Press release
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Fuel Quality Sensor helps to protect the Engine
and the Environment
 Reducing the dependency on fossil fuel increases the number of fuel varieties
 Continental is coordinating a consortium that jointly develops an intelligent fuel
quality sensor system as a basis for optimizing engine control
 Target: Optimized fuel injection, efficiency, and driveability, lower consumption
and emissions
Regensburg, September 13, 2011. The global mega trend to reduce the dependency on
fossil fuels to bring down transportation related CO2 emissions has pushed the use of an
increasing number of alternative fuels. These fuels include bio diesels produced from various
ester origins, and fuels with ethanol content (E10+). As the regional strategies to overcome
foreign oil dependency vary, modern world cars will need to be prepared for diverse fuel
qualities. Continental, the international automotive supplier, is coordinating a consortium
named IQ FUEL to develop a highly integrated micro sensor system that determines the
actual fuel composition in the tank. This new Fuel Quality Sensor makes it possible to
optimize the engine control strategy according to the current fuel quality in the tank. In
addition the intelligent sensor can detect substances in the fuel, such as sulfur, the gasoline
water content, additives, and other contaminants. By using this information, engine
components and parts of the exhaust gas after treatment can be protected against possible
influences on their operation and the emissions level.
A new approach to optimize engine management
"Engine management systems face an increasing diversity of fuel qualities today. The
resulting variations in combustion- and pollutant-relevant fuel properties mean that we have
to determine what we inject in the combustion chamber. Otherwise variations will go
unnoticed which would bring down fuel efficiency and cause overly high emissions. The new
intelligent Fuel Quality Sensor will make it possible to tune the engine control strategy
according to the actual fuel quality in the tank and to get the maximum out of the engine at
minimum consumption”, explained Klaus Hau, Head of Continental's Sensor & Actuator
business unit. By early 2012 Continental will be able to provide functional samples of the
sensor micro system to customers.
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Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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Intelligent sensor determines fuel properties
The new sensor is an embedded device that uses a MOEMS component (Micro
OptoElectroMechanical Sensor) to determine fuel composition by measuring light
transmission in the infrared spectrum. This optical measuring principle can be used to detect
many different fuel properties such as density, heat value, cetane and octane number, sulfur
content classification, viscosity and others. A single type of sensor hardware covers both,
diesel and gasoline engine applications. Sensor data are analyzed by embedded
chemiometric models that predict the fuel content based on a single specific parameter.
Once installed, the sensor micro system will monitor the fuel composition and provide this
information to the engine controller. Newly developed software modules in the engine
management system (EMS 3) will be able to adjust core parameters like injection (timing and
quantity). “Whatever the individual OEMs requirement is, the intelligent Fuel Quality Sensor
will provide a starting point for adapting engine management. By integrating the sensor
module in a vehicle and enhancing the engine controller software it will become possible to
compensate fuel quality variations, to optimize engine operation and to protect not only subsystems such as the exhaust gas after-treatment but also the engine itself”, says Gerhard
Böhm, Head of Continental’s Engine System business unit. “The fuel quality sensor will thus
help to ensure constant engine operation despite increasingly unpredictable fuelling options.”
Continental has been delivering fuel sensing solutions for many years and has utilized its
experience (e.g. with flex fuel sensors and cylinder pressure monitoring) to integrate the new
Fuel Quality Sensor and to translate the system’s comprehensive capabilities into engine
management benefits.
Multiple examples of higher efficiency and lower environmental impact
Many more technical highlights reveal just how much the mega trend „Environment“ drives
Continental’s development work:
Continental’s new and innovative exhaust gas turbocharger for compact gasoline engines
supports low environmental impact targets as do the on-demand controlled fuel pump and
the new externally excited synchronous motor for electric vehicles.
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Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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A further highlight is our MK 100® ESC hybrid which is used in vehicles with regenerative
brake systems. The recuperation here focuses on the dominant vehicle deceleration
range (up to 0.2g – dependent on the availability of the generator). To increase the
recuperation efficiency, the hydraulic brake is activated only when there is a strong brake
pedal thrust, whereas with normal braking the braking energy is recuperated
by the generator. Using advantageous materials and components which rely on these
materials is another option to make cars more environmentally friendly. The chosen drive
belt, for instance, can support low-consumption and low-emission engine targets: V-ribbed
belts by ContiTech help to reduce friction losses, plus they work in fuel and CO2 saving start
stop systems. The oil-resistant CONTI® OIL RUNNER ribbed belt replaces chains in oil pump
drive systems and camshaft timing assemblies. This improves emissions and noise levels.
Wheels can also save resources without impacting safety. This is mainly done by bringing
down rolling resistance and simultaneously reducing the stopping distance – most
importantly on wet roads. Development engineers achieved considerable progress on both
levels with the ContiEcoContact 5 which has been available since 2011. The summer tire is
suitable for many types of vehicle and is available in a wide portfolio.
Additionally, with LED Light Control and direct tire pressure monitoring Continental offers
further innovations that lead to greater energy efficiency. And finally: By activating the eco
profile of the Simplify your Drive concept the driver can set all relevant vehicle domains to
maximum energy efficiency at the push of a button.
With sales of €26 billion in 2010, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide.
As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis,
instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental
contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an expert
partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has close to 160,000
employees in 45 countries.
The Automotive Group with its three divisions Chassis & Safety (sales of approximately €5.8 billion
in 2010, 30,000 employees), Powertrain (sales of approximately €4.7 billion in 2010, 27,000
employees) and Interior (sales of approximately €5.5 billion in 2010, 30,000 employees) achieved
sales of approximately €16 billion in 2010. The Automotive Group is present in more than 170
locations worldwide. As a partner of the automotive and commercial vehicle industry, it develops and
produces innovative products and systems for a modern automotive future, in which cars provide
individual mobility and driving pleasure consistent with driving safety, environmental responsibility and
cost-efficiency.
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Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
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The Chassis & Safety Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake and chassis
control systems, sensors, driver assistance systems, airbag electronics and -sensorics, washer
systems and electronic air suspension systems. Its core competence is the integration of active and
passive driving safety into ContiGuard®. The Powertrain Division integrates innovative and efficient
system solutions for vehicle powertrains. The comprehensive range of products includes gasoline and
diesel injection systems, engine management, transmission control, including sensors and actuators,
as well as fuel-supply systems and components and systems for hybrid and electric drives.
Information management is at the very heart of the Interior Division, which provides a range of
products that includes instrument clusters and multifunctional displays, control units, electronic carentry systems, tire-monitoring systems, radios, multimedia and navigation systems, climate control
systems, telematics solutions and cockpit modules and systems.
IQ FUEL is a EURIPIDES project (EUR 07-408 / 2007-2011) that has brought together ten companies
and institutes: Aboard Engineering, Continental, Daimler Truck, ENSIACET (Ecole Nationale
Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques Et Technologiques), IFP Energies nouvelles, Leti, PSA
Peugeot Citroën, Selmic, VTI Technologies, and VTT. EURIPIDES is a part of EUREKA and
concentrates on information & communication technology (ICT) and smart system integration in
particular. (www.euripides-eureka.eu/)
Direct queries and requests for further information to:
Simone Geldhäuser
External Communications
Continental
Powertrain Division
Siemensstr. 12
93055 Regensburg
Phone: +49 941 790-61302
Fax: +49 941 790-99 61302
mailto:simone.geldhaeuser@continental-corporation.com
www.continental-corporation.com
Your contact:
Simone Geldhäuser, Tel: +49 941 790 61302
www.continental-automotive.de