Ceramic coatings tailored for improved thermal efficiency and performance of IC engines

汽油发动机、柴油发动机、插电式混合动力、电池或氢燃料电池似乎令人困惑，但在近期或长期的未来，它们都是动力系统的必要品种。所有型号系列都需要通过更先进的技术来提高效率。汽油内燃发动机在过去几年里经历了发动机小型化、可变气门正时、直喷、涡轮增压和减小内摩擦等方面的显著发展。然而，为了充分利用先进的燃烧技术，如果活塞和燃烧室壁表面有一个陶瓷涂层（作为保护装甲），一方面可以更好地抵抗压缩载荷和热量；另一方面，陶瓷涂层可以减少冷却剂的燃烧热损失，从而提高热效率，从而降低燃料消耗和排放；此外，适当厚度的陶瓷涂层可以降低进气的升温效应，从而减少发动机爆震的发生。该研究项目的目标是在集成电路发动机燃烧室壁上开发具有适当热管理性能的智能陶瓷氧化物涂层，以提高发动机的热效率和动力性能。预计如果加拿大20%的车辆使用智能涂层技术，燃油经济性将提高5-10%，从而减少100万吨的二氧化碳排放量。**本项目将招收1名博士生、1名博士、1.5名硕士、1名研究助理和少量Co-op学生在大学和工业研发环境中进行HQP培训，为汽车和制造业提供人才。这项研究的结果将允许汽车制造商采用对环境负责的解决方案，以达到其排放和燃油效率的目标。因此，拟议中的项目将对加拿大的环境保护、技术进步、创造和保留就业机会具有非常重要的意义。* * * * * * * *

Petrol engines, diesel engines, plug-in hybrids, battery or hydrogen fuel cells seem confusing but necessary varieties as powertrains in the near or long term future. Enhanced efficiency through more advanced technology is needed consistently across all model series. Petrol internal combustion (IC) engine has experienced a remarkable development in the past years, through the engine downsizing, variable valve timing, direct injection, turbocharging and internal friction reduction, etc. However, to fully utilize the advanced combustion technology, it would be beneficial if the pistons and combustion chamber walls have a ceramic coating surface (as a protection armour) better against compression loads and heat on one hand; on the other hand, the ceramic coating would reduce combustion heat loss to coolant, leading to high thermal efficiency and thus lower fuel consumption and emission; additionally, the ceramic coating with a proper coating thickness can decrease the heating-up effect to intake air which would reduce tendency of the engine knocking problem. The objective of this proposed research project is to develop smart ceramic oxide coatings on IC engine combustion chamber walls which have appropriate thermal management properties tailored for enhancement of both engine thermal efficiency and power performance. It is expected that the smart coating technology would result in 5-10% improvement in fuel economy and thus reduction of 1 million tons of CO2 emission in Canada if 20% Canadian vehicles use the technology.**The project will hire 1 PDF, 1 Ph.D., 1.5 Master's, 1 Research Associate, and a few Co-op students for their HQP training in university and industrial R&D environments and provide talents for automotive and manufacturing sectors. The outcome of this research would allow automakers to adopt environmentally responsible solutions to reach their emissions and fuel efficiency targets. Thus, the proposed project will be very significant in environmental protection, technological advancement, and job creation and retaining for Canada. ********