Who invented direct injection engines

He, on the other hand, became somewhat threatened by this process and was not always able to find common language with other engine designers developing his invention. In , deeply troubled by criticisms of his role in developing the engine, he mysteriously vanished from a ship on a voyage to England, presumably committing suicide []. Abstract : In the s, Rudolf Diesel invented an efficient, compression ignition, internal combustion engine that bears his name.

Early diesel engines were large and operated at low speeds due to the limitations of their compressed air-assisted fuel injection systems. Although TBI was extremely simple, fuel droplets separated from the air stream as the intake charge followed the curved outer circumferences of intake passages. Advertisement To reduce wet flow and thus improve cylinder-to-cylinder fuel distribution, domestic auto manufacturers introduced multi-port injection MPI on a limited number of higher-end vehicles.

As the federal government mandated stricter exhaust emissions and fuel economy standards, MPI became the fuel system of choice for all domestic and import manufacturers.

Unfortunately, fuel distribution inside the cylinder tended to remain uneven, which allowed minor inefficiencies in cylinder-to-cylinder fuel combustion. Most GDFI systems incorporate a conventional in-tank modular electric fuel pump that supplies normal fuel pressure to the high-pressure mechanical pump mounted on the engine.

A separate fuel pump module might also be used to modulate the speed and pressure of the in-tank pump. Advertisement The high-pressure fuel pump pressure is monitored by the Powertrain Control Module PCM through a sensor and can be modulated by changing the volume of fuel entering the pump inlet.

While specific pressures vary among different vehicle applications, most high-pressure pumps are capable of producing at least 2, pounds per square-inch of fuel pressure.

These extremely high fuel pressure levels are required to overcome compression and combustion pressures inside the cylinder and to inject a relatively large volume of fuel directly into the cylinder in a very short length of time.

When the engine is operating in a lean-burn mode, the toroidal plume allows the fuel to combust with the air in a much more controlled and efficient manner. Advertisement GDFI systems require piezo-electric fuel injectors, which are capable of quickly opening the injector pintle valves at fuel pressures exceeding 2, psi. Unlike conventional solenoid-based fuel injectors, piezo-electric fuel injectors use a stack of crystalline wafers that expand when electricity is applied.

The physical expansion of these wafers forces the pintle valve open against extremely high fuel pressures. Piezo-electric fuel injectors are very fast and accurate, especially at high engines speeds and fuel pressures. The stoichiometric mode mixes The most recent problem is a buildup of carbon on the intake valve seals causing cylinder misfires.

Last, the mechanical high-pressure fuel pumps appear to be an early failure point on current production vehicles. Remember that the low pressure pump must be working properly for the high pressure pump to work. All parts professionals must also be aware that many manufacturers might require a complete fuel rail replacement when a single fuel injector is replaced for safety reasons.

As with any new technology, a professional-level service information system is vital for the successful diagnosis of the original problem and the completion of a successful repair. Are you leaving money on the table when you sell fuel system parts? The front runners right now for future fuel or alternative fuel are natural gas and propane, due to relatively cheap cost and large amounts available. Related Information. Fuel Pump Add-ons Are you leaving money on the table when you sell fuel system parts?

Another interesting item of fuel injection history is the Hesselman engine. In essence, this is a hybrid of petrol and diesel engine. A spark plug is used to ignite the fuel-air mixture, as in a spark ignition engine, but it is designed to burn heavier fuels such as diesel, kerosene or even mazut. It fires up on petrol, which it burns until it warms up and then switches to a heavy fuel. Before it is switched off, it is necessary to let it run on petrol again for a while, so the heavy fuel deposits are cleaned from the system.

This engine was invented by Swedish engineer Jonass Hesselman and was first introduced in It was used in buses and trucks from the late s to the early s by makers like Volvo and Scania. Its design was actually more similar to that of a petrol engine. The main advantages of the Hesselman engine were its ability to burn low-quality, cheaper fuels and its better fuel economy compared to petrol engines of similar performance at the time.

As in many similar fields, developments in petrol fuel injection really took off during World War II. Money and resources were poured into exploring innovations, even the most bizarre, in the hope that any technical improvement would lead to a valuable advantage over the enemy.