AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Who would have thought that a
forty-five millimeter long invention could improve engine performance, reduce
emissions and fuel consumption by twenty percent? Continental, one of the
world's largest automotive suppliers, developed such an innovative technology
and is the first to mass-produce the gasoline Piezo direct injection system.
"We are very proud of our Piezo direct injection technology and the
contributions it brings toward our goal of reducing fuel consumption and
emissions," said Kregg Wiggins, Senior Vice President Powertrain, Continental
NAFTA - Region.
Continental's Powertrain division is the pioneer of Piezo injection
technology. It is part of the wide range of products that Continental supplies
today -- from optimized tires, electronics and mechanical components -- that
combined could reduce fuel consumption by up to 40 per cent. Production of
the first generation of Piezo injectors for diesel engines began in 2000.
Production of gasoline Piezo began in 2006. Continental is the market leader
in Piezo direct injection systems.
"We believe there will be a significant demand for direct injection
technology moving forward as a direct result of the benefits to the end
consumer," said Wiggins. "The Piezo direct injectors offer our customers the
latest technology to significantly reduce carbon dioxide while simultaneously
taking fuel economy to new levels."
This completely integrated system takes full advantage of the fast
switching speeds and precise fuel metering of Piezo technology, making it
possible to use a spray-guided stratification combustion process in a gasoline
engine for the first time ever.
During the combustion process, gasoline is directly injected into the
combustion chamber near peak pressure to better utilize the fuel, resulting in
a combustible mixture formed in the upper part of the combustion chamber in
the immediate area of the spark plug. In this way, the innovation creates the
conditions for a stratified charge.
Spray-guided combustion, which is the most efficient form of stratified
charge, is only possible with the performance features of Piezo technology
because a precise, constant and stable injection must be directed to the
immediate spark plug area. The nozzle needle completes its full stroke in just
0.2 milliseconds, while the maximum deviation between individual injected
quantities of fuel is 2 percent -- even with the typically short injection
pulses under driving conditions.
For cleaner combustion, extremely fine atomization of the fuel must be
maintained. At an injection pressure of approximately 200 bar, the average
diameter of the fuel droplets is only 15 thousandths of a millimeter. Together
with injector nozzles that open into the engine cylinder, an optimally
prepared cloud mixture at the edge of the spark plug is yielded under nearly
all operating conditions. This innovation is the only solution on the market
able to do this.
This spray-guided combustion process is a first in a gasoline engine, and
as a consequence, the extent of operating conditions that allow stratified
charge is considerably expanded. For example, high displacement engines are
able to achieve greater fuel economy at partial loads, while ensuring optimum
cylinder charging at full load. Additionally, OEMs may be interested in using
the injector to more tightly control combustion processes, including multiple
pulses to control the start of combustion. This technique is an enabler to
someday allow them to realize Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI).
Continental today received the first Environmental PACE (Premier
Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award from Automotive News
for its trend-setting gasoline Piezo direct injection technology which
improves engine performance, reduces emissions and fuel consumption by 20
percent. This is the third award the Piezo technology has received. The
system was also recognized during Ward's 10 Best Engine's of 2007 for the BMW
335i Twin Turbo-3-liter engine contribution and the Automotive News 2008 PACE
Award.
According to Automotive News, this year's honorees were chosen from the
2008 Automotive News PACE Award winners and were honored again for further
innovations contributing to the environmental sustainability and/or solving
environmental problems.
With targeted annual sales volume of 25 billion Euros for 2008, the
Continental Corporation is one of the top automotive suppliers worldwide. As a
supplier of brake systems, systems and components for the powertrain and
chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires
and technical elastomers, the corporation contributes towards enhanced driving
safety and protection of the global climate. Continental is also a competent
partner in networked automobile communication. Today, the corporation employs
approximately 146,500 people at nearly 200 locations in 36 countries.
As a worldwide leading technology and systems partner to the automotive
industry, the Chassis & Safety Division of Continental AG integrates extensive
know-how and leading-edge quality in the fields of active and passive driving
safety, safety and chassis sensors, and chassis components. The Division
achieves sales of more than euro 5 billion (based on 2006 figures) with a
workforce of more than 27,500 (2007). Chassis & Safety develops and produces
electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis control systems, sensors, driver
assistance systems, airbag systems, occupant classification systems, washer
systems, and electronic air suspension systems.
www.continental-corporation.com
