• time;2024-10-15 10:17:27

We have entered the era of new energy vehicles, and data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that the penetration rate of new energy vehicles exceeds 40%. There is a voice that believes that internal combustion engines are outdated in the face of the tide of the times.

Is the prospect of internal combustion engines really as pessimistic as some people say? On October 10th, the 4th China Internal Combustion Engine Technology Innovation Conference was held in Beijing. Several experts analyzed the development prospects and innovative research results of internal combustion engines, especially hybrid and extended range engines, which helped achieve the "dual carbon" goal and attracted everyone's attention. Research institutions, universities, and enterprises showcased multiple innovative research achievements at the conference, and the application of alternative fuels such as methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia has also brought vitality to the internal combustion engine industry.

The internal combustion engine industry contributes to economic development

In recent years, with the increase in sales of new energy vehicles, the proportion of internal combustion engines in the passenger car industry has declined. However, internal combustion engines are not only used in passenger cars, but also extensively used in various fields such as ships, agricultural machinery, and engineering machinery, becoming an indispensable source of power for them.

The stable power output of internal combustion engines has made important contributions to the development of the national economy. According to data provided by the China Internal Combustion Engine Industry Association, the internal combustion engine industry experienced steady economic growth in 2021. The total output of internal combustion engines exceeded 82 million units, a year-on-year increase of 1.4%, and the total power exceeded 2.8 billion kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of about 2%. The total import and export volume was 30.847 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 22.61%.

In 2022, China's economy was affected by the epidemic and the internal combustion engine industry was in a stage of adjustment. The total sales volume of internal combustion engines in the industry was 76.08 million units, a year-on-year decrease of 8%. Due to factors such as decreased production and increased raw material costs, the total power was 2.72 billion kilowatts. The total import and export volume of the internal combustion engine industry was 30.086 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of -2.47%, of which exports were 21.284 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 6.27%.

In 2023, the internal combustion engine industry will experience recovery growth, with a total sales volume of 78.017 million units, a year-on-year increase of 2.54%, and a total power of 2.93 billion kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 7.7%. With the growth of production and sales volume, improvement of product costs, and enhancement of management, the industry's main business revenue and total profit increased by 11% and 32.3% year-on-year, respectively. The total import and export volume was 30.995 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 3.02%, of which the export volume was 22.316 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 4.85%.

A series of numbers are in front of us, and no one can ignore the important contributions made by the internal combustion engine industry to the development of China's economy.

What are the innovative achievements of China's internal combustion engine industry at this innovation conference? From the results announced by the China Association of Internal Combustion Engineers, it can be seen that although we have gone through a difficult period in recent years, the internal combustion engine industry has not stopped innovating. From 2020 to 2024, a total of 2 special prizes, 9 first prizes, and 100 second and third prizes were awarded in the Internal Combustion Engine major at the Mechanical Industry Science and Technology Awards.

In 2022, five series of standards including JB/T 13202.1-2017 "Diesel Engine Particulate Capture System Part 1: General Technical Conditions" under the jurisdiction of the National Internal Combustion Engine Standardization Committee won the second prize of China Standard Innovation Contribution Award.

In July 2023, the China National Intellectual Property Administration announced the "Decision on the Award of the 24th China Patent Award" (GZFZ [2023] No. 30). The projects recommended by the China Association of Internal Affairs won a gold award and an excellent award, and the China Association of Internal Affairs won the "Outstanding Organization Award of the 24th China Patent Award".

In October 2023, the "Research and Application of Key Technologies for Urea Water Solution and Emission Testing and Certification for Diesel Engines" completed by the China Internal Cooperation Association won the second prize of the Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award.

Future Development Trends of Internal Combustion Engine Industry

Historical experience tells us that lying on the credit book and eating old books is destined to be thrown down by the wheels of history. The internal combustion engine industry has a glorious history, facing the national "dual carbon" strategy, the next stage of emission regulations, and fuel consumption limits. What is the future development trend of internal combustion engines? Several experts conducted analysis.

Su Wanhua, an academician of the CAE Member and a professor of Tianjin University, believes that the advanced internal combustion engine is a new productivity based on the theory of low commission loss and intelligent control technology, which is a major demand for national economic and social development; The development goal of advanced internal combustion engines is to save fuel, reduce carbon emissions, be clean, and achieve zero carbon emissions; The fuel saving and cleaning of advanced internal combustion engines are based on the actual operating conditions of the engine; Dynamic intelligent combustion control technology has important energy-saving, carbon reduction, and emission reduction significance; Advanced internal combustion engines require strong promotion and application of theoretical innovation, technological innovation, and AI intelligent control technology.

He Hong, an academician of the CAE Member, made an in-depth analysis on the technical route of carbon pollution coordinated control of internal combustion engines, and showed us the research ideas and results. He Hong believes that the internal combustion engine industry should develop independent exhaust purification and post-treatment systems, with a focus on pollution reduction and collaborative carbon reduction. To couple the engine and aftertreatment system, achieve pollution reduction, carbon reduction, and synergistic efficiency enhancement. To develop carbon neutral internal combustion engines and their post-treatment technologies to achieve deep carbon reduction.

Shu Gequn, Secretary of the Party Committee and Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, believes that the impact of the dual carbon strategy on China is comprehensive; The dual carbon strategy has promoted technological progress and innovation in the field of energy and power; Efficiency and cleanliness are the eternal themes of internal combustion engines; Internal combustion engine technology workers should proactively adapt to various challenges brought about by the dual carbon strategy; I hope that through everyone's efforts, we can bring a clean, efficient, and comfortable power revolution to future human transportation.

