Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®) News

SwRI Motorcycle Development Team develops more advanced method for emissions reduction, expands facilities

San Antonio -- July 1, 2003 -- The Motorcycle Development Team at Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®) has advanced its emissions reduction techniques for motorcycle and recreational vehicle engines. This follows an upgrade to the SwRI motorcycle test facilities in response to meet client requests for small-engine emissions support.

"Very few companies have the capability to perform this type of work," said Brian Birch, Motorcycle Development Team leader and research engineer in the SwRI Engine and Vehicle Research Division. "As the emissions requirements become more stringent, it's harder for smaller companies to know where to focus on improving their engines. With our expertise, we can guide them.

"SwRI works with subcontractors to help a manufacturer get their engines certified," he said. "We perform the initial testing to see where problems need to be addressed so that a manufacturer can pass certification."

Certification tests give manufacturers only the overall test results, basically a pass or fail score - they are not made aware of why they passed or failed, according to Birch. The SwRI motorcycle emissions development system uses a chassis dynamometer combined with a dilution tunnel and five-gas emissions analyzer to measure and record exhaust emissions in near real-time. By comparing the emissions levels throughout the test cycle, the team identifies and focuses on specific engine improvements.

The Institute also has upgraded and expanded its small engine test facilities. This enables the team to offer faster service, enhanced emissions testing and additional data acquisition capabilities. An eddy-current motorcycle chassis dynamometer, full exhaust dilution tunnel, data acquisition and control systems, high-speed test cell computers, high speed combustion measurement system, engine dynamometers, and a motorcycle teardown and inspection facility have been added. This expansion also allows the Institute to provide recreational vehicle engine testing with the addition of an ATV chassis dynamometer.

The Institute offers testing, development and design services for motorcycles, recreational vehicles and other small-engine applications through powertrain component simulation, engine design and optimization, engine control system development, hardware-in-the-loop evaluation, transmission and drivetrain development, laboratory and dynamometer testing, emissions determination and reduction, and environmental testing.

As an independent, multidisciplinary research, development and testing organization, SwRI provides a non-biased, third-party perspective. The SwRI Engine and Vehicle Research Division has achieved certification to ISO 9001, an internationally recognized quality standard, and ISO 14001, an environmental management system standard.

In addition to the emissions development techniques for motorcycle and small recreational vehicle engines, Southwest Research Institute carries more than 50 years of experience in emissions research and testing. The Institute's Automotive Products and Emissions Research Division is internationally known for its fuels, lubricants, and emissions research activities. All three departments of SwRI's Automotive Products and Emissions Research Division are certified to ISO 9002, "Model for Quality Assurance in Production and Installation," and accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 25, "General Requirements for the Competency of Calibration and Testing Laboratories."