The Renault Group is Europe’s number one car manufacturer for the low CO2 emissions performance of the passenger vehicles it sells (first half of 2013). This fits with Renault’s powertrain strategy which seeks to position the Renault Group durably as a European leader in the realm of low CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
The pursuit of this goal to be the industry’s benchmark calls for widespread use of the technique of downsizing of internal combustion engines. Meanwhile, after standing out as a pioneer of the technology in the 1970’s through motorsport, Renault is gradually extending turbocharging across its range. Innovations@Renault sees Renault present three engine-related innovations which take this approach even further:
- Twin-turbocharging to improve performance further while at the same time reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
- Tilted engines which take up less space.
- Steel pistons for reduced internal friction with F1-inspired geometry
A tilt of 49 degrees for the three-cylinder engine
This innovation consists in modifying the Energy TCe 90 engine’s angle of tilt to permit its use when space is at a premium because of the vehicle’s architecture. The resulting angle led to the revision of approximately half its component parts.
The engine is equipped with an electric waste gate which is precision-controlled to minimize CO2 emissions and enhance driving enjoyment. It also comes with the recent innovations aimed at reducing friction (variable-displacement oil pump and special surface treatments, notably of the pistons and cam followers).
This innovation reduces the space taken up by the powertrain and opens up opportunities for new vehicle architectures.
Twin-turbocharging
Twin-turbocharging opens up new opportunities for the downsizing of internal combustion engines in order to enhance driving enjoyment while at the same time optimizing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Used by high-performance diesel engines, this technology features two turbochargers in-line which enable acceleration response to be optimized at all engine speeds:
- The first turbo is of the very low inertia type and permits the delivery of high levels of torque (upwards of 220 Nm/liter) at low engine speeds. The benefit is more responsive pull-away and mid-range acceleration performance.
- The second, bigger turbo functions in association with the first to provide high power (100 hp/liter) at high engine loads, from mid-range revs.
The use of twin-turbocharging for diesel engines reconciles the quest for torque at low revs and high-end power. The engine functions at a speed that ensures optimal efficiency to provide low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in line with the pleasure derived by the driver.
Steel pistons inspired by F1 design
Given that steel dilates less than aluminum when hot, steel pistons dilate less than their aluminum counterparts, resulting in smaller clearances between the pistons and cylinder walls at high temperatures. There is consequently less friction which in turn enhances combustion efficiency for estimated CO2 emissions savings of around three percent (NEDC cycle).
Although heavier, steel is also more rigid, which means that pistons can be machined along their length, allowing the skirts to be shortened to maintain the same overall mass as an aluminium assembly. This principle is similar to that seen in Formula 1. Indeed, Renault’s research and development work to improve its production engines capitalizes on the brand’s expertise as an F1 engine maker which has seen it claim 12 Constructors’ world titles.
Source: Renault
Romain’s opinion:
Those technologies are very innovative for gasoline engines. However, they are expensive to implement from a manufacturing and product cost perspective. Don’t you think Renault should develop low cost engines to conquer emerging markets instead of focusing on mature markets where sales are stagnating?
Je pense que Renault est contraint d’améliorer la technologie de leurs moteurs diesels, la norme Euro VI arrivant, de même que le nouveau cycle de mesure de la consommation pour l’homologation, le WLTC. La bonne question selon moi est : est-ce que ce sera suffisant ?
Nous le verrons en 2014! Mais pour moi ils passeront les normes Euro6 y compris avec le cycle WLTC
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