Transport technologies

We’re approaching the emissions challenge in an entirely new way: by making internal combustion engines (ICEs) — and the fuels that power them — produce lower levels of emissions while still delivering high efficiencies.

Projections show that the majority of cars on the road will still use combustion engines until at least 2040. So, we believe that in the short to medium term, advanced, efficient ICEs are the most effective way we can reduce CO₂.

Experts and scientists across our global research centers are working in partnerships with the automotive industry, to push these advances forward – to simultaneously address global climate and mobility challenges.

There are a number of variables in an ICE engine that can be altered to achieve higher efficiency and lower emissions, and our range of transportation technologies cut across each of these areas.

Compression ignition engines are the most efficient internal combustion engines on the road today. However, most of these are powered by diesel fuel, and produce significant levels of soot and NOx emissions, which require complex after-treatment.

Gasoline Compression Ignition engines use gasoline fuel – which ignites less readily than diesel – enabling improved mixture formulation prior to combustion, in turn making it easier to control emissions.

GCI significantly enhances the efficiency of the gasoline engine, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 25%. This technology enables ultra-low engine out emissions, while harnessing the efficiency of diesel engines.

The benefits, which can be realized by using market gasoline, can be further enhanced by running the technology on an optimized, low carbon fuel.

We’re exploring many different ways to implement this technology – some of our work is independent and some is done in partnership with automakers, technology developers, and research institutions. One example is our partnership with Mazda, which aims to lower CO₂ on a well-to-wheel basis through the co-development of advanced engines and fuels.

We’re developing an ultra-lean combustion strategy for gasoline engines using Turbulent Jet Ignition (TJI). TJI is a technology that greatly enhances the ignition process, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

The technology enables the combustion to progress in a stable manner when the fuel-air mixture has been diluted with additional air or exhaust gas.

It works by premixing a small quantity of air and fuel in a pre-chamber – a small cavity that is separate from the main combustion chamber. This mixture is then ignited, generating turbulent jets of hot radicals which enter the main combustion chamber, providing a wider distribution of ignition sources than a traditional spark plug.

We have developed considerable understanding of this promising combustion mode, focusing on two distinct approaches: Active and Passive. 

Two approaches

Active:

A spark plug and secondary fuel injector are positioned inside the pre-chamber. This injector introduces a small quantity of fuel, which is then ignited by the spark plug to create the turbulent jet of radicals that ignite the main charge in the combustion chamber. 

Passive:

No secondary injector is required as this approach relies upon the piston design and injection strategy to guide a small quantity of air and fuel into the pre-chamber to be ignited by the spark plug.  

While the two approaches leverage different hardware, both yield greater efficiency and reduced emissions.

This technology has been successfully tested by several technology providers, and Aramco is currently integrating TJI into an advanced gasoline vehicle, which will be showcased in 2020.  If vehicle integrations prove successful, we hope to see it commercialized in the near future. 

Opposed piston engines provide a promising alternate architecture, offering significantly enhanced power and efficiency.

The engine uses two pistons per cylinder, working in opposite reciprocating motion. This design reduces friction and heat losses, bringing greater efficiency, which in turn improves fuel economy and reduces emissions.

This is a versatile solution – the opposed piston engine can be configured to use either spark or compression ignition, and run on gasoline or diesel fuels. When combining the architecture with our other technologies there is the potential to create even greater efficiency and emission reduction benefits.

We’re partnering with other technology developers, such as Achates Power and INNEngine, to explore different ways to construct opposed piston engines.

Mobile Carbon Capture (MCC) is an innovative technology, which can lower the CO₂ footprint of the transport sector.

Refined over nine years by our scientists, the latest variant of the technology can capture up to 25 percent of the CO₂ emitted from a vehicle’s exhaust. The CO₂ is stored on board the vehicle, and can be used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications once offloaded.

We have successfully demonstrated MCC technology in a Ford F-250 pickup truck and a midsize Toyota Camry passenger vehicle. Recently, our team also began integrating the technology into a class 8 heavy-duty truck. By combining MCC with GCI and other efficiency improving technologies, we are aiming to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the CO₂ footprint of the truck.

MCC has the potential to significantly reduce the emissions associated with freight transport, and would be especially viable when applied to captive fleets.