University of Waterloo Takes Top Honors at
Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile 2001
Collegiate Design Competition
JACKSON, Wyo., April 3 To paraphrase the late Mark Twain,
reports of the demise of the two-stroke snowmobile may be highly exaggerated.
Two-stroke entries from the University of Waterloo (Ontario) and Minnesota
State placed first and fourth, respectively, in the second running of an event
that challenges engineering students to design a cleaner and quieter
snowmobile without significantly compromising performance.
A year after the University at Buffalo used a modified 4-stroke snowmobile
to run away with the inaugural Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE
International) Clean Snowmobile 2000 competition, twelve of the 13 entered
schools prepared 4-stroke entries. Two teams -- the University of Waterloo
and Minnesota State -- brought along their 2-stroke powered sleds to the
competition as backups. Colorado State went exclusively with the 2-stroke
format for 2001, but had a terminal mechanical failure and had to withdraw
early from the competition.
When weeks ago it became apparent to the Waterloo team that their new
4-stroke sled needed more testing and development time, they made improvements
to the injection and exhaust systems of the trusty 2-stroke sled that placed
second overall to Buffalo in last year's event. Those improvements paid off
nicely in an overall win in this year's challenge.
First time participants from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan
impressed design judges and spectators alike with a Daihatsu-powered 4-stroke
snowmobile that finished second by a mere nine points. Defending champs
University at Buffalo finished third, 35 points back. Event organizers and
judges were also pleased with the performances by many of the seven first-year
teams entered in the event. In addition to Kettering, two other first-year
teams: the University of Idaho (fifth), and University of Alberta (sixth),
placed in the top half of the field.
The event started off well for Waterloo when they posted 60% or better
reductions in CO, NOx, and unburned hydrocarbons in the rigorous emissions
test versus the "control" snowmobile. The control snowmobile for the 2001
Clean Snowmobile Challenge was a late model Polaris 500cc 2-stroke. Seven of
eight sleds that completed the emissions testing passed the event requirements
(see attached scoring sheet) and also significantly improved upon emissions
versus the control snowmobile. Two-stroke engines have an advantage in
weight, simplicity and high horsepower-to-weight ratios that has made them
popular for high performance off highway applications, but they typically
suffer from incomplete combustion resulting in high hydrocarbon and carbon
monoxide emissions when compared to four-stroke engines. Minnesota State's
2-stroke entry posted even better emissions than did Waterloo, reducing
combined unburned hydrocarbons and NOx by over 79%. The team from Mankato, MN
placed fourth in emissions as well as overall in this year's competition.
Both 2-stroke teams utilized metered fuel injection and a three-way catalytic
converter to clean up their exhaust emissions without adding significant
weight.
Event runners up Kettering University and third-place Buffalo both showed
why four-stroke technology is seen by some as a key to the future of
snowmobiling by reducing combined emissions by 97% versus the standard, or
"control" sled. Buffalo narrowly edged out Kettering for cleanest snowmobile
honors and led a group of seven snowmobiles that reduced unburned hydrocarbons
and NOx emissions by a minimum of 63%.
Rounding out the top five overall was a first-time entry from the
University of Idaho, which lost critical points by exceeding the contest's
strict noise threshold by a mere .3 decibels on one of its full throttle
acceleration runs. All teams had to post a measurement of less than 74
decibels when measured at full throttle from 50 ft. away. The University at
Buffalo again posted the lowest noise measurement (67 dB), but barely missed
the 12-second acceleration mark needed to qualify for the "quietest
snowmobile" award. Kettering University took those honors by turning in a
very quick run of 7.5 seconds at less than 72 dB. Buffalo's 67-decibel rating
represented an approximately 75% reduction in noise from the control (stock)
snowmobile.
The University of Waterloo team got a break Wednesday when, during the
100-mile endurance and fuel economy run, eight of the 12 schools starting the
day dropped out with what turned out to be mostly minor mechanical failures.
All 12 of the teams were again operational for Thursday's events.
In addition to running smoothly through the scenic Yellowstone National
Park course, the Waterloo sled turned in good respectable fuel economy of
almost 20 miles per gallon -- five mpg better than the control sled. Four
inches of new snow made the Yellowstone Park course a less than ideal mileage
test for the teams. Observations from many of the teams during extensive
pre-event testing indicated that fuel mileage of more than 25 mpg has been
regularly observed on groomed trails. Last year Buffalo won the SAE Clean
Snowmobile Challenge economy run on the same trail with 27 mpg.
Environmental engineer Dr. Lori Fussell and Teton County (WY) Commissioner
Bill Paddleford teamed up to create the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge last
year. The two Teton County residents saw a need for improvements in noise and
exhaust emissions from snowmobiles, but also recognized the importance of
maintaining performance and keeping costs down. Dr. Fussell had participated
in SAE Collegiate Design Competitions as an engineering student at the
University of Tennessee, and the pair came to SAE with a proposal to make the
Clean Snowmobile Challenge a part of SAE's extensive schedule of collegiate
events. SAE Collegiate Design events are now held on six continents and host
engineering students from over 150 universities worldwide. Complete list of
SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge award winners:
Award and sponsor Prize money Winning team
First Place overall - U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency $5,000 Univ. of
Waterloo
Second Place overall - International
Snowmobile Manufacturers Assn. $4,000 Kettering Univ.
Third Place overall - Peaks to
Prairies Pollution Prevention $3,000 Univ. at Buffalo
Fourth Place overall - Town of
Jackson, WY $2,000 Minnesota State
Fifth Place overall - Wyoming
Business Council $1,000 Univ. of Idaho
Blue Sky Award for
Lowest Emissions - WestStart $2,000 Univ. at Buffalo
Best Fuel Economy -
U.S. Dept. of Energy $2,000 Univ. of
Waterloo
Quietest Snowmobile - Montana Dept.
Environmental Quality $2,000 Kettering Univ.
Best Design - Society of
Automotive Engineers $2,000 Kettering Univ.
Best Performance - Teton County, WY $2,000 Univ. of
Waterloo
Best Value - Flagg Ranch Resort $2,000 Univ. of
Waterloo
Most Practical Solution -
Wyoming Dept. Environmental Quality $2,000 Univ. of
Waterloo
Hill Climb - Jackson Hole Snow Devils Belt Buckle Univ. of
Waterloo
Founders Trophy for
Most Sportsmanlike Team Trophy Univ. of Kansas
Other competition category winners:
Oral presentation Michigan Tech
Acceleration University of Kansas
Handling Minnesota State
Design Paper University of Waterloo
Static Display University at Buffalo, SUNY
Powerplant choices for this year's SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge were as
varied as the paint schemes, with engines from Polaris, Honda, Suzuki,
Daihatsu, and BMW in engine displacements ranging from 500cc to 929cc in size.
