Development of a Lumped Model for the Characterisation of the Intake Phase in Spark-ignition Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract The present work aims to develop a control-oriented lumped model to investigate the fluid dynamic behaviour of multi-valve spark-ignition engines (ICEs). Specifically, the attention has been focused on the intake phase and in-cylinder air charge estimation. To this purpose, a spark-ignition engine has been characterised at a flow rig in terms of flow coefficients. The experimental data have been used to define the fluid dynamic behaviour of the different intake system components and to calibrate and validate the proposed model that has been developed in Matlab/Simulink environment. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the capability of the zero-dimensional code and to estimate the instantaneous in-cylinder mass flow in different operating conditions, the numerical data have been compared to the results of a one-dimensional commercial software. The comparison between numerical and experimental data shows a good agreement. The investigation highlights that the proposed control-oriented lumped model represents a useful and simple tool to evaluate the engine breathability and to define the proper valve timing

A Model Predictive Controller for the Cooling System of Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract The paper presents some results of the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) methodology applied to the case of the cooling system of an Internal Combustion Engine. To this end, a small spark ignition engine, about 1.2 dm3 displacement volume, is equipped with an electric pump, which is actuated by the controller, independently of engine speed. The goal of the proposed control is to achieve a faster engine warm-up and an effective engine cooling with a much lower coolant flow rate than the one usually adopted, by bringing the cooling system to operate around the onset of nucleate boiling. The developed Model Predictive Control application makes use of a lumped-parameter model, which predicts the heat transfer both in the case of a single-phase forced convection condition and in the presence of nucleate boiling. The performance of the proposed controller is evaluated during the city driving part of the NEDC homologation cycle, which was replicated at the engine test rig. The results show that the proposed controller is robust in terms of disturbance rejection and is effective in reducing warm-up time

A Novel Approach to the Thermal Management of Internal Combustion Engines

Abstract The paper presents a novel control architecture developed with the aim to satisfy the requirements of the cooling system of an ICE, by means of an electric pump and of an ad-hoc developed control module. The developed controller is based on the Robust Model Predictive Control and is designed with the purpose to satisfy the input and output constraints and to reject the external disturbances, by adopting a lumped parameter model of the engine cooling system, which predicts the coolant temperature, the average wall temperature and the heat transfer regime including nucleate boiling. Given that the proposed methodology is valid for each condition, in the present paper the focus is on the engine operating under fully warmed conditions, with the aim to keep the wall temperature into the prescribed limits, with the lowest possible coolant flow rates. This goal is achieved by properly defining the controller parameters. Different control strategies are proposed and their effectiveness is evaluated in terms of engine wall temperature, coolant temperature, coolant flow rate and heat transfer regime in response to step-wise variations in fuel flow rate. The region of stability of the controller is also discussed. Results show that the control algorithm is robust in terms of disturbance rejections and ensures effective and safe cooling with much lower coolant flow rates if compared to the ones provided by the use of the standard crankshaft driven pump

Manipulation of Mitochondria Dynamics Reveals Separate Roles for Form and Function in Mitochondria Distribution

Mitochondria shape is controlled by membrane fusion and fission mediated by mitofusins, Opa1, and Drp1, whereas mitochondrial motility relies on microtubule motors. These processes govern mitochondria subcellular distribution, whose defects are emphasized in neurons because of their polarized structure. We have studied how perturbation of the fusion/fission balance affects mitochondria distribution in Drosophila axons. Knockdown of Marf or Opa1 resulted in progressive loss of distal mitochondria and in a distinct oxidative phosphorylation and membrane potential deficit. Downregulation of Drp1 rescued the lethality and bioenergetic defect caused by neuronal Marf RNAi, but induced only a modest restoration of axonal mitochondria distribution. Surprisingly, Drp1 knockdown rescued fragmentation and fully restored aberrant distribution of axonal mitochondria produced by Opa1 RNAi; however, Drp1 knockdown did not improve viability or mitochondria function. Our data show that proper morphology is critical for proper axonal mitochondria distribution independent of bioenergetic efficiency. The health of neurons largely depends on mitochondria function, but does not depend on shape or distribution. Trevisan et al. separate the independent contribution of form and function in determining the distribution of mitochondria in axons. They show that morphology is crucial for proper axonal mitochondria distribution, independent of their bioenergetic efficiency. However, the health of neurons depends on mitochondria function, but does not depend on shape or distributio

