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	Emissions and fuel consumption trade-off comparison for gasoline- and diesel-fueled engines

The High-Efficiency Dilute Gasoline Engine (HEDGE^®) Consortium at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) was initiated to develop the enabling technologies required for gasoline engines to meet the performance, durability, and emissions requirements of future motor vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) post-2010 emission standards are anticipated to be more stringent than those currently in place. With these projected lower emission levels, the efficiency and cost benefit of the diesel engine technology may be compromised to the point that gasoline engine technology will become competitive for both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.

Objective of the HEDGE Consortium

The goal of the four-year HEDGE program is to develop the precompetitive technologies that will improve the efficiency and durability of gasoline-fueled engines. The program will culminate in the merging of necessary technologies to demonstrate efficiency and performance in an integration or demonstration engine.

High-Efficiency Dilute Gasoline Engine Research Projects

HEDGE projects focus on development of:

• Knock-resistant combustion chambers

• High-energy ignition approaches

• Strategies for high brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) operation

	Large single-cylinder gasoline engine experimental results and predicted multi-cylinder performance

The use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is a key element for eliminating throttling losses and mitigating engine knock.

Features of the EGR Approach

Key features of the use of the EGR approach include:

• High boost

• High BMEP

• Model-based control

• Intelligent, high-energy delivery ignition system development

Membership and Benefits of the HEDGE Consortium

	Cycle simulation comparison of gasoline and diesel engines in medium-duty applications

SwRI has introduced the HEDGE consortium to a range of companies in Europe, Asia, and the United States, including:

• Light-duty engine manufacturers

• Heavy-duty engine manufacturers

• Component suppliers

• Oil and fuel companies

One advantage of consortium membership is that the impact of the yearly contribution is multiplied by the number of participants, providing substantially more research results than through funding from a single member. In addition, SwRI's internal research programs involving control algorithms and modified ignition and combustion concepts will be shared with consortium members.

For more information about the HEDGE (High-Efficiency Dilute Gasoline Engine) Consortium, or how you can become a member, please contact Terrence F. Alger II, at talger@swri.org, or (210) 522-5505.

hedge.swri.org

| Engine and Vehicle R&D Department | Engine, Emissions & Vehicle Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

June 15, 2011