New trends to gain high power from small gasoline engine

The new trends toward lighter engines for improved performance and energy savings have recently introduced the use of aluminum and plastic materials for vehicle engines, drive trains, and bodies. 

The aluminum alloy block for an engine application is one of the most important applications nowadays. Although, the soft aluminum cylinder liner has required some additional treatment before use so that the engine cylinder’s inner surface produces friction-free piston movement at very high temperatures and variable driving conditions. The latest innovation in this area is Ceramic coating over the low-cost standard aluminum engine block. 

After ceramic coating, the high-temperature treatment of the engine components is not required, which help’s to reduce the overall engine cost without compromising the performance. 

A few types of thermal barrier coating materials are Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and Aluminium Silicate (Al2O3·SiO2). 

The thermal barrier properties are being used to prevent heat loss during the working cycle of the internal combustion (IC) engine. During the combustion, 100% combustion of the charge is not possible resulting in un-burnt hydrocarbons such as CO and HC. One of the reasons for this is excessive heat loss, this heat loss can be saved using thermal barrier coating (TBC) on various parts of the engine.

The main purpose of this technology is to reduce FRICTION and overall engine weight.

Now, by applying 0.2 mm mirror bore coating (which is extremely thin) compared to 2 to 4 mm thick cylinder liner, certainly, it gives better heat conduction as shown in figure 1. This result in better cooling performance and less engine knocking and the whole engine efficiency is certainly improved. 

Future of Small Gasoline Engine

Finally, it will increase the fuel economy and engine power as well. The ceramic material coating gives a mirror-like finishing on the inner surface of the cylinder wall thus the drag that arises when the piston is operating can be largely reduced as shown in figure 2.