Advances in Efficiency and Emission Control in Internal Combustion Engines

Dear Colleagues,

In an effort to reduce the impact of powertrain systems on the environment, a significant reduction of CO₂ emissions is targeted for the upcoming years (15% by 2025 and 37.5% by 2030). In this sense, an increase of electric vehicle sales is currently expected, especially in the case of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) including a gasoline engine. However, it is well-known that current gasoline engines can generate up to 20% higher CO₂ emissions compared to an equivalent diesel engine for light-duty vehicle applications. For this reason, different technologies are being developed to mitigate CO₂ emissions in gasoline engines. However, many of these concepts can induce additional challenges in terms of other pollutant emissions, which also have to meet very stringent regulations. For example, fuel enrichment at high loads (typical of highly turbocharged engines) as well as lean combustion typically lead to a significant increase of unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) and CO emissions. Additionally, lean combustion would need a complete rework of exhaust aftertreatment systems in gasoline engines. New concepts for compression and spark ignition engines are arising, affecting the matching with the exhaust aftertreatment systems, which in turn are experiencing a constant evolution. Additionally, the integration of the internal combustion engine into the hybrid electric vehicle places stress on the operation of the catalytic converters, which have to deal with the emissions abatement.

This Special Issue encourages works from both industry and academia focused on the analysis of new solutions devoted to improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines as well as emission control technologies. These include (but are not limited to):

• Impact of advanced combustion concepts;
• Alternative fuels;
• Technologies to avoid fuel enrichment at high loads for turbocharged engines;
• Spray development and wall-wetting in early-injection conditions;
• Formation and characterization of exhaust emissions;
• Fuel composition effects on exhaust emissions;
• Emissions in engine cold-start operation;
• Exhaust gas recirculation techniques;
• Characterization and modelling of exhaust aftertreatment systems;
• Development of control strategies for hybrid powertrains;
• Studies about hybrid powertrain emissions in driving cycles.
• Impact of altitude and ambient temperature on engine performance and emissions;
• OBD and control strategies;
• Thermal management;
• Development of control strategies for hybrid powertrains;
• Studies about hybrid powertrain emissions in driving cycles.

Dr. Pedro Piqueras
Dr. Joaquin de la Morena
Guest Editors

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