Experimental Investigation and Lumped-parameter Model of the Cooling System of an ICE under Nucleate Boiling Conditions

Abstract The work presents the results of experimental tests, which were carried out on a small-displacement spark ignition engine, where a low flow rate electric pump was used to substitute the standard crankshaft-driven one. The engine was then operated both under usual single-phase heat transfer regime and under nucleate boiling conditions. The engine was properly instrumented in order to record coolant pressure, temperature and flow rate as well as metal temperatures. The experimental investigation was coupled with the development of a dynamic lump-parameter model of the engine cooling system. The model calculates the spatial averaged metal temperature, the engine-out coolant temperature and the fraction of metal heat transfer area which is involved in nucleate boiling as a function of engine-in coolant flow rate, pressure and temperature, fuel mass flow rate and engine speed. The experimental data and the model results show a good agreement and the model is suitable to develop a coolant flow rate control system. This facilitates faster engine warm-up, lower fuel consumption and lower CO 2 emissions, which can be significant under low-load and cold-start conditions

Analysis of a Trigeneration Plant under Transient Operating Conditions

Abstract A dynamic lumped-parameters model has been developed in order to analyse the performance of a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) plant during transient load variations. The plant allows the waste heat recovery from four Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) to produce simultaneously refrigeration power for an absorption chiller, hot water for thermal user and electrical power. The heat recovery is realized through the exhaust gases, the jacket cooling water and the lubricant. The plant includes an auxiliary boiler, which maintains the water temperature levels to the values required by the absorption chiller, and a dry-cooler, which refrigerates the plant water before entering the internal combustion engines. Moreover, a three-way valve, which controls the water flow rate in order to satisfy both the refrigeration and the thermal loads, is considered. The simulations are carried out under thermal-drive and electric-drive strategy and the evaluation of the performance and time response of the CCHP apparatus are presented

cfd investigation of the open center on the performance of a tidal current turbine

In the present paper, a revision of the layout of an innovative open center self-balancing tidal turbine is presented. Initially, the design was characterized by a central deflector, responsible fo ..

Synthesis and Biological Characterization of a New Norbormide Derived Bodipy FL-Conjugated Fluorescent Probe for Cell Imaging

Background: Norbormide (NRB) is a selective rat toxicant endowed with vasoconstrictor activity confined to the rat peripheral arteries. In a recent work we used a fluorescent derivative of NRB (NRB-AF12), obtained by coupling the NBD fluorophore to the parent molecule via a linker, in order to gain information about the possible site of action of the unlabeled compound. We found that NRB-AF12 labeled intracellular organelles in both NRB-sensitive and -insensitive cells and we accordingly proposed its use as a scaffold for the development of a new class of fluorescent probes. In this study, we examined the fluorescent properties of a BODIPY FL-conjugated NRB probe (MC009) developed: (A) to verify if NRB distribution could be influenced by the attached fluorophore; (B) to improve the fluorescent performance of NRB-AF12. Methods: MC009 characteristics were investigated by confocal fluorescence microscopy, in freshly isolated rat caudal artery myocytes (FIRCAM) and in LX2 cells, representative of NRB-sensitive and insensitive cells, respectively. Main results: In both FIRCAM and LX2 cells MC009 stained endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and lipid droplets, revealing the same intracellular distribution as NRB-AF12, and, at the same time, had both improved photostability and gave a more intense fluorescent signal at lower concentrations than was possible with NRB-AF12, which resulted in a better and finer visualization of intracellular structures. Furthermore, MC009 was effective in cellular labeling in both living and fixed cells. At the concentration used to stain the cells, MC009 did not show any cytotoxic effect and did not affect the regular progression of cell cycle and division. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the distribution of fluorescently labeled NRB is not affected by the type of fluorophore attached to the parent compound, supporting the idea that the localization of the fluorescent derivatives may reasonably reflect that of the parent compound. In addition, we observed a marked improvement in the fluorescent properties of BODIPY FL-conjugated NRB (MC009) over its NBD-derived counterpart (NRB-AF12), confirming NRB as a scaffold for the development of new, high performance, non-toxic fluorescent probes for the labeling of intracellular structures in both living and fixed cells

