China unveils world’s 1st diesel engine with 53.09% thermal efficiency
The team concentrated effort into optimizing four vital systems: fuel supply, air intake, combustion, and friction reduction.
by Jijo Malayil
Since the invention of the diesel internal combustion engine 127 years ago, engineers and scientists have strived to improve its thermal efficiency.
In a markable advancement, the first diesel engine in history with an intrinsic thermal efficiency of 53.09 percent was unveiled by Chinese firm Weichai Power.
The firm showcased its new technology at the 2024 World Congress on Internal Combustion Engines, which commenced in Tianjin, China.
The accomplishment was recognized by TÜV SÜD, an internationally respected testing organization, and the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, a specialized testing entity for Chinese internal combustion engines.
Leading efficiency innovation
The percentage of diesel combustion energy transferred into useful engine output work without needing a waste heat recovery mechanism is known as the base engine’s thermal efficiency. The engine’s economy improves with the base engine’s increased thermal efficiency.
Weichai Power achieved a noteworthy milestone in this regard on September 16, 2020, when it unveiled a diesel engine that set a new record with a body thermal efficiency of 50.23 percent.
On January 8, 2022, the business made even more progress, raising the engine’s thermal efficiency to 51.09 percent. The company most recently achieved 52.28 percent thermal efficiency on November 20, 2022, surpassing its prior records.
The firm compared to mainstream products, which typically achieve an average thermal efficiency of 46 percent for diesel engines on the market. Deploying thermal efficiency technology in base engines with a 52.28 percent thermal efficiency can lead to a significant 12 percent reduction in both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
Fine-tuning existing technologies
Weichai Power’s research team built on its prior successes by investing over 500 days of concentrated effort into optimizing four vital systems: fuel supply, air intake, combustion, and friction reduction.
The team effectively advanced high-expansion combustion, mixed-flow pressurization, high-efficiency fuel injection, and low-resistance friction-reducing technologies.
A significant milestone was reached due to these advancements, which were attained by little advances of 0.1 percent at a time. The attempt lead to the engine breaking through the 53 percent thermal efficiency barrier for the first time globally. Researchers claim the achievement is comparable to a human running a 100-meter race in under nine seconds.
During this research and development phase, the group received 176 invention patents and 68 utility model patents.
Decreased fuel consumption
Upgrading from a thermal efficiency level of 45–46 percent to 53 percent can increase a diesel engine’s economy by about 14 percent. This figure is based on current estimates of diesel engine ownership in China.
This innovation results in yearly fuel savings of about 31 million tons and a decrease in carbon emissions of 97 million tons.
A heavy-duty tractor with a yearly mileage of 155,342 miles (250,000 kilometers) can save about 12,000 gallons of diesel fuel thanks to this technology. This results in an annual savings of almost $13,529 (98,000 yuan) for the owner, given the market price of diesel fuel at $1.08 (7.8 yuan) per liter.
According to the team, this technical breakthrough will benefit not only transportation but also other industries, such as construction machinery, agricultural equipment, ships, and power generation equipment, among others, adding new benefits.
Please Donate to the Art of Liberty Foundation’s Fundraising Campaign
Hello friends of the Art of Liberty Foundation, Five Meme Friday and the Daily News,
We are in the midst of a fundraising campaign to publish our next major book: Voluntaryism – How the Only “ISM” Fair for Everyone Leads to Harmony Prosperity and Good Karma for All!
We have raised $38,107 (76%) of our $50,000 goal. We need to raise the remaining $11,893 as soon as possible!
We have some outstanding premiums to say thank you!
You can donate via Credit Card @ ArtOfLiberty.org/Sponsor, and we have options for offline mail-in donations and cryptocurrency donations below.
You can watch a short video from Etienne explaining the goal and needs HERE. You can download our Annual Report HERE.
Peter S. who became a $250 Founding Member on Substack wrote me a wonderful note that I would like to quote from:
"You are doing awesome work, and I am happy to support your efforts. You are helping to launch a totally new way of thinking about governments, for which I am most thankful. I have already bought several copies of your book, with the intention of giving them away to others, something which I have almost never done in my life, since your perspectives and take on history needs desperately to be shared far and wide. Even though as a philosophy major in college--before turning organic farmer—I valued books and ideas very highly, yours is a real paradigm changer!"