Bosch Automotive, a leader in providing vehicle spare parts, has produced its one hundred-millionth hot-film air-mass meter (HFM) at its plant in Germany, citing the achievement as a major milestone in the reduction of harmful emissions.

The HFM measures engine air intake independent of air temperature and density. The resulting data is used as a reference for metering the amount of fuel injected into the engine and determining and implementing the right air-fuel ratio. An optimised ratio ensures engine efficiency, which in turn reduces emissions. HFMs can also be used to control exhaust-gas recirculation in modern diesel engines.

Statistics show that driving an average polluting car 10,000 miles per year, equivalent to 160g/km of carbon emissions, will result in the release of 2.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, according to Bosch Automotive.

Bosch added that at least four trees need to be planted for every year spent driving the car to offset the amount of emissions.

“CO2 emission is a major environmental concern for the Middle East, which is both a major fuel producer and a thriving market for automobiles. The world’s total CO2 output every year is at an alarming 30 billion tonnes; when car manufacturers use HFMs in their vehicles, we can achieve more efficient combustion and thus significantly lessen the release of CO2,” said Volker Bischoff, general manager, Robert Bosch Middle East.

According to the UAE Minister of Environment and Water, Arab countries spend more than $5 billion to tend to health problems caused by vehicle emissions. This reflects the huge amount of air pollution generated by the transport sector alone. Transportation ranks among the top three major sources of pollution among Mena States, along with oil and gas production and power generation. The region constantly discusses policies to advance clean fuels and vehicles.

The success story of the hot-film air-mass meter began in the 1970s with the introduction of the first air-flow sensor, which worked according to the dynamic-pressure principle. In the 1980s, the hot wire air-mass meter was developed to measure air mass using thermal measurement principles and was used in Formula 1 racing.

In 1989, Bosch began manufacturing the first generation of hot wire air-mass meters for production vehicles and initially installed the devices in the Volvo 240. Bosch then launched its HFM5, the first micromechanical hot-film air-mass meter to be produced on a large scale, which is still being produced to this day. Bosch introduced its HFM6, the first hot-film air-mass meter to feature a digital interface, in 2006.

Bosch’s new-generation HFM7 is available with either an analog or digital interface to the control unit. The sensor features high-precision metering and a compact and sturdy design. Its spontaneous response enables quick delivery of reliable data related to air flow in the induction tract.

In order to make engines even more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly in the future, Bosch is working to further improve the hot-film air-mass meter’s precision and flexibility. By integrating additional measuring signals into the HFM such as temperature, pressure, or humidity, additional data can be made available for engine management.

Bosch currently manufactures hot-film air-mass meters at five locations worldwide. The lead plant for hot-film air-mass meters is located in Germany where all HFM models currently available in the market are manufactured. The sensor is also manufactured in Russia, South Korea and China.-TradeArabia News Service