Dynamin-independent CaV1.2 and KCa1.1 channels regulation and vascular tone modulation by the mitochondrial fission inhibitors dynasore and dyngo-4a

A role for mitochondrial fission in vascular contraction has been proposed based on the vasorelaxant activity of the dynamin (and mitochondrial fission) inhibitors mdivi-1 and dynasore. However, mdivi-1 is capable to inhibit Ba2+ currents through CaV1.2 channels (IBa1.2), stimulate KCa1.1 channel currents (IKCa1.1), and modulate pathways key to the maintenance of vessel active tone in a dynamin-independent manner. Using a multidisci-plinary approach, the present study demonstrates that dynasore, like mdivi-1, is a bi-functional vasodilator, blocking IBa1.2 and stimulating IKCa1.1 in rat tail artery myocytes, as well as promoting relaxation of rat aorta rings pre-contracted by either high K+ or phenylephrine. Conversely, its analogue dyngo-4a, though inhibiting mitochondrial fission triggered by phenylephrine and stimulating IKCa1.1, did not affect IBa1.2 but potentiated both high K+- and phenylephrine-induced contractions. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations identified the molecular basis supporting the different activity of dynasore and dyngo-4a at CaV1.2 and KCa1.1 channels. Mito-tempol only partially counteracted the effects of dynasore and dyngo-4a on phenylephrine-induced tone. In conclusion, the present data, along with previous observations (Ahmed et al., 2022) rise caution for the use of dynasore, mdivi-1, and dyngo-4a as tools to investigate the role of mitochondrial fission in vascular contraction: to this end, a selective dynamin inhibitor and/or a different experimental approach are needed

Live applications of norbormide-based fluorescent probes in Drosophila melanogaster

In this study we investigated the performance of two norbormide (NRB)-derived fluorescent probes, NRBMC009 (green) and NRBZLW0047 (red), on dissected, living larvae of Drosophila, to verify their potential application in confocal microscopy imaging in vivo. To this end, larval tissues were exposed to NRB probes alone or in combination with other commercial dyes or GFP-tagged protein markers. Both probes were rapidly internalized by most tissues (except the central nervous system) allowing each organ in the microscope field to be readily distinguished at low magnification. At the cellular level, the probes showed a very similar distribution (except for fat bodies), defined by loss of signal in the nucleus and plasma membrane, and a preferential localization to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. They also recognized ER and mitochondrial phenotypes in the skeletal muscles of fruit fly models that had loss of function mutations in the atlastin and mitofusin genes, suggesting NRBMC009 and NRBZLW0047 as potentially useful in vivo screening tools for characterizing ER and mitochondria morphological alterations. Feeding of larvae and adult Drosophilae with the NRB-derived dyes led to staining of the gut and its epithelial cells, revealing a potential role in food intake assays. In addition, when flies were exposed to either dye over their entire life cycle no apparent functional or morphological abnormalities were detected. Rapid internalization, a bright signal, a compatibility with other available fluorescent probes and GFP-tagged protein markers, and a lack of toxicity make NRBZLW0047 and, particularly, NRBMC009 one of the most highly performing fluorescent probes available for in vivo microscopy studies and food intake assay in Drosophila