FEV has developed an all-new family of single cylinder engines (SCE) for combustion research, functional testing, and continuing development of engine components.
Six research engine size variants with cylinder bores ranging from 65mm to 530mm are available, covering a wide spectrum from passenger cars to large engines. In combination with various strokes, cylinder displacements between 0.2 and 155-liters can thus be achieved, with each single-cylinder motor covering a broad displacement range. Test results can be subsequently transferred to all common multi-cylinder derivatives.
The modular SCE design makes it possible to adapt the engines to individual client needs with little effort. This makes very specific analyses of almost any component possible, from various piston shapes to modified valve timing. With the help of optical visualization, the tool also allows fundamental combustion research.
“Our offering is intended for OEMs, universities, and suppliers, as well as the oil and fuel industry,” explains Professor Stefan Pischinger, president and CEO of the FEV Group. “Our single cylinder engines are highly efficient tools that achieve reproducible results under laboratory conditions to support our client’s research and development work.”
The simplified structural design with only one cylinder shortens both the set-up times as well as the component costs. In addition, the reduced fuel consumption (only one cylinder operating) reduces the maintenance costs. “The unique layout enables a separation of the various parameters that influence the combustion process”, states Peter Heuser, FEV group vice president, commercial vehicle engines. “At the same time, disturbing influences can be effectively minimized and new design concepts can be examined on the test bench at an early stage of development.”
To ensure a high level of flexibility in the single cylinder family, FEV offers a comprehensive range of accessories – including various conditioning units, control units with test bench automation as well as optical and conventional measuring systems.
“Over time, we have put over 160 single cylinder systems into service. In the past few months alone, we have completed over ten installations of the new single-cylinder engine family, covering all sizes and various fields of application”, added Rémi Stohr, team leader in the FEV single-cylinder department. “These ten most recent installations alone have operated for more than 12,000 hours, demonstrating the system’s practicality and efficiency – and this number is growing larger every day.”