Solutions applied in the barrel engines were carefully analysed by Paweł Mazuro’s team. Up to now, the group of researchers has built and tested three engines with various barrel mechanisms. First two prototypes were of 50 cm3 (PAMAR-1) and 600 cm3 (PAMAR-2) capacity and resulted in working out the know-how necessary for building a bigger version of the engine of 3 dm3 (PAMAR-3) capacity.

The prerequisite to begin the project research are promising results of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition combustion mode achieved previously in a large (340 kW) multi-cylinder barrel engine PAMAR-3. Special features of the engine and special design allow investigating ultra-clean HCCI combustion. It is the latest and intensively researched ignition system in reciprocating engines that has never been used on the commercial scale in the World.

 As part of the project the researchers will:

1. The prerequisite to begin the project research are promising results of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition combustion mode achieved previously in a large (340 kW) multi-cylinder barrel engine PAMAR-3.
2. Designing and building PAMAR – 4 (up to 75 kW) barrel engine
3. Specialist research of low-temperatures and ultra-clean HCCI combustion using unique features of the construction such as Variable Compression Ratio, Variable Valve Timing and a possibility of regulating phase angle of the pistons
4.  The optimization of control algorithms compression ignition engine

PAMAR-4 research engine will have:

• cylinders arranged around and parallel to a central shaft, like the chambers of a revolver,
• longitudinal system in-cylinder charge exchange process,
• variable compression ratio,
• changable camshaft phases,
• regulating phsase shift angle so the recyrculation of the exhaust gas is regulated,
• working with up to 300 bar exhaust pressure,
• possibility of doing multiple research of combustion in the cylinder,
• fuel flexibility

Premise for the realisation of this project are also promising results of research and tests done up till now by the team from the Warsaw University of Technology. The research has proved and indicated many advantages of the tested barrel engine PAMAR – 3 ie. reaching the mechanical efficiency of 89% and the overall efficiency of 44%. Such values are uncommon for such small test engines of Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition combustion mode.

This excellent result is due to many aspects of the construction which are:

1. Horizontally opposed pistons and uniflow scavenging of the cylinders (very complex in standard engines).
2. Full axial symmetry of the engine (impossible to achieve in standard engines.
3. Lessening of friction between the piston and cylinder,
4. Very high forced induction of the barrel engine

The finalization of the research and commercial application of HCCI system in the barrel engine would be  a  commercial breakthrough in the area of piston engines leading to lower usage of fuel and a significant lowering the gas emmissions which reflects even more restrictive international regulations on ecology.

The consortium will include teams from Warsaw University of Technology and Norwegian University of Science and Technology - leading technical universities in Poland and Norway. Complementarity of partners' knowledge and their potential allow offering a modern solution for the global automotive industry.

The RangEx project co-funded by the Norwegian funds, under the Polish-Norwegian Cooperation Research conducted by the National Research and Development Centre.