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This paper is based upon SP-270 “Powerplants for Industrial and Commercial Vehicles -- A Look at Tomorrow” and the resultant discussion. Stress is laid upon the importance of developing fuels to meet needs of future powerplants, as well as meeting state and federal regulations in regard to emissions. In addition, discussions were held on various type powerplants --present and future -- and their features and performance. The basic conclusion is that there is a need for more horsepower in a lighter package costing less money, with greater fuel economy.

Without energy supply military mobility would not be possible. Liquid petroleum products will continue to supply energy to the military for some time to come. We and our allies will depend on crude reserves within the United States in time of war, so we would have the sizeable problem of delivery to overseas bases. Wartime requirements would affect normal refinery balances, but could be handled. Military equipment must be designed to use available fuels and require a minimum of maintenance.

AN approach to the problem of selecting the optimum compression ratio and spark timing as related to the antiknock qualities of the fuel to be used, has been developed. First it is determined at points throughout the range of engine speeds how far the spark can be advanced before knock appears or power falls off. Then a distributor curve is drawn which is just safely under the curve of maximum permissible spark advance versus engine speed. This information is recorded for each compression ratio under consideration. Finally power output and specific fuel consumption at the spark timing indicated by the distributor curve are compared for the different compression ratios. It has been found that fuels of high sensitivity permit greater spark advance than fuels of low sensitivity.