the compression ratio and intake valve lift, depending on the drive situation, hus the engine operates at an optimum point for every driving condition. Moreover, the combiration of this engine concept with tur-bocharging and reduced displacement enables the engine to use fuel energy far more efficiently than present conventional automotive engines. Ir other words, this combination allows the concept to be used to develop engines with high specific torque and power, which will lead either to small, extremely fuel-efficient engines with good performance or to bigger engines delivering sport car performance with reasonable fuel consumption. The adaptive therma engine is not limited only to tur-bocharging. Knowing the capability of the engine geometric (volumetric) compression ratio self adjusting with load level and speed of rotation, the turbocharging system was chosen because of its similar working regime dependence with load level and speed of rotation, the turbocharging system being also a self-regulation one. We do not exclude mechanical supercharging even though it ensures mass flow dependence only with speel of rotation. The reason is the very nature of adaptive thermal engine, which adjusts continuously the value of volumetric compression ratio as a function of in-cylinders conditions. There is no need for an external device to decide the optimum value for volumetric compression ratio. Thus, its increased fuel economy, its perfect matching with turbocharging, and also the fact that it uses the same components and technology ike the present engines recommends it as the next step in pov/ertrain development.