The effect of thermal barrier coatings on diesel engine performance

Ceramic coatings hold significant promise in the reduction of wear and abrasion failure in reciprocating and rotary engines for transportation and stationary power. They also have application as thermal barriers to improve the efficiency of the engines, by reducing energy loss and cooling requirements. In this study, the effects of ceramic coating on the performance of the diesel engine were investigated. The research engine was a four-stroke, direct injected, six cylinder, turbo-charged and inter-cooled diesel engine. This engine was tested at different speeds and loads conditions without coating. Then, the combustion chamber surfaces, cylinder head, valves and piston crown faces were coated with ceramic materials. The layers were made of CaZrO3 and MgZrO3 and plasma coated onto the base of the NiCrAl bond coat. The ceramic-coated research engine was tested at the same operation conditions as the standard (without coating) engine. The results indicate a reduction in fuel consumption and an improving effective efficiency of the engine.