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The regulatory framework of pollutant emissions concerning non-road small internal combustion engines is becoming increasingly challenging. The upcoming scenario threatens to cut out small two-stroke engines because of the fuel short circuit occurring during transfer and exhaust ports overlap, causing the emission of unburned hydrocarbons and reducing engine efficiency. Despite this challenge, small two-stroke engines are unmatched in high power density applications in which weight and autonomy hinder the diffusion of electric technologies. The continuation of small two-stroke engines in the market will thus depend on the capability of mitigating fuel short circuit. From this perspective, some of the Authors found the low-pressure injection technology fulfilling the purpose at engine full load; however, in addition to system complexity and costs, a lack of mixture homogenization was noted at low load.

Two-stroke (2S) engines still play a key role in the global internal combustion engine (ICE) market when high power density, low production costs, and limited size and weight are required. However, they suffer from low efficiency and high levels of pollutant emissions, both linked to the short circuit of fuel and lubricating oil. Low- and high-pressure direct injection systems have proved to be effective in the reduction of fuel short circuiting, thus decreasing unburnt hydrocarbons and improving engine efficiency. However, the narrow time window available for fuel to be injected and homogenized with air, limited to few crank-angles, leads to insufficiently homogenized fuel-air mixtures and, as a consequence, to incomplete combustions. The use of prechambers can be a well-suited solution to avoid these issues.

Modern injection systems are characterized by low cost, light weight and diversified components based on a mature technology. In addition, the constant growth of computational resources allows an in-depth understanding and control of the injection process. In this scenario, increasing interest is presently being paid to understand if an application of such technologies to small two-stroke engines could lead to a return to popularity in place of the more widespread use of the four-stroke engine. Indeed, the possibility of achieving a drastic reduction of both specific fuel consumption and pollutant emissions would completely reverse the future prospect of the two-stroke engine. The authors in previous studies developed a low pressure direct injection (LPDI) system for a 300 cm3 two-stroke engine that was ensuring a performance consistent with a standard four-stroke engine of similar size.

The small two-stroke engine represents a strategic typology of propulsion system for applications in which lightweight and high power density are required. However, the conventional two-stroke engine will not be compliant with forthcoming legislations about pollutant emissions and new solutions, such as electrification, are seriously taken into account by industry to overcome the two-stroke engine drawbacks. In this scenario, a promising way to allow the two-stroke engine to be competitive is represented by the use of direct injection systems, in order to overcome the long-standing issue of short circuiting fuel. The authors in previous studies developed a low-pressure direct injection (LPDI) system for a 300 cm3 two-stroke engine that was ensuring the same power output of the engine in carbureted configuration and raw pollutant emissions consistent with a four-stroke engine of similar performance.

The increase of performance has always been a key topic of the research activities on the internal combustion engines. Nowadays this is even truer as the performance is strictly correlated to the pollutant emissions. In this sense, an interesting approach could be the improvement of the effectiveness of engine control system and optimize the combustion process. To pursue this goal it would be very important to know the in-cylinder pressure during engine operation. The measurement of this quantity is performed generally with a pressure sensor flush mounted on the cylinder head. The measurement is very accurate, but the severe ambient conditions strongly limit the lifetime of these sensors, which, therefore, are not well suited to act as a feedback to the control system of on-road engines. Even though several approaches to measure indirectly the in-cylinder pressure have been developed, their diffusion is still hampered by reliability and sturdiness problems.

High specific fuel consumption and pollutant emissions are the main drawbacks of the small crankcase-scavenged two-stroke engine. The symmetrical port timing combined with a carburetor or an indirect injection system leads to a lower scavenging efficiency than a four-stroke engine and to the short-circuit of fresh air-fuel mixture. The use of fuel supply systems as the indirect injection and the carburetor is the standard solution for small two-stroke engine equipment, due to the necessity of reducing the complexity, weight, overall dimensions and costs. This paper presents the results of a detailed study on the application of an innovative Low Pressure Direct Injection system (LPDI) on an existing 300 cm3 cylinder formerly equipped with a carburetor. The proposed solution is characterized by two injectors working at 5 bar of injection pressure.

High specific fuel consumption and pollutant emissions are the main drawbacks of the small crankcase-scavenged two-stroke engine. The symmetrical port timing combined with a carburetor or an indirect injection system leads to a lower scavenging efficiency than a four-stroke engine and to the short-circuit of fresh air-fuel mixture. The use of fuel supply systems as the indirect injection and the carburetor is the standard solution for small two-stroke engine equipment, due to the necessity of reducing the complexity, weight, overall dimensions and costs. This paper presents the results of a detailed study on the application of an innovative Low Pressure Direct Injection system (LPDI) on an existing 300 cm3 cylinder formerly equipped with a carburetor. The proposed solution is characterized by two injectors working at 5 bar of injection pressure.

In the last years, the engineering in the automotive industry is revolutionized by the continuous research of solutions for the reduction of consumptions and pollutant emissions. On this topic maximum attention is paid by both the legislative bodies and the costumers. The more and more severe limitations in pollutant and CO2 emissions imposed by international standards and the increasing price of the fuel force the automotive research to more efficient and ecological engines. Commonly the standard approach for the definition of the engine parameters at the beginning of the design process is based on the wide-open throttle condition although, both in homologation cycles and in the daily usage of the scooters, the engines work mainly at partial load where the efficiency dramatically decreases. This aspect has recently become strongly relevant also for two wheeled vehicles especially for urban purpose.