Technology  

Engine developers have started to implement the use of more sophisticated technology. Here are four ways that modern engines have changed and advanced. 

An engine has always been the heart of a vehicle. Over the years, engine developers have started to implement the use of more sophisticated technology. Here are four ways that modern engines have changed and advanced.

Improved Efficiency

When gas was only 18 cents a gallon, most drivers were not overly concerned with their vehicle’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, the increased price of crude oil and environmental pollution forced automakers to make some big changes. Fuel injection was the first significant upgrade.

In comparison to older carbureted engines, fuel-injected engines guzzle less gas and produce fewer emissions. Because of its lighter weight, more engines are being constructed with aluminum opposed to iron. Some modern engines also feature a cylinder deactivation system. This ingenious technology effectively decreases fuel consumption at cruising speeds.

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Smaller Size with No Reduction in Power

During the muscle car era of the 1960s, car companies had a reputation for installing extremely large engines. However, there are some advantages to having a smaller engine under the hood. A compact engine helps balance out the car's weight. This usually equates to improved handling.

By using a dynamometer from Power Test Inc. and similar providers, engineers are able determine just how much power an engine is producing a given time. They can then tune the engine to deliver just the right amount of performance. Direct-injection technology and turbochargers also enable tiny engines to match the power of much larger engines.

Easier to Detect Problems

Modern technology has made it a lot easier for car owners to maintain their engine. All vehicles manufactured after 1995 have an OB2 computer system. If the engine is misfiring, your service light will activate. The diagnostic system makes it possible for repair shops to quickly track down problems. The majority of new vehicles also benefit from an oil life monitor. Instead of simply estimating when to change the oil, drivers can rely upon the monitor.

Ability to Use Different Fuels

The arrival of knock sensors allows modern engines to use multiple fuels. These special sensors are designed to detect any donation. Donation can definitely cause significant damage to the engine, In the event that you accidentally fill your engine with the wrong octane, the on-board computer will immediately protect the engine. Furthermore, some engines can now use hybrid fuels such as E85.

As the automotive world continues to advance, electric motors may one day replace the gas engine. Drivers should enjoy these masterpieces while they last.

By Anica Oaks

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Author Bio - A recent college graduate from University of San Francisco, Anica loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here.

 Biofuels  

A Korean research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has reported, for the first time, the development of a novel strategy for microbial gasoline production through metabolic engineering of E. coli.

For many decades, we have been relying on fossil resources to produce liquid fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and many industrial and consumer chemicals for daily use. However, increasing strains on natural resources as well as environmental issues including global warming have triggered a strong interest in developing sustainable ways to obtain fuels and chemicals.

Gasoline, the petroleum-derived product that is most widely used as a fuel for transportation, is a mixture of hydrocarbons, additives, and blending agents. The hydrocarbons, called alkanes, consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Gasoline has a combination of straight-chain and branched-chain alkanes (hydrocarbons) consisted of 4-12 carbon atoms linked by direct carbon-carbon bonds.

Previously, through metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli (E. coli), there have been a few research results on the production of long-chain alkanes, which consist of 13-17 carbon atoms, suitable for replacing diesel. However, there has been no report on the microbial production of short-chain alkanes, a possible substitute for gasoline.

Now, in a paper "Microbial Production of Short-chain Alkanes," published online in Nature, a Korean research team led by Distinguished Professor Sang Yup Lee of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) reported, for the first time, the development of a novel strategy for microbial gasoline production through metabolic engineering of E. coli.

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The research team engineered the fatty acid metabolism to provide the fatty acid derivatives that are shorter than normal intracellular fatty acid metabolites, and introduced a novel synthetic pathway for the biosynthesis of short-chain alkanes. This allowed the development of platform E. colistrain capable of producing gasoline for the first time. Furthermore, this platform strain, if desired, can be modified to produce other products such as short-chain fatty esters and short-chain fatty alcohols.

In this paper, the Korean researchers described detailed strategies for 1) screening of enzymes associated with the production of fatty acids, 2) engineering of enzymes and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways to concentrate carbon flux towards the short-chain fatty acid production, and 3) converting short-chain fatty acids to their corresponding alkanes (gasoline) by introducing a novel synthetic pathway and optimization of culture conditions. Furthermore, the research team showed the possibility of producing fatty esters and alcohols by introducing responsible enzymes into the same platform strain.

Lee said, "It is only the beginning of the work towards sustainable production of gasoline. The total is rather low due to the low metabolic flux towards the formation of short-chain fatty acids and their derivatives. We are currently working on increasing the total, yield and productivity of bio-gasoline. Nonetheless, we are pleased to report, for the first time, the production of gasoline through the metabolic engineering of E. coli, which we hope will serve as a basis for the metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable resources."



SOURCE  KAIST

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