Powertrain Technologies Ltd

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To design and develop a demonstrator of an air hybrid diesel engine system aimed at the urban bus market where stop/start duty cycles dominate. Based on internationally patented Brunel University regenerative air hybrid technology, this project specifically addresses the application of the system to modern diesel engines used by bus companies in Europe and elsewhere in the world.Brunel’s air hybrid technology has the potential to achieve fuel savings in the range of 8% -15%, depending upon urban bus duty cycles and the base vehicle performance, with acorresponding reduction in CO2 emissions and running costs. Savings in annual operatingcosts are expected to be in the order of £5,000 to £8,000 per bus.The Brunel regenerative air hybrid system works on the principle of switching the engine to become effectively a large air pump to provide engine braking and capturing the vehicleenergy in the form of compressed air at pressures up to 10 bar. The economy and CO2 savings are achieved by converting the engine operation to a stop/start system and using thiscompressed air, and the “free” energy it contains, to start the engine with an air starter.This project involves the development of a “universal” moveable air connector to interface between the engine inlet ports and the air reservoir system to capture and store thecompressed air from the engine. The innovative moveable air connector device enables the engine to operate completely normally when under power with no restriction to the breathing of the engine and hence no power loss, but when the vehicle is braking and the engine is switched to air-pump mode, the connector moves to engage with an inlet port thereby connecting the engine to the air reservoir. The project will culminate with an operating prototype bus, converted to run the system, being used on a regular operating schedule with a view to comparing the on-road performance with a standard vehicle and subsequent promotion of the product.