Clean Gas Induction in Trucks

November 19th, 2007 by Shenron

Clean gas induction is a technology component found on both gasoline and diesel cars and trucks. This technology can be found on engines that are called stratified charge engines or are proprietary components found in specialized diesel engines such as ACERT technology found on Caterpillar diesel engines. Generally speaking clean gas induction in trucks refers to the fuel air mixture and the charge inside the cylinder that burns it smoothly and efficiently.

The stratified charge engine with clean gas induction is very similar to the direct injection diesel engines. In a standard diesel injection engine, diesel fuel which is a much heavier fuel than gasoline is injected into the top of the cylinder, using this method, higher compression rates can occur and ping is much less prevalent. The result is that diesel injection usually delivers very good fuel efficiency. This is why most heavy duty trucks that are needed to run for long periods of time are usually fitted with diesel engines.

But while these diesel engines have lots of advantages, one of the main disadvantages is that since they are sprayed into the cylinder head into highly compressed air, they seldom have time to mix correctly with the air. In this case, lots of fuel and air do not have the opportunity to combust. Having both un-burnt fuel and air remaining after combustion usually leads to the opportunity of many different types of pollution to form- specifically NOx.

However, recent technology in clean gas induction has been able to reduce pollution that is normally made with direct injection diesels. One way clean gas induction has reduced pollution in trucks and increased fuel efficiency is with Caterpillar’s ACERT technology.

Once fuel is burned in engine with ACERT technology, it continues to move through a treatment system. However, once through the treatment system, there are always small parts of fuel that remain, this remaining fuel is drawn out from the rest of the substances and cooled. As the fuel cools, it is mixed again with cool clean air and returned to the combustion chamber to be burned.

There are many advantages of fuel being burned twice in the ACERT technology process. First, since the fuel is cooled and then mixed with cool air, both substances do not have the opportunity to form pollutants such as NOx. Another benefit of ACERT technology including clean gas induction is that that since un-combusted fuel is drawn out and sent through the system to be combusted again, fuel efficiency is increased. Finally, since the fuel and air goes through a treatment process, the result is a reduction in harmful emissions.

It should be noted that Caterpillar’s ACERT technology is propriety, however other truck engine manufacturers are also looking into how clean gas induction can help reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.

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