NSF Award
1058556
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is dedicated to<br/>development and testing of Magnetic Valve System (MVS) enabling implementation of<br/>electronically controlled variable timing on camless internal combustion engines. MVS is an<br/>advanced actuator for intake and exhaust poppet valves utilized in internal combustion engines<br/>for control of flows of fresh charge and exhaust gases. LaunchPoint Technologies, Inc. will<br/>design and build the MVS actuator and demonstrate its operation on an experimental internal<br/>combustion engine. The advantages of MVS technology originate from the nature of the magnetic<br/>spring actuator that provides efficient control of the valve position and speed during valve<br/>opening and closing events. LaunchPoint?s cost-effective and robust technology will enable<br/>implementation of highly anticipated electronically controlled variable valve timing on a mass<br/>production engine.<br/>The broader impacts of this research are a combination of significant improvements<br/>in fuel efficiency, reduction of emissions, and improved power characteristics of conventional<br/>spark ignition and compression ignition engines. When a reliable, electronically controlled<br/>system is delivered, the economic and social impact of this technology will be broad. The MVS<br/>actuator can potentially be used in millions of internal combustion engines employed in<br/>automobiles, trucks, bulldozers, and stationary generators. It will enable implementation of<br/>emerging advanced combustion technologies such as Homogeneous Charge Compression<br/>Ignition and Compressed Air Hybrid. Widespread adoption of MVS actuators would result in<br/>substantial decrease of petroleum usage, adverse effects on the environment such as air pollution<br/>and greenhouse gas production, and improve energy independence.
