Despite growing momentum behind electrification as a route to greater efficiency, Hyundai is still pursuing incremental improvements for its core powertrain technology. Further optimization is targeting 50% thermal efficiency using new technologies, and Dr Byoung-Hyouk Min, a powertrain engineer based at the company’s R&D center in Namyang, South Korea, stresses that there’s no single solution yet.
“Long-term stabilization of oil prices at a low level, limited charging infrastructure and gradual reduction of government incentives has slowed the attraction toward electric vehicles,” he comments. “For the future powertrain portfolio, expanding electric technologies is particularly important, but efficiency enhancement of conventional powertrains is also essential and will happen in parallel with electrification.”
Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) is the latest tool in that arsenal, with Hyundai’s first four-cylinder gasoline applications launching this year. A claimed world-first, this is a proprietary technology that enables the inlet valve opening duration to be varied based on operating conditions. Min says this provides thermal efficiency akin to a long-duration Atkinson cycle unit at part throttle, but without the torque compromises under load.
“One of the main motivations behind the development of CVVD was to simplify the previous variable valve actuation system,” he explains. “The CVVD tech was invented with efficient kinematic working principles, so that it comprised a relatively small number of components resulting in better controllability and cost efficiency compared with conventional variable valve actuation systems.”
The system features individual cams for each cylinder and a separate camshaft, which are connected by pairs of sliding linkages within two wheels. These wheels are housed within mechanisms that slide at right angles to the shaft using a worm drive, actuated by a 140W electric motor fitted at the opposite end of the head to the timing chain. Offsetting the center point of the cam changes the lengths of the linkages, which in turn affects its rotational behavior relative to the shaft.
Sliding the mechanism in one direction slows the cam rotation as the lobe opens the valve, which lengthens the duration. Suited to low loads and constant speeds, this keeps the valve open from the beginning to almost the end of the compression stroke, which reduces pressure-related pumping losses and improves efficiency.
Under higher loads, the mechanism slides in the opposite direction, which rotates the lobe more quickly past the point where it opens the valve, and shortens the duration. In turn, this reduces the overlap from the previous combustion cycle and maximizes the inlet air within the cylinder, improving engine performance.
Because the lobe rotates at an inversely proportionate speed to the rest of the cam profile, the average rotating speed of the cam and shaft are identical, regardless of operating conditions. Min claims this offers a high degree of variation, of between 150° and 290° crank angle, with an effective compression ratio between 4:1 and 10.5:1. The system can also be used to promote quicker warm-up of the three-way catalyst, reducing harmful emissions on startup – particularly useful for stop/start systems and hybrids.
Planned applications are broad, including 48V mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, which makes it an increasingly important asset as momentum grows behind electrification. Min continues, “Around 10% fuel economy improvements will be accomplished by the new Smartstream engines. These innovative powertrain designs will be the very first step toward Hyundai-Kia’s sustainable future powertrain strategy.”