The effect of fuel mixture on engine vibrations

In the article, the authors analyze the effect of a fuel mixture (iso-octane, butanol and ethanol) on the generation of engine vibrations. The paper presents the results in the form of frequency response (using the Fast Fourier Transform - FFT) for three mixtures of different proportions. The measurements were made with the use of accelerometers and data acquisition cards, conditioning the received signal. The vibration component, in the form of acceleration, will be subjected to a FFT and presented in graphical form (periodogram). The authors put a special emphasis on a comparative analysis, indicating changes in harmonics, which may be a potential cause of engine degradation

Optimization of the electric bus radiator design in terms of noise emissions and energy consumption by computational fluid dynamics

The paper presents the numerical optimization of an innovative radiator for use in electric buses in terms of energy consumption and noise emission. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed. The flow of the cooling medium was modeled using the RANS method. The two-equation k-ɛ turbulence model, the heat transfer model and the acoustic model were used. According to the research results, the separation of the air stream in individual fan sections con-tributes to the improvement of energy efficiency and reduces noise emissions. As a result of the simulation, it was found that the best solution in terms of noise emission as well as the occurring flow phenomena caused about a 2 dB decrease of maximum values of the noise level and allowed the equalization of the cooling medium velocity (prevailing velocity range between 4 and 9 m/s). The results of the simulations were verified under laboratory and field conditions, showing a very good convergence of the model with the results of the experiments (i.e. the maximum noise level was estimated at 57 dB, under measurement conditions for the same operating point at 59 dB) while maintaining the baseline energy demand, which indicates a new approach in the method of shaping internal elements of electric vehicle coolers

Impact of a Synthetic Component on the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds during the Combustion Process in a Miniature Turbine Engine

This paper refers to the study of biofuel as an alternative power source for turbine aviation engines. Blends of Jet A-1 fuel and synthesized hydrocarbons from Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) technology at different proportions, such as 25%, 50% and 75%, were used for tests. All the test results were compared with the neat Jet A-1 fuel. A miniature GTM series turbojet engine was used in the test rig studies. During the tests conducted at a specific rotational speed, selected engine operating parameters as well as the emission of volatile organic compounds were measured. In terms of engine performance, no significant differences were found between the test fuels. The results of volatile organic compound emissions indicate that among the most toxic compounds the highest concentrations were obtained for benzene. The addition of the HEFA synthetic component and increasing its proportion in the blend resulted in the obtained concentration values for benzene showing a decreasing trend. The plotted utility profile indicates that the most optimal blend, i.e., the least toxic, is the blend with the share (v/v) of 62.5% of Jet A-1 fuel and 37.5% of HEFA component

Assessment of the Actual Toxicity of Engine Exhaust Gas Emissions from Euro 3 and Euro 6 Compliant Vehicles with the BAT-CELL Method Using In Vitro Tests

Legal restrictions on vehicle engine exhaust gas emission control do not always go hand in hand with an actual reduction in the emissions of toxins into the atmosphere. Moreover, the methods currently used to measure exhaust gas emissions do not give unambiguous results on the impact of the tested gases on living organisms. The method used to assess the actual toxicity of gases, BAT-CELL Bio-Ambient-Tests using in vitro tests, takes into account synergistic interactions of individual components of a mixture of gases without the need to know its qualitative and quantitative composition and allows for determination of the actual toxicity of the gas composition. Using the BAT-CELL method, exhaust gases from passenger vehicles equipped with spark-ignition engines complying with the Euro 3 and Euro 6 emission standards were tested. The results of toxicological tests were correlated with the results of chromatographic analysis. It was shown that diverse qualitative composition of the mixture of hydrocarbons determining the exhaust gases toxicity may decrease the percentage value of cell survival. Additionally, it was proven that the average survival of cells after exposure to exhaust gases from tested vehicles meeting the more restrictive Euro 6 standard was lower than for vehicles meeting the Euro 3 standard thus indicating the higher toxicity of exhaust gases from newer vehicles

Influence of a Passenger Position Seating on Recline Seat on a Head Injury during a Frontal Crash

Presently, most passive safety tests are performed with a precisely specified seat position and carefully seated ATD (anthropomorphic test device) dummies. Facing the development of autonomous vehicles, as well as the need for safety verification during crashes with various seat positions such research is even more urgently needed. Apart from the numerical environment, the existing testing equipment is not validated to perform such an investigation. For example, ATDs are not validated for nonstandard seatback positions, and the most accurate method of such research is volunteer tests. The study presented here was performed on a sled test rig utilizing a 50cc Hybrid III dummy according to a full factorial experiment. In addition, input factors were selected in order to verify a safe test condition for surrogate testing. The measured value was head acceleration, which was used for calculation of a head injury criterion. What was found was an optimal seat angle −117°—at which the head injury criteria had the lowest represented value. Moreover, preliminary body dynamics showed a danger of whiplash occurrence for occupants in a fully-reclined seat