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Developments in two-stroke engines
A two-stroke engine performs the power producing cycle; compress, power, exhaust, and intake with just two piston strokes. A two-stroke engine is an advancement from the four-stroke engine which was heavy and was deemed a pollutant. Recently, the engine has been praised for its fuel efficiency and low pollution levels due to the advancements that have been made to it. The two-stroke engine has been advantageous since it provides more stable power and thrust so that the weight and the flywheels dimensions can be reduced. It does so by providing only one explosion whereby every revolution of the crankshaft needs only one power stroke. The two-stroke engine has been advantageous since it reduces maintenance and cost through its capability to be operational without all the valves and the operating components. The two-stroke engine is perceived disadvantageous since it leads to loss of fuel through unburnt oil and fuel mixture that could leave the combustion chamber.
In recent years, the main cause of interest in the two-stroke engine is the direct fuel injection. The direct fuel injection allows the direct injection of fuel to the combustion chamber since the fuel injector is in the combustion chamber (Tommaso Savioli, 2017). Previously, the limitation faced from the two-stroke engine was that there was a loss of fuel during the exhaust while the recent development on the direct injection limits the loss of the mixture between fuel and oil in the exhaust. The recent two-stroke engine has been perceived to emit cleaner air. This is achieved since thermal post-combustion is made possible. The fresh air pumped through the exhaust when the engine is cold and the high temperatures of the exhaust cause the fuel in the exhaust to burn and the oxygen sensors to work. This translates to cleaner emissions from the entire cycle. The overall mechanical output of the engine has been improved too (RUVID, 2014). The two-stroke engine has two cylinders, which reduces the friction produced by the engine. This translates to the better overall performance of the engine. The developments have eliminated the identified main disadvantages of the older two-stroke engine and leaves the advantages of the engine outweighing the limitations.
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In the current market, there has been an increase in the government regulations regarding emissions and pollutants. This has led the automotive industry to find engine solutions that are less pollutants and have a cycle that produces cleaner emissions to the environment (Johnson, 2011). The re-established two-stroke engine is a satisfying aspect to the needs of automotive manufacturers. This is because it produces cleaner emissions, improves overall performance, reduced fuel loss and reduced weight. These are market aspects that the automotive industry would meet through the recently developed two-stroke engine, while at the same time being adherent to the governmental pollution provisions. The automotive industry is ready for the new two-stroke engine. The engine’s performance is expected to show detailed design and use of different inventions to create something greater and more efficient. The car manufacturers have been working on the use of a two-stroke engine in their auto motives and making them available to the market.
The developments on two-stroke engines have already been prevalent in the market today. The automotive industry has gone ahead to make innovations and inventions to achieve greater fuel economy and reduced fuel emissions with their two-stroke engine development. EcoMotors International had a new approach to the old two-stroke aimed at the efficiency of engines and lessened fuel emissions. Some modern V8 vehicles have embraced the EcoMotors’ cylinder deactivation feature, which results in parasitic loss and dependency (Garthwaite, 2010). Aprilia, in their latest SR50 DITECH sports scooter, has adopted the orbital two-stroke engine and claimed to offer a 60% oil usage reduction and 40% fuel consumption benefits. Peugeot motorcycles launched the Looxor 50 TSDI, which uses the Synerject’s engine management system and the orbital two-stroke engine. Honda has established their own Active Radical Combustion two-stroke system, which uses an auto-ignition to complete combustion in the cylinders. Their new system has overcome issues experienced from the convection two-stroke engine such as eight stroking and four stroking.
The choice by car manufacturers to incorporate two-stroke engines in their auto motives has been influenced by the recent developments and improvements that have been made to the old two-stroke engine and the possibility to greatly enhance it. From the conventional four-stroke engine that was termed as a substantial pollutant (Peter Hooper, 2011). The automotive industry is still enhancing the capabilities of the two-stroke engine from the common one to create an engine that offers environmental sustainability. The reduction in emissions is the main priority and can be achieved through the manufacturers improving the combustion process of the fuel used by the engine.
In conclusion, two-stroke engines had for a long time been perceived to be significant pollutants due to their unlimited fuel emissions. The incorporation of government regulations regarding pollution and emissions pushed engine manufacturers to think innovatively so as to curb the pollution caused by the two-stroke engine. Developments and improvements on the two-stroke engine have been made such as the orbital two-stroke engine, which has been used by Aprilia and Peugeot has revealed greater benefit and efficiency to manufacturers since it reduces emissions through ensuring completion of the combustion process. Manufacturers and investors have geared towards improving the capability and efficiency of the two-stroke engine to ensure that maximum benefits of the engine are enhanced and greater value for the investors’ money is realized.
- Garthwaite, J. (2010, September 16). The Two-Stroke Engine, Reconsidered. Retrieved December 7, 2017, from MIT Technology Review: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/420818/the-two-stroke-engine-reconsidered/
- Johnson, D. (2011). Is the Industry Ready for a New Engine? Retrieved December 7, 2017, from achatesPOWER: http://achatespower.com/ready-for-new-engine/
- Peter Hooper, T. A.-S. (2011). Advanced modern low-emission two-stroke cycle engines. Journal of Automobile Engineering, 225.
- RUVID, A. (2014, November 3). New two-stroke engine, notable for its low consumption and low level of pollutant emissions. Retrieved December 7, 2017, from ScienceDaily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141103082518.ht
- Tommaso Savioli, B. Z. (2017). Development of a 2-Stroke GDI Engine. Energy Procedia, 126, 1091-1098