Fuel injection systems for high-speed direct injection diesel engines

Abstract: This chapter reviews development of HSDI diesel engine fuel injection equipment, from pump-line-nozzle systems of the 1980s, to the latest high pressure common rail systems in production today. The Bosch VE distributor pump was widely used until the 1990s. The next development was addition of electro-mechanical actuators and electronic controls, with the Lucas EPIC (Electronically Programmed injection control) fuel injection system in1992 and Bosch VP44 pump introduced in 1996. The first generation of common rail was introduced by Bosch in 1997. This was followed by similar systems from Denso and Lucas (now Delphi). Allthese first generation systems used solenoid actuators and operated at peak pressures between 1300 and 1400 bar. Further generations with solenoid and piezo actuators and increasing pressure up to 2000 bar are reviewed for each manufacturer. Common rail operating principles are explained, as well as electronic control systems, covering ECU hardware, sensors, actuators and software. Finally future trends are discussed.