ROLLA, Mo., April 8 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers are working on a way to transform current automobiles into leaner, greener vehicles.
Rather than changing the design of the conventional gasoline engine, however, the researchers, from the University of Missouri-Rolla, are developing a control strategy that would learn "on the fly" how to operate the engine cleaner and more efficiently.
Spark-ignition engines need both fuel and air to operate. "We need both of them together," said Jim Drallmeier, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. "If, however, I can operate the engine in a situation where I can give it less fuel for the same amount of air, the engine will behave differently."
Building on previous research, the team is working to operate spark-ignition engines with much cooler combustion than previously possible, providing significant reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions, they said.
The researchers said their objective is to show a reduction of more than 50 percent in harmful emissions products such as nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxides, and hydrocarbons, as well as a fuel efficiency gain of about 5 percent.
