IFP's gasoline engine technologies

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Gasoline engine technologies

The main problem associated with gasoline engines is still the need to reduce their fuel consumption and cut their CO₂ emissions. Today, a variety of solutions exist to reduce CO₂ emissions in gasoline powertrains. IFP’s research therefore has a strong focus on:

the principle of downsizing combining a reduction in displacement with turbocharging

operation in lean conditions

Having pioneered the development of these approaches at the end of the 1990s, IFP has since supported their development in order to improve results.

Research projects on gasoline engines

Validating the downsizing concept

In partnership with Faurecia Système d'Echappement and Honeywell Turbo Technologies and with the contribution of Renault, a demonstration vehicle based on a Renault VelSatis has been produced to validate IFP's concept of downsizing combined with direct injection and optimum scavenging of residual burnt gases. This demonstrator emits 20% less CO₂in a standardized cycle than the same vehicle with a conventional gasoline engine.

Developing cylinder deactivation

IFP has also developed and patented an innovative approach to cylinder deactivation leading to very significant potential fuel savings.

Optimizing pollution control

While, in principle, gasoline engines is pose fewer difficulties in terms of pollution control than diesel engines, some operating modes still offer ample scope for improvement. This is true in particular of cold starts, which generate the bulk of the emissions in the cycle. These questions are being studied by the Groupement Scientifique Moteurs (GSM) with studies concerning the process of injecting air in the exhaust, hydrocarbon traps, etc.

Solutions for our customers

Gasoline engines

IFP makes its expertise in gasoline engines available to the automobile industry:

design, development, and optimization of combustion chambers for gasoline direct injection engines,
optimization of the thermal performance and thermomechanical strength of the cylinder head,
development of new control systems,
improvement of the efficiency of conventional engines: lean mixture, high level of EGR (exhaust gas recirculation), or downsizing,
applications of controlled auto-ignition combustion modes (Controlled Auto Ignition - CAI),
downsizing process (turbocharged engine) with a high potential for cutting fuel consumption.