Improvement of combustion systems of high speed diesel engines with respect to pollution

Today in the marine market and in heavy duty trucks there is no alternative to the diesel engine due to its superior fuel economy. In passenger cars the market share is relatively modest. The paper describes the current market position of high speed diesel engines and their prospects particularly with respect to pollution. It is shown that modern diesel engines even without aftertreatment systems have similar low gaseous emissions like gasoline engines with catalysts. One of the most essential development tasks for the years to come will be to create an almost smokeless diesel engine. Strategies to reduce soot generation within the combustion chamber are presented. These strategies are based on advanced research and development technologies such as laser-technique and high speed photography. Multi-dimensional computer simulations of air-motion and mixture formation are of increasing importance. The superiority in fuel economy combined with further improvements in exhaust emissions will strengthen the position of diesel engines in the passenger car market.