Recent Advances in Diesel Engine Research

This paper reviews some recent, research in diesel engineering that points the way to possible solutions to the problems facing engine designers in the next 10 to 20 years. These problems are the need for improved thermal efficiency and multifuel capability to deal with future supplies of fuel for transport and the need to make the engine more socially acceptable by reducing its noise and air pollutant emissions. It is shown that engine noise reduction need not be incompatible with the aims of reduced fuel consumption and emissions, provided that trends in these other areas are taken into account in diesel engine noise research and development programmes. It is concluded that the diesel engine of the future will have a light weight, low noise structure and will be adiabatic or limited cooled with some degree of compounding.