An Elastomeric Energy Storage System to Improve Vehicle Efficiency.

Most regenerative braking systems studied hitherto have made use of batteries, tlywheels and hydraulic accumulators. The present study has investigated the use of elastomers for such systems. The ability of elastomers to store large amounts of energy, together with the fact that this energy can be recovered quickly, makes them attractive materials for propulsion devices and inherently simple to engineer. Theoretical and experimental research has shown that the development of an elastomeric regenerative braking system does appear to be technically feasible. The predicted rubber characteristics have been compared with the known characteristics of a conventional engine. The results show that the tractive effort produced by the elastomer is capable of matching the characteristics of the engine considered in this work. Rates of input and output energy have also been calculated to determine the process of energy storage and retrieval throughout a typical driving cycle. The energy store appears to be capable of reproducing many stages of the three driving cycles considered. When there is insufticient energy in the system, power boosts from the conventional engine are required. In order to increase the overall savings achieved by the system, the engine was 'replaced' by one which had force (and therefore power) characteristics of one half of the conventional engine initially considered. It was found that the reduced power engine was sufficient to supply the extra power boosts as required. In addition to reduced engine and brake wear, fuel consumption and emissions have been shown to be drastically reduced. If these values could be achieved in practice, the benefits of such a system are immediately apparent. The potential financial savings available to the car user corresponding to the decrease in fuel consumption would provide a strong incentive. Environmentally the benefits are two fold, firstly the reduction in pollution emissions means cleaner air and has an impact on global warming, and secondly reduced fuel consumption means that fossil fuel reserves may last considerably longer than currently predicted thus reducing the immediate need for alternatives sources

Vehicle System Simulation Using a Toolkit Based Strategy

This paper briefly discusses the way in which VDAS addresses the four requirements mentioned above. 2 REVIEW OF VEHICLE DYNAMICS CODE

Analysis of ependymomas using comparative genomic hybridisation

Background and objectives Ependymomas are the third most common CNS tumours in childhood, and account for 9–12% of CNS neoplasms in all age groups. However, the prognosis for cases not completely excised is poor and the underlying biology of their development and progression is poorly understood. The few studies published to date have suggested that specific chromosomal abnormalities may be associated with the development of a significant proportion of these tumours. We setout to screen a large series of intracranial and spinal ependymomas for genetic imbalances, and to correlate these with histology and clinical behaviour.Methods Comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) was used to detect chromosome imbalances on 86 ependymomas from 77 patients, of which 22 were children under 16, treated at one of three UK centres (Newcastle, Nottingham, Southampton). Cases were first analysed without reference to histology or clinical features, and were then divided up according to anatomical location, histology and age at presentation.Results Chromosomal imbalances were detected in tumours from 63/77 patients (82%). The majority involved entire chromosomes or chromosome arms, many showing patterns of gains suggestive of intermediate ploidy. Of previously reported abnormalities in ependymoma, the most frequent findings were gain of 1 q, seen in 13 cases (17%), and loss of 22 in 20 (26%). Whereas 1 q gain was seen mainly in posterior fossa tumours and was restricted to those with classic and anaplastic histology, loss of 22 was rarely observed in tumours from this location and their histology was predominantly classic or myxopapillary. In contrast to previous studies, loss of 6q was found in only 6 cases (8%) and in only one child. Out of 7 tumours biopsied at presentation and relapse, 4 revealed imbalances and 3 of these demonstrated progression of abnormalities at relapse.Conclusions Chromosomal imbalance is common in ependymoma and patterns of abnormality are emerging that are associated with histology or location. Further studies are needed to establish the prognostic significance of these abnormalities