High-Efficiency Compression-Ignition Engine Technology

March 11, 2014

Jennifer Shuttleworth

Aramco Services Co. (ASC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco), Saudi Aramco, and Saudi Aramco’s European subsidiary Aramco Overseas Co. (AOC), continues to develop a high-efficiency compression-ignition engine technology designed to use less processed fuels and will feature the technology at the SAE 2014 World Congress April 8-10 in Detroit. According to ASC, this engine technology provides an efficiency advantage over today’s gasoline engine and an emissions advantage (NOx and soot) compared to today’s diesel engine. Lower cost for this lean compression-ignition engine technology is achieved with a lower-pressure fuel system and a simplified aftertreatment system made possible with lower engine-out NOx emissions compared to the diesel-based powertrain. The optimum fuel for such a system will likely be simpler and largely consist of lighter-end distillates, such as Naphtha, that offer less processing and lower energy consumption (reduced CO₂ generation) during the refinery process compared to that required for gasoline and diesel fuels. (Booth 1003)