Twin Mechanical Variable Lift Hydra - Ricardo

Ricardo Advanced Research Engines – Single cylinders
Ricardo Single Cylinder Research Engines
Twin Mechanical
Variable Lift Hydra
The Ricardo Hydra is a light-duty single cylinder research engine
ideal for combustion system studies or advanced research as well
as component and product development.
The Ricardo TMVL Hydra is a light duty
single cylinder research engine designed for
controlled auto-ignition combustion studies or
similar advanced research.
Homogeneous charge compression ignition
(HCCI) or controlled auto-ignition (CAI) is a
combustion mode where combustion initiates
simultaneously at multiple sites and therefore
there is little or no flame propagation. This
leads to low temperature combustion and thus
low NOx levels which is the key attraction of
CAI.
The TMVL Hydra achieves CAI in different ways
but the most common is to use a high level
of residual gas, either by retaining it or reinducting
it via EGR.
1 Trapping (Residual)
1-2-3-4-1 External EGR
1-2-1 Exhaust re-induction (Internal EGR)
1-4-1 Intake re-induction
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Ricardo Advanced Research Engines – Single cylinders
The Valvetronic Variable Valve
Actuation System
The Valvetronic system provides variable lift, period and timing for the
inlet valve and variable timing for the exhaust valve. It achieves this by
using phasers for the inlet and exhaust camshafts and an additional
mechanical lever to give variable lift and period for the inlet valve.
Ricardo offers advanced single cylinder research engines as part of a package of equipment and services. The
package can be built up as each customer requires, depending on which elements are needed.
The Valvetronic valvetrain is used on the Ricardo TMVL CAI Hydra research engine. The original TMVL engine is a 4
cylinder, 2.0 litre BMW N42 engine modified by Ricardo to use Valvetronic systems on both the inlet and exhaust
valves. The TMVL engine has been used by Ricardo for research studies on SI and CAI combustion with port fuel
injection.
The TMVL Hydra is normally supplied with Ricardo’s own ECU, the rCube NVC controller.
The Ricardo rCube ECU has been calibrated for both SI and CAI operating ranges. The calibration software
is supplied with a pre-configured experiment. Using this experiment, it is possible to change the following
parameters:
• Operating mode
• Fuelling (quantity and timing)
• Spark timing
• Valve lift (inlet and exhaust)
• Valve timing (inlet and exhaust)
• Fuel rail pressure
• Throttle position
• EGR valve position
Engine Specification
Bore
86.0 mm
Stroke
86.0 mm
Number of cylinders 1
Capacity
500 cc
Compression ratio 10.5:1
Valves / cylinder 4
Combustion system
Gasoline DI – homogeneous charge
Aspiration
Naturally aspirated
Maximum speed
4,500 rev/min
Minimum speed
1,200 rev/min
Maximum power
24 kW
Maximum torque
46 Nm
Fuel injection system
Bosch injector from VW FSI engine
Valve actuation system
BMW Valvetronic units
ECU
rCube NVC Unit
If your company is interested in Ricardo research engines then please contact us
for further information:
Glen Hall
Projects Coordinator Engineer
T: +44 (0)1273 794469
F: +44 (0)1273 794111
Email: Glen.Hall@ricardo.com
Ricardo UK Ltd
Shoreham Technical Centre
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
BN43 5FG
Email: ResEng@ricardo.com
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www.ricardo.com