Research in high-efficiency clean combustion technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory may lead to alternatives to traditional diesel and spark ignition engine combustion processes that would result in cleaner emissions and improve engine efficiency more than 50 percent. ORNL researchers are working in partnership with Detroit Diesel Corp. and Cummins Engine Co. to have an engine marketable by 2010 when new stringent federal truck engine environmental standards take effect. Researchers seek to control the engine, characterize emissions to be integrated with an engine catalytic converter device, understand the thermodynamics of the process to meet efficiency targets and study the fuel impacts of eventual commercialization of the technology. The higher engine efficiency obtained through this technology would help toward meeting the engine efficiency goals for prototype truck engines scheduled for 2012 in the 21st Century Truck Partnership. Funding is provided by DOE's Office of FreedomCAR and the Vehicle Technology Program.
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