Framework Programme 7 for R&D
 
Home
About Hercules
Structure
  Workpackage 1: Extreme Parameters Engines
  Task 1.1
  Task 1.2
  Workpackage 2: Combustion
  Workpackage 3: Turbocharging
  Workpackage 5: Exhaust Emission Reduction
  Workpackage 6: Overall power train optimization
  Workpackage 7: Advanced Materials, Friction and Wear
  Workpackage 8: Electronics and Control
News
Partners
Publicity
Contact
members members
Workpackage 1: Extreme Parameters Engines
The general research targets of the HERCULES Programme are high efficiency and very low emissions in marine engines. The HERCULES-B project will proceed further along the research directions found encouraging during the I.P. HERCULES (A) project and will consider further research threads with attractive prospects, to attain the general targets of the HERCULES Programme.
 
One well established avenue towards higher efficiency of combustion engines, is to increase the cycle operating parameters. The operating pressures and temperatures of diesel engines have increased stepwise over the last 100 years. The higher operating parameters are affecting the mechanical and thermal loading of the engine, so that increases in parameters are usually done in steps, followed by periods of consolidation, requiring further detailed development of improved components, so as to achieve reliability.
The objective of Workpackage 1: Extreme Parameter Engines, is to advance towards the engine of the future. Components will be designed and tested on experimental engines operating with pressures, temperatures and mean piston speed which are one step beyond the current state-of-art. By increasing the margin to mechanical failure, it will be made possible to study new advanced combustion technologies. Active real time adjustment of valve timing will enable further flexibility in combustion control and operation on advanced working cycles. Improved materials and coatings to provide superior thermal and wear resistance will be examined, in conjunction with specialized cooling and heat loss minimization designs. The work will be performed on 3 special-made prototype extreme-parameter large experimental engines. There is strong interaction of WP1 with WP2: Combustion, in the area of in-cylinder process simulation, with WP3: Turbocharging, since extreme charging pressures are required, with WP5: Exhaust Emission Reduction regarding the different operating conditions, with WP7: Advanced Materials Friction and Wear in component and bearing designs and with WP8: Electronics and Control.
 
The Workpackage 1 consists of two Tasks:
print this pagetop of page
   
 
© copyright 2011 ULEME E.E.I.G.