Design and First Operating Experiences with Extreme Value Research Engine EVE

The extreme value engine project of Helsinki University of Technology, Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory was presented in CIMAC Congress in Hamburg 2001. Since that, the design and the building of the base engine have been completed. The first test runs with 'conventional' power density have also been carried out. This paper gives a general picture of the design of the engine and its control and auxiliary systems, describes theoretical and practical difficulties encountered during the project and the measures they were solved with. Being targeted purely for research purposes and for a very high power density, many extraordinary solutions have been used in the design. Among the unusual details of the engine one can mention combustion chamber shape, crankshaft, cylinder liner, cylinder head, valve arrangement and camshaft free operating system. The auxiliary systems consist of rather large electrical apparatus, charge air, cooling, lubricating and hydraulic systems. There are two control systems to operate the engine: 'main control' for high speed events as fuel injection and valve operation and 'auxiliary control' for slow speed variables as charge air pressure and temperature. Beyond them the engine is equipped with separate measuring system to determine such quantities as fuel and charge air mass flows, cylinder pressure curve and temperatures of engine components. In the description of test results, the weight is in observation of the function of different control and auxiliary systems, the convenience of usage and the characteristics of combustion chamber.