New 2-stroke opposed piston Diesel engines being developed by Achates Power

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but...

For those of you who don't know, there's a company called Achates Power who are looking about bringing back the 2-stroke Diesel engine in opposed-piston form. This is actually quite an old concept, as a German company called Junkers made the Jumo 205, which was also a 2-stroke OP engine, in the 1930's and 1940's. For Achates, they've got a 2.7L 3-cylinder engine running in an F150 ready, but something they're also working on is a 10.6L I3 designed to replace a 13L 4-stroke I6 for use in semi trucks.

Their claim to fame is very high fuel efficiency and a clean burn. (And the ability to surpass uber-stringent 2027 emissions regulations).

One company immediately came to mind when I saw this, and that is EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel, who make locomotives and engines and are famous for their 567, 645, and 710 2-stroke engines). Since Caterpillar own EMD (actually Cat own Progress Rail who in turn own EMD), and EMD have been doing 2-stroke Diesels since 1938, maybe EMD could start making these OP engines in V configurations which (depending on how you interpret it) could mean Cat getting back into the truck market.

Achates claim that 3 cylinders is optimal, but what I really want to see is V6, V8, and V12 OP engines being put in trucks. Imagine this: modern 6V92, 8V92, and 12V92 engines that are clean, efficient, and don't guzzle crankcase oil, yet sound almost exactly like the old 2-stroke Detroits.

They're using EGR and SCR, and I'd expect to see a DPF with active regen fitted as well. (But as efficient as they would be, they'd be, as you all know, even more efficient with the DPF and EGR removed.)

 

Yes, we first need to get the idiot greenies out of the EPA. Or have every manufacturer build emissions-NONcompliant engines with customer-friendly emissions controls (catalytic converter + DEF system with no EGR or DPF).

Their prototype engines have Roots blowers, but I think a screw blower (like a Whipple, but much larger in displacement) would be a better option because they are more efficient.

 

Yes, I believe so.

Should be pretty good given that the effective stroke length is twice to three times the bore diameter.