Enterprise innovation is a highlight

1) Li Zhijie, the director of Weichai Power Engine Research Institute, reported the recent research and development achievements to everyone. Weichai has made efforts in traditional engine technology. He mentioned that upgrading from National V to National VI would result in significant benefits for Weichai products in reducing NOx emissions. It is expected that by 2028, the cumulative reduction of NOx emissions will exceed 3.9 million tons. Upgrading from National VI to National VII will reduce the NOx emission benefits caused by differences in emission limits, and stricter emission limits will increase carbon emissions. Regardless of NOx emissions or carbon emissions, promoting hybrid technology routes combined with intermediate emission reduction requirements can achieve greater "user benefits+emission reduction benefits". He suggested that in the next stage of emission regulations, consideration should be given to the application scenarios of internal combustion engines such as hybrid, and flexible regulations and policies should be formulated to achieve energy-saving and emission reduction effects.

Weichai expects to achieve a 15% reduction in carbon emissions and a 90% reduction in PM on natural gas engines. By adopting a natural gas+hybrid power system, the carbon reduction capacity has been further increased to 28%, which can better meet the 2030 carbon peak requirements. He advocates providing policy and regulatory support for natural gas internal combustion engines and hybrid power systems to meet the carbon peak targets of commercial vehicles in stages.

Weichai is also developing ammonia and hydrogen internal combustion engines. The Weichai 13L ammonia diesel engine has an ammonia substitution ratio of 69% in common operating conditions and a maximum effective thermal efficiency of 48.8%. The ammonia engine is also facing difficulties, and they are working hard to tackle them.

2) Wang Hui, Deputy Chief Engineer of Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd., focused on the research and development of key technologies for hydrogen internal combustion engines and their prospects. Yuchai's hydrogen internal combustion engine will be launched in small batches in December 2025. It is reported that the K05H and K15H hydrogen internal combustion engines have significant zero carbon emission advantages compared to traditional power sources, and can achieve CCER carbon trading. Compared to hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen internal combustion engines also have obvious advantages, such as low purchase cost, low usage cost, long service life, and low maintenance cost. Wang Hui said that it is used in various application scenarios such as urban public transportation and heavy trucks.

3) Xu Guangfu, Chief Engineer of the Powertrain Development Institute of FAW Jiefang Commercial Vehicle Development Institute, focused on the zero carbon internal combustion engine technology for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Both hydrogen and ammonia internal combustion engines have technical difficulties, and Xu Guangfu focused on how they tackle these technical challenges. In response to the difficulties of abnormal combustion control, power and NOx balance, and slow transient response in hydrogen internal combustion engines, key technologies such as ultra lean combustion, hydrogen air mixture optimization, ignition parameter optimization, high reinforcement low moment of inertia turbocharging, EGR, etc. will be focused on. For ammonia internal combustion engines, key technologies such as jet flame ignition, high-pressure direct injection system and control in liquid ammonia cylinders, intelligent mixing dilution forced ventilation, and integration of ammonia cracking unit and post-treatment unit will be focused on tackling the difficulties of ammonia fuel combustion, blank high-pressure direct injection technology in liquid ammonia cylinders, oil emulsification, and emission post-treatment.

4) Zhang Wei, Deputy Director of the Technology Center of Shaanxi Diesel Engine Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., talked about the innovation of high-efficiency combustion technology for medium speed large bore gas engines. He mentioned that the main combustion chamber is well matched with the active pre combustion chamber, which can achieve lean ignition of 400mm cylinder diameter gas engines; The gas supply pressure of the active precombustion chamber, the structure, clearance, position of the spark plug, and the ignition timing all affect the ignition effect of the precombustion chamber; When the optimal air-fuel ratio test of the engine reached 1.81, the highest effective thermal efficiency exceeded 43.05%, and the highest indicated thermal efficiency was 51.4%; Active precombustion chamber, as a simple and efficient in cylinder ignition technology solution, has achieved good results in the development of medium speed large bore gas engines. This technology solution has broad prospects in the development of new fuel engines.

5) As is well known, Geely is at the forefront in the field of methanol vehicles. Yuan Shuang, Chief Engineer of Forward looking Technology Development at Geely Automotive Powertrain Research Institute, shared their research and development achievements, "Development of Geely Thor Power Alcohol Hydrogen High Thermal Efficiency Power Products". It is reported that with years of accumulation and exploration, Geely Thunder Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine has broken through 46% thermal efficiency, leading the world. In 2023, Geely Thunder Power achieved both gasoline engine lean burn BTE46% and hydrogen lean burn BTE46% simultaneously.

Especially touching is that Yuan Shuang mentioned that Geely Thunder God Power is willing to share advanced development achievements with the industry. Many companies regard technological leadership as an industry barrier, but Geely Thunder God is willing to progress together with the industry. This courage and spirit are destined to ensure that the internal combustion engine industry will not become outdated.

Innovation in universities and research institutes is the support

Professor Dai Longwu Qiang, Assistant Researcher Wang Yang at Dalian University of Technology, gave a report on the application of JCCI technology - efficient combustion research of low-carbon/zero carbon fuel engines. Professor Liu Long from Harbin Engineering University gave a report on the development of ship hydrogen fusion internal combustion power technology under the background of ship self consistent energy. Professor Liu Haifeng from the National Key Laboratory of Advanced Internal Combustion Power at Tianjin University gave a report on efficient and clean ignition and compression ignition combustion research of methanol engines. Han Linghai, CEO of the Red Flag Honghu Hybrid Platform at the R&D Institute of China FAW Group Co., Ltd., gave a report on the development concept and practice of internal combustion engines on the Red Flag Honghu Hybrid Platform. Professor Zhang Yangjun from Tsinghua University gave a report on the development and power technology research of flying vehicles. Several experts introduce the research trends and achievements of internal combustion engine technology from different research fields and directions, providing support for the innovative development of internal combustion engines and assisting in their transformation and upgrading.