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Innovative ceramic glow plugs from Bosch Faster, cleaner cold starting for diesel engines


WEBWIRE

· Reliable, fast starting down to minus 28 degrees Celsius

· Lower pollutant emission and smoother running for diesel engines

· “Flexible Design” prevents damage


Diesel engines start more quickly, quietly and cleanly with the new “DuraSpeed” glow plugs from Bosch. These innovative, high-temperature plugs with ceramic heating elements heat up to 1000 degrees Celsius within less than two seconds, and develop an element temperature of 1300 degrees Celsius – about 30 percent more than standard glow plugs. At normal temperatures, therefore, the vehicle is immediately ready to start, and even at external temperatures as low as minus 28 degrees Celsius, the glow plugs permit reliable, fast starting. Under these extreme conditions, the pre-glow-time is only two seconds. In comparison, a conventional glow plug with a metal element takes 15 seconds under identical conditions. These new glow plugs are therefore among the fastest on the market.

High element temperature, long after-glow time
The new Bosch glow plugs permit a long after-glow at up to 1300 degrees Celsius when the engine is running. This greatly reduces the idling noise when cold. The pollution emitted from the cold engine is also reduced. Intermediate glowing supports the periodic regeneration of the diesel particle filter, and avoids smoke when changing the load on an engine that has cooled down under overrun conditions. With their high glow temperature and long after-glow period, these new glow plugs open new perspectives to the manufacturers of vehicles and engines: greater emphasis can be placed on low-compression turbo-diesel units having higher specific motor capacity and reduced nitrogen oxide emissions. The ceramic glow plugs can compensate for the inherent disadvantages of these engines – poor cold starting and cold running.


Ceramic heating element
The special design feature of these glow plugs is their ceramic heating element which, together with a flexible metal tube, form what is known as the heater. This patented “Flexible Design” makes the glow plugs more mechanically robust. The heater can bend, if, for instance, it is screwed in at an incorrect angle in the workshop. This significantly reduces the risk of fracture damage. The ceramic material of the heating element also guarantees a high capacity to withstand heat, and long service life.

Low-voltage technology shortens the heating time
The high thermal conductivity of the ceramic, and the low nominal voltage of only seven volts – much less than the twelve volts of the vehicle power supply – are crucial for this progress. A key advantage is that in order to reach the temperature needed to start the engine as quickly as possible, the glow plugs can be operated at increased voltage while they are heating up. The engineers speak of “pushing”. This provides fast starting even under extremely cold conditions, comparable to that of gasoline engines. The plugs, moreover, reach their optimum glow temperature even when the vehicle power supply voltage dips during a cold start.

Renault and Nissan are the first customers in the world for the Bosch ceramic glow plugs with low-voltage technology. They are being fitted first to the Renault Scenic with a 2.0-liter dCi diesel engine. In future, all other vehicles from Renault and Nissan that use the engine will have the new Bosch ceramic glow plugs.


The Bosch Group is a leading global manufacturer of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology. In fiscal 2005, some 251,000 associates generated sales of 41.5 billion euros. Set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering,” the Bosch Group today comprises a manufacturing, sales, and after-sales service network of more than 280 subsidiaries and more than 12,000 Bosch service centers in over 140 countries.

The special ownership structure of the Bosch Group guarantees its financial independence and entrepreneurial freedom. It makes it possible for the company to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future, as well as to do justice to its social responsibility in a manner reflective of the spirit and will of its founder. A total of 92 % of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by the charitable foundation Robert Bosch Stiftung. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG.

Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com.

PI5531 - September 2006



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