Advanced Copper-and-Brass Heat Exchangers Well Suited for Clean Diesel Passenger Vehicles
NEW YORK--The availability of new fuels and new exhaust treatment systems has ignited interest in diesel engines for passenger vehicles, SUV and light trucks. According to the International Copper Association, superior durability and high cooling efficiency make CuproBraze® heat exchangers especially well suited to these new small “clean diesel” engine applications.
Diesel engines have long been recognized for their superior fuel efficiency compared to spark ignition engines. Now that ultra-low emission diesel engines have been developed and ultralow-sulfur diesel fuel is widely available, diesel engines will be used in a growing number of vehicle classes.
High-pressure fuel injection systems and optimized air-fuel mixtures have contributed to more efficient combustion. Modern diesel engines electronically control the amount and timing of fuel injection, according to the engine speed and data from various other sensors. Another revolution in diesel engine technology is the common rail system, which is a modern variant of a high-pressure, direct injection system for diesel engines. Several technologies for diesel exhaust treatment are also being pursued, including selective catalytic reduction, NOx storage and conversion and urea-injection catalytic reduction. Even with the development of improved exhaust after-treatment systems, however, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) remains a vital technology for emissions reduction. The best place to eliminate NOx emissions is at the source, i.e., in the combustion chamber. Lowering NOx emissions to the correct order of magnitude is a prerequisite to the efficient use of exhaust treatment systems but EGR introduces a whole new set of conditions that diesel engine designers must confront.
Concisely stated, cooling systems for new diesel engines must operate at elevated temperatures and pressures. CuproBraze heat exchangers, which are made of brazed copper-and-brass, offer more design options, because copper and brass can withstand higher temperatures than aluminum; and cooling efficiency is greater for copper-and-brass heat exchangers.
Clean diesel engines are available now to meet current international emission requirements, and manufacturers are already considering the modifications that must be made to meet the next generation of standards. ”The automotive industry has done an excellent job in refining diesel engines to meet increasingly stringent worldwide emissions standards,” says Nigel Cotton, Automotive Manager for ICA. “However, more innovations are needed to meet new, more demanding standards on the horizon for passenger vehicles, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks and off-road diesel equipment. Incorporating a CuproBraze heat exchanger as part of an overall cooled exhaust gas recirculation system is one technology that deserves further study.”
For more details, contact the International Copper Association, (212) 251-7245 or write to ICA at 260 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016-2401. For more information about CuproBraze, also see the website for the CuproBraze Alliance at www.cuprobraze.com. ICA is a member of the CuproBraze Alliance.
The International Copper Association, Ltd. is the leading organization for the promotion of the use of copper worldwide. The Association’s twenty-nine members represent about 80 percent of the world’s refined copper output, and its six associate members are among the world’s largest copper and copper-alloy fabricators. ICA is responsible for guiding policy, strategy and funding of international initiatives and promotional activities. With headquarters in New York City, ICA operates in 28 worldwide locations through a network of regional offices and copper development associations.