Precision In-Cylinder Pressure Sensor System for Heavy Duty Diesel Engines

Military engine performance can be optimized for power and efficiency despite variable fuel properties if combustion chamber pressure can be measured in real-time. Unfortunately, IC engine pressure sensors are mostly confined to research applications due to their cost. A commercial off-the-shelf sensor will run anywhere from $900 - $3,000, depending on accuracy, use environment and other specifications. Mide proposes to build on more than a decade of experience with IC engine sensing and control to develop and test an accurate real-time pressure measurement system that will continuously measure and evaluate combustion pressure in diesel engine cylinders. Mide has already developed, built and tested a low-cost, internal-combustion pressure sensor that can be integrated into an IC engine at a commercial retail price of less than $1 per cylinder at volume. The innovative method is grounded in proven technology that can be adapted to fit and retro-fit on all kinds of engine types: SI, CI, and alternative engine technologies. Mide will leverage this innovative pressure sensing method, and its vast experience with data acquisition in harsh environments, to develop and test the high data-rate real-time data acquisition system capable of delivering accurate pressure data for less than $150 for a six-cylinder engine.