Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has developed a next generation sealing technology, Levitex, to reduce emissions in automotive engines, as part of its Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) initiative.
The LESS initiative, which is a portfolio of products designed to help reduce friction, is aimed at the automotive companies looking to reduce emissions.
A friction-free crankshaft seal, Levitex interacts with a mating ring to form a cushion of air, which enables the engine to reduce frictional losses. Levitex can reduce 0.5g of CO2 emissions per kilometer.
The company is currently testing the prototypes at a German automaker and at an independent university. It has plans to take Levitex into regular production in 2017.
Levitex project manager Soren Neuberger said that the basic idea behind Levitex comes from a Freudenberg corporate partner, Burgmann Automotive, the Bavarian equipment manufacturer who produces gas-lubricated mechanical seals for industrial applications, especially in turbines.
"The seals had a unique design: The rotary movement between the outer and inner slide rings produces a cushion of air, allowing the seal to function practically friction-free," Neuberger added.
