DIESEL DESIGNERS FORCE THE PACE.

After many years of gradual development, the diesel engine has, in recent years, begun to develop apace and move into new markets. The search for better fuel economy has dominated diesel design, and has affected the diesel engine in two different ways. In markets which diesel dominates, such as heavy trucks and power generation, designers have adapted existing types of engine, improving economy by attention to detail, and the application of electronic fuel injection control. In the passenger car and light van market, however, completely new, highspeed units have appeared to challenge the established petrol engine. Developments discussed in the article include high-speed pistons, composite materials, air flow modeling, and others.