Automotive components supplier Federal-Mogul has introduced an Elastothermic piston that cab used in the powertrains of the compact gasoline vehicles.
The new piston is claimed to enable the vehicle manufacturers to increase power density and compression ratios without reducing refinement or durability.
According to the company, the new piston combines the low mass and low friction of its Elastoval gasoline piston design with cooling gallery design, which is located higher in the crown of the piston.
The new design is claimed to reduce the crown temperature, decreasing the risk of detonation, or knocking in hotter, higher pressure engines as well as maintaining high structural strength.
Federal-Mogul Powertrain chief technology officer Gian Maria Olivetti said that the new Elastothermic gallery-cooled gasoline piston enables the downsized engines to run at higher power levels and compression ratios with low NVH and more durability.
"Engine manufacturers continue to utilize higher levels of turbocharging to improve COemissions, fuel economy and performance," Olivetti said.
The tests conducted by the company on the new piston have revealed that it decreases the piston crown temperature by 25K to 30K.
Production of the new Elastothermic pistons is scheduled to start during 2013, while the vehicle manufacturers in Asia, North America and Europe are developing engines based on the piston at Federal Mogul's R&D-center in Nuremberg, Germany.
