Device to rehabilitate one’s Physical and Learning Abilities

This article presents an innovative device to rehabilitate people’s physical and learning abilities. We aim to substantiate the subject, review existing solutions, and explain the most important issues connected with rehabilitation. We describe the CAD-based conceptual design of the device, its dedicated software, selection of actuators, and construction of the device’s prototype, including its first tests. The device includes an original set of exercises, which can be individually set for every patient to improve his physical abilities, memory (both visual and auditory) and reflexes (i.e. reaction time to a stimulus). Rehabilitation exercises, which are performed in virtual reality and shown on a display screen, are additionally enhanced in real life by introducing obstacles and space restrictions, which the user faces while performing his tasks. Deliberate restrictions of one’s space in which to perform exercises is made possible not only due to the device’s original design, that is a four-frames construction, but also due to connectors with adjustable installation points, which enables positioning of obstacles to suit the current state of a patient. The prototype device and its original software have been designed to suit stroke convalescents and preschool children. First tests were carried out with preschool children and this article highlights the results of these tests. They included exercises, which were custom-made for children, such as a quiz, exercise to train one’s reflexes, visual memory, auditory memory and games involving music. Since the rehabilitation device utilizes unique technical solutions, a patent application has been filed for it

Effects of injection timing of diesel fuel on performance and emission of dual fuel diesel engine powered by diesel/E85 fuels

The paper presents the results of the investigation of Dual Fuel (DF) diesel engines powered by high bioethanol contain fuel – E85. The object of the investigation is a three-cylinder Compression Ignition (CI) Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) powered by diesel oil and bioethanol fuel E85 injected into the intake port as a DF engine. With the increase in the share of E85 fuel the highest intensification of the combustion process takes place in the main stage of the combustion and the ignition delay increases as well. The researchers are conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method; the results of the investigation are successfully verified based on the indicator diagrams, heat performance rate and emissions. Based on CFD results the cross sections investigation of the combustion chamber it can be seen that in case of the DF engine, the flame front propagates with a higher speed. The initial phase of the combustion starts in a different location of the combustion chamber than in the classic CI engine. Replacement of diesel fuel by E85 in 20% resulted in the shortening of the combustion duration more than 2-times. With the increase of energetic share in E85 the soot emission is decreased at all ranges of the analysed operations of the engine. The oppositerelationship was observed in case of NO emission. With the increase of E85 in the fuel, the emission of NO increased

Modeling of Thermal Cycle CI Engine with Multi-Stage Fuel Injection

This work presents a complete thermal cycle modeling of a four-stroke diesel engine with a three-dimensional simulation program CFD - AVL Fire. The object of the simulation was the S320 Andoria engine. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of fuel dose distribution on selected parameters of the combustion process. As a result of the modeling, time spatial pressure distributions, rate of pressure increase, heat release rate and NO and soot emission were obtained for 3 injection strategies: no division, one pilot dose and one main dose and two pilot doses and one main dose. It has been found that the use of pilot doses on the one hand reduces engine hardness and lowers NO emissions and on the other hand, increases soot emissions

Comparative Analysis of Combustion Stability of Diesel/Ethanol Utilization by Blend and Dual Fuel

The aim of the work is a comparison of two combustion systems of fuels with different reactivity. The first is combustion of the fuel mixture and the second is combustion in a dual-fuel engine. Diesel fuel was burned with pure ethanol. Both methods of co-firing fuels have both advantages and disadvantages. Attention was paid to the combustion stability aspect determined by COVIMEP as well as the probability density function of IMEP. It was analyzed also the spread of the maximum pressure value, the angle of the position of maximum pressure. The influence of ethanol on ignition delay time spread and end of combustion process was evaluated. The experimental investigation was conducted on 1-cylinder air cooled compression ignition engine. The test engine operated with constant rpm equal to 1500 rpm and constant angle of start of diesel fuel injection. The engine was operated with ethanol up to 50% of its energy fraction

