DIESEL COLD START USING CATALYTICALLY ASSISTED IGNITION

IT WOULD BE VERY DESIRABLE TO DEVELOP A RELIABLE COLD START/COLD RUN TECHNOLOGY WHICH WOULD ENABLE RAPID START-UP WITH LOW ENERGY REQUIREMENTS, NO OPERATING PERFORMANCE LOSSES, NO USE OF AUXILIARY FUELS, AND FULLY MOBILE CAPABILITIES. SUCH A TECHNOLOGY WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE RELIABILITY OF OPERATIONS IN COLD CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHERE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE MOBILITY IS IMPORTANT. THIS PROPOSAL OFFERS A CATALYTICALLY ASSISTED IGNITION SYSTEM TO ENABLE VERY COLD DIESEL STARTING. IN ADDITION TO RESOLVING COLD START/COLD RUN PROBLEMS, THIS TECHNOLOGY ALSO HOLDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE STARTUP IN GENERAL AND TO IMPROVE STARTUP PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER CETANE FUELS. PHASE I WILL ENTAIL PROOF-OF-CONCEPT TESTING COMBUSTING DIESEL FUEL IN FRIGID AIR AND DEVELOP ENGINEERING DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR PHASE II. PHASE II WILL DEVELOP, BUILD AND COLDTEST A PROTOTYPE DIESEL ENGINE.