akirby Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/news/a31657/koenigseggs-camless-engine-getting-close-to-production-in-china/ I think the software learning curve will be steep to get it to perform optimally under all scenarios and at higher rpm and power levels. The ability to change the valve timing and duration individually is very interesting. You get the option of changing the engine from a 2 valve to a 3 valve or 4 valve or any combination in a millisecond. It certainly reduces the amount of oil required to lubricate the top end and the parasitic engine drag. It will be interesting to see how it scales in size and power and longevity, although I assume you could change out valve bodies just like injectors. I wonder why they went port and not direct injection. Seems that would yield more immediate co trio over the fuel. I don't see anything that would be prohibitively expensive either. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 I read this article when it was first published. It's a very interesting concept. Now if they can perfect the software to be able to change timing on the fly or with the flip of a switch, you could potentially have the most versatile engine ever. Go from hi torque towing to hitting the drag strip at the flip of a switch, what a concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 You wouldn't need a switch - the software could change it as needed on the fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) The switch is proverbial Let me clarify. The switch would be something (probably on a touchscreen) that tells the software what mode to be in. I don't see an adaptive "on the fly" type of software being viable. Edited March 18, 2017 by fuzzymoomoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevensecondsuv Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) Not much detail there. Does this use an electric actuator on an otherwise normal-ish set of intake and exhaust valves or are the valves completely different? I'm just wondering what longevity is going to be like with the electric actuators, especially on the exhaust side. Obviously one of the issues that would need to be solved before mass implementation. Edited March 18, 2017 by Sevensecondsuv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Not much detail there. Does this use an electric actuator on an otherwise normal-ish set of intake and exhaust valves or are the valves completely different? I'm just wondering what longevity is going to be like with the electric actuators, especially on the exhaust side. Obviously one of the issues that would need to be solved before mass implementation. The YouTube video shows pneumatic/hydraulic valves with electric controls. If nothing else, it looks very expensive... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevensecondsuv Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 (edited) The YouTube video shows pneumatic/hydraulic valves with electric controls. If nothing else, it looks very expensive... Pneumatic valves sound like an, ummm, "interesting" choice of mechanism for something that has to cycle upwards of 60 times per second. Not saying they didn't make it work, but it just seems to me that the mechanical camshaft is a far better solution to the problem. Of course independent electronic control of each valve opens up some very interesting options for tuning. Edited March 19, 2017 by Sevensecondsuv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 There's a lot of potential for increased power density and with that, further downsizing. I sure hopt that reliability follows technology but somehow, I doubt they've licked all the issues.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackinaw Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Renault develop a camless engine for F1 racing many years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justins Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 (edited) Christian von Koenigsegg is on the record as saying cams will be a thing of the past in 10 years. And that was 4 years ago. http://jalopnik.com/koenigsegg-says-camshafts-will-disappear-from-productio-453518481 Edited March 20, 2017 by justins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 A Chinese Auto manufacture was showing off a Camless engine they where developing with Koenigsegg engine development program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 I read this article when it was first published. It's a very interesting concept. Now if they can perfect the software to be able to change timing on the fly or with the flip of a switch, you could potentially have the most versatile engine ever. Go from hi torque towing to hitting the drag strip at the flip of a switch, what a concept. Or an opportunity to further downsize capacity and take the added fuel efficiency.and weight saving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 (edited) I don't think the software is really that big of a challenge. Start be simply mimicking what is there and then just add cylinder-by-cylinder intake/exhaust advance retard. Worst case, 2 processors with shared memory would be required. Maybe 3 for Vee engines or if quad valve engine have different timing for the pairs. Of course a true hardware cam angle detector, acurate to +/- 1/2 degree would help by being a second "clock" onside the processor. Edited March 21, 2017 by theoldwizard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 I don't think it will be difficult to get software that allows the engine to run. But optimizing performance under all conditions and learning how to individually control the valves to get the max performance, durability and mpg is going to take years if not decades. Look at the auto-manual trans - how long did it take to get it driveable under normal circumstances and not herky-jerky. There is always a learning curve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Here is another interesting read on the subject: http://hackaday.com/2016/02/16/where-are-all-the-camless-engines/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Van Sickle Jr Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 In a training session for the International 466E back in 1997 or so the instructor told us International was working them on a camless diesel. He also said to expect it within the next 5 to 10 years. Never happened. Perhaps the technology is much better 20 years later? After all it is an intriguing idea and concept. There are some videos on You Tube about camless engines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 In a training session for the International 466E back in 1997 or so the instructor told us International was working them on a camless diesel. He also said to expect it within the next 5 to 10 years. Never happened. Perhaps the technology is much better 20 years later? After all it is an intriguing idea and concept. There are some videos on You Tube about camless engines I heard about camless engines around the same time, but someone I know (an EE who worked for Ford at the time) said that it wasn't likely any time soon, mainly because of the inadequacy of the available materials. Materials science has advanced quite a bit over the last 20 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Improvements in conventional camshaft engines has also delayed the need to switch, I wonder if electrification has taken away a lot of focus and the need for camless engines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.