Generator gas as a fuel to power a diesel engine

The results of gasification process of dried sewage sludge and use of generator gas as a fuel for dual fuel turbocharged compression ignition engine are presented. The results of gasifying showed that during gasification of sewage sludge is possible to obtain generator gas of a calorific value in the range of 2.15 2.59 MJ/m3. It turned out that the generator gas can be effectively used as a fuel to the compression ignition engine. Because of gas composition, it was possible to run engine with partload conditions. In dual fuel operation the high value of indicated efficiency was achieved equal to 35%, so better than the efficiency of 30% attainable when being fed with 100% liquid fuel. The dual fuel engine version developed within the project can be recommended to be used in practice in a dried sewage sludge gasification plant as a dual fuel engine driving the electric generator loaded with the active electric power limited to 40 kW (which accounts for approx. 50% of its rated power), because it is at this power that the optimal conditions of operation of an engine dual fuel powered by liquid fuel and generator gas are achieved. An additional advantage is the utilization of waste generated in the wastewater treatment plant

Influence of Gasoline Addition on Biodiesel Combustion in a Compression-Ignition Engine with Constant Settings

This paper presents results of investigation of co-combustion process of biodiesel with gasoline, in form of mixture and using dual fuel technology. The main objective of this work was to show differences in both combustion systems of the engine powered by fuels of different reactivity. This paper presents parameters of the engine and the assessment of combustion stability. It turns out that combustion process of biodiesel was characterized by lower ignition delay compared to diesel fuel combustion. For 0.54 of gasoline energetic fraction, the ignition delay increased by 25% compared to the combustion of the pure biodiesel, but for dual fuel technology for 0.95 of gasoline fraction it was decreased by 85%. For dual fuel technology with the increase in gasoline fraction, the specific fuel consumption (SFC) was decreased for all analyzed fractions of gasoline. In the case of blend combustion, the SFC was increased in comparison to dual fuel technology. An analysis of spread of ignition delay and combustion duration was also presented. The study confirmed that it is possible to co-combust biodiesel with gasoline in a relatively high energetic fraction. For the blend, the ignition delay was up to 0.54 and for dual fuel it was near to 0.95

Combustion stability of dual fuel engine powered by diesel-ethanol fuels

The paper presents result of combustion stability assessment of dual fuel engine. The authors analyzed results of co-combustion of diesel fuel with alcohol in terms of combustion stability. The comparative analysis of both the operational parameters of the engine and the IMEP, as the parameters determining the stability of the combustion process, were carried out. It was analyzed, among others values of the COVIMEP coefficient, the spread of the maximum pressure value, the angle of the position of maximum pressure and the probability density distribution of the IMEP. The experimental investigation was conducted on 1-cylinder air cooled compression ignition engine. The test engine operated with constant rpm equal to 1500 rpm and constant angle of start of diesel fuel injection. The engine was operated with ethanol up to 50% of its energy fraction. The influence of ethanol on ignition delay time spread and end of combustion process was evaluated. It turns out that the share of ethanol does not adversely affect the stability of ignition

Co-combustion of biodiesel with oxygenated fuels in direct injection diesel engine

The paper presents results of experimental investigation of cocombustion process of biodiesel (B100) blended with oxygenated fuels with 20% in volume. As the alternative fuels ware used hydrated ethanol, methanol, 1-butanol and 2-propanol. It was investigated the influence of used blends on operating parameters of the test engine and exhaust emission (NOx, CO, THC, CO2). It is observed that used blends are characterized by different impact on engine output power and its efficiency. Using biodiesel/alcohol blend it is possible to improve engine efficiency with small drop in indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP). Due to combustion characteristic of biodiesel/alcohol obtained a slightly larger specific NOx emission. It was also observed some differences in combustion phases due to various values of latent heat of evaporation of used alcohols and various oxygen contents. Test results confirmed that the combustion process occurring in the diesel engine powered by blend takes place in a shorter time than in the typical diesel engine

Experimental investigations on combustion, performance and emissions characteristics of compression ignition engine powered by B100/ethanol blend

In the study are presented the results of co-combustion of biodiesel B100 with ethanol fuel as blend. The 1-cylinder direct injection compression ignition engine was used during the study. Tests were conducted at a constant angle of fuel injection and constant rotational speed equal to 1500 rpm. Results of thermal cycle parameters and emission characteristics are presented. On the basis of results stated that ethanol fuel fraction in blend causes the increase in peak heat release rate. With the increase in ethanol fuel fraction the ignition delay increased but combustion duration decreased. With the increase in ethanol fuel fraction in blend thermal efficiency increased as well. It also noticed almost constant emission of THC, the increase in NOx emissions and decrease emissions in CO and CO2