Frictional Power Minimization in Partially Textured Piston Ring Assembly

A significant share i.e. 60% of the total power loss in a modern automotive engine in form of heat, either from the engine surface or the exhaust pipe, of which the friction losses may vary from 18% to 20% and frictional losses are also responsible for about 25% of the fuel consumption. It is noted that almost 80% of the frictional losses are due to the frictional losses in the piston ring assembly (PRA). That leaves less than one quarter of the indicated power in terms of brake power. This paper analyses different methods developed by the automobile industries in order to reduce the friction power losses it may be in form of the development of better lubricants, design and partial laser surface texturing (LST) of the piston rings.