2008 SHOW REVIEW

With a raft of green powertrain technologies and subsystems on show, this year’s Engine Expo event was a treat for visitors and exhibitors alike

Powertrain engineers from around the globe descended on Stuttgart, Germany, to visit the tenth Engine Expo, which proved to be the biggest and most popular show in the event’s history. In total, over 11,000 visitors passed through the doors of the New Trade Fair Centre... CLICK HERE for more...

The first model of an innovative, fuel-efficient internal combustion engine was showcased at Engine Expo 2008. Crowds at the Stuttgart-based show gathered to see an actual model of the Scuderi Air-Hybrid engine concept, which the company claims can improve fuel efficiency over conventional engines by 50%; can cut NOx emissions output by 80% when compared to gasoline and diesel powertrains; and can offer improved performance of today’s hybrid systems.

The concept system features a breakthrough split-cycle arrangement and disc-valve design that handles the inlet and outlet valves of the compression cylinder, allowing nearly all trapped gas to be removed. A built-in supercharger reduces cost, weight and size, while the addition of a simple air-storage tank and some extra controls allows the engine to capture and reuse energy that is normally lost when the vehicle slows down.

With Bosch Engineering now onboard to assist with prototype development, Sal Scuderi, president of Scuderi Group, is confident that it’s only a matter of time until the Air-Hybrid engine makes a major breakthrough into the automotive industry. He added: “There has been great anticipation around the development of our engine; and showing this model to the European engineering community attending Engine Expo will give them a new opportunity to see the breakthroughs we have been realizing.”

Also on show at Engine Expo 2008 was a revolutionary injection system that dramatically increases engine power and torque while cutting emissions output and fuel consumption. The Green Diesel Fuel System, from Australia-based Green Diesel Corp, features a multi-stage constant pressure cycle and injects diesel at 160,000PSI – more than seven times that of conventional systems.

According to Ron Kukler, CEO of Green Diesel Corp, the technology produces up to 30% more power while cutting emissions and fuel consumption by around the same amount when pitted against traditional diesel injection systems. Other benefits include the elimination of diesel knock and elimination of costly, add-on components such as particulate filters and EGR systems.
With inroads already being made in Australia and the US, the focus for Kukler is now Europe: “We’re looking for a significant partner or joint-venture agreements with a European company that can help us push this technology in a market that is very important to us.”

A new connecting rod that has been specifically designed for high-end sports cars was also presented at Engine Expo 2008. Visitors to the Stuttgart show – which was in its tenth year – flocked to the Mape stand to inspect the new part, which makes use of a high-alloy steel containing nickel, chrome and molybdenum. “This mixture guarantees outstanding performance, with extremely high fatigue strength, ultimate tensile strength and yield point,” said a company spokesperson. The new connecting rod will be first used in a GT application that is capable of delivering 470bhp, which the Italian-based supplier says is further proof of the component’s durability and quality.

Mape also used this year’s Engine Expo event to show off a second new connecting rod that has been developed for a V8 powertrain with 380bhp on tap. Developed in collaboration with the customer, the connecting rod makes use of a metal alloy containing manganese, vanadium and sulfur. “Such a blend allows for successful fracturing, therefore ensuring a very high fatigue strength, ultimate tensile strength and a yield point compared to C70S6BY.”

As well as being highly reliable, the design of the connecting rod has reduced production costs for the OEM thanks to the elimination of the small end bushing.