Application of random vibrations in evaluating the reliability of mechatronic products

• 1.(1) We have bee successful in establishing a conversion formula that can establish the random vibration test conditions based on the measured values of the peak accumulated.
• 2.(2)We learned that, not only the main components of engine vibrations, but other components are also important in the phenomena of contact wear, from the fact that the evaluation tests based on random vibrations could reproduce contact wear far better that the sime wave sweep test.

     

Development of new decompression brake for heavy duty diesel engine

We have developed a new decompression brake, which incorporates an original operation mechanism, in answer to user demands for more powerful brake performance. This decompression brake improves braking power by more than 50% compared with a conventional exhaust brake, when operated in tandem with an exhaust brake. The decompression brake contributes to safe driving, to alleviate driver fatigue, and to prolong brake lining life.This paper reports on the following subjects:

• 1.(1)The principle and development of the original operation system.
• 2.(2) Test results of performance and load analysis.

     

A study of recycling technology for paint-coated plastic automotive bumper

Our objective was to eliminate the harmful effect of paint films in recycled material. Our study focused on the molecular bonding in paint resin, and reached the following conclusions:

• 1.(1) The use of a modifier allows the ether linkage in the paint film to be cleaved and its molecular structure changed. This resulted in improved compatibility between the paint and the material, rendering the paint film chips harmless.
• 2.(2) Bumpers molded using modified recycled material meet requirements for mechanical properties, moldability, paintability and surface quality.
• 3.(3) A continuous process where modification and pelletization are done simulataneously in a twin-screw extruder was achieved. This reduces the number of process steps and processing time, while providing improved productivity and economies.

     

Studies on the measuring method of the total friction loss of internal combustion engines

In the present study a new test method is investigated to measure the total friction loss of engines over the whole range of speed and load. It is based on the idea that the friction loss close to the true one of fired and braked engines can be measured by the run-out method because the temperature mainly influencing the friction loss is almost stable for the short run-out test duration. From the test results and the comparison with those measured by other conventional test methods, the following becomes evident:

• 1.(1) The total friction mean effective pressure slightly increases as the revolution speed becomes high, but it decreases as either the load or the cooling water temperature becomes high.
• 2.(2) The total friction mean effective pressure measured by the present method is smaller than that measured by the run-out method, the motoring method or Willans-line method, but it is larger than that measured by the indicated pressure diagram method.

     

Effect of Charge Density on Spray Characteristics,Combustion Process,and Emissions of Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines

In-cylinder charge density at top dead center is an important parameter of diesel engines and is influenced by intake pressure, intake temperature, and compression ratio. The effects of charge density on fuel spray, combustion process, and emissions were investigated by using a constant volume bomb and a heavy-duty diesel engine. Spray development resistance increased with the increase of the charge density in the constant volume bomb. It was found that short spray penetration was accompanied by a large spray cone angle in the former stage with high charge density. However, the equivalence ratio was lowered and the degree of homogeneity of the mixture was increased in the later stage owing to the rapid interaction of fuel and gas at a high mixing rate. Combining the first law of thermodynamics and the second law of thermodynamics for analysis, as the charge density increased, the gross indicated thermal efficiency (ITEg) was improved. However, pumping loss had to be considered with higher charge density. Under this condition, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) trend was increased initially and decreased subsequently. Under high-load operation (1200 r/min BMEP, 2.0 MPa), the minimum charge density value of 44.8 kg/m³ was found to be reasonable. This charge density was suitable for combustion and brought about minimum exhaust energy and trade-off emissions. Moreover, by analyzing two operation conditions in terms of the maximum BTE with the Miller and the conventional cycles, compression temperature and combustion temperature were reduced in the Miller cycle with the charge density 44.8 kg/m³. A high C_p/C_v could improve the cylinder exergy/power conversion process by its positive effect of increasing the specific heat ratio. Owing to the interaction between a high C_p/C_v and exergy loss to heat transfer, the condition with the minimal charge density could produce more piston work.     

Effect of a 2-stage injection strategy on the combustion and flame characteristics in a PCCI engine

Recently, to reduce environmental pollution and the waste of limited energy resources, there is an increasing requirement for higher engine efficiency and lower levels of harmful emissions. A premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) engine, which uses a 2-stage type injection, has drawn attention because this combustion system can simultaneously reduce the amount of NOx and PM exhausted from diesel engines. It is well known that the fuel injection timing and the spray angle in a PCCI engine affect the mixture formation and the combustion. To acquire two optimal injection timings, the combustion and emission characteristics of the PCCI engine were analyzed with various injection conditions. The flame visualization was performed to validate the result obtained from the engine test. This study reveals that the optimum injection timings are BTDC 60° for the first injection and ATDC 5° for the second injection. In addition, the injection ratio of 3 to 7 showed the best NOx and PM emission results.     

Effects of the fuel injection ratio on the emission and combustion performances of the partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion engine applied with the split injection method

Currently, due to the severity of world-wide air pollution by substances emitted from vehicles, emission control is being enforced more strictly, and it is expected that the regulation requirements for emission will become even more severe. A new concept combustion technology that can reduce the Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM in relation to combustion is urgently required. As a core combustion technology among new combustion technologies for the next generation engine, the homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is expanding its application range by adopting a multiple combustion mode, a catalyst, direct fuel injection and partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion using the split injection method. This paper used a split injection method in order to apply the partially premixed charge compression ignition combustion method without significantly altering engine specifications of the multiple combustion mode and practicality by referring to the results of studies on the HCCI engine. Furthermore, the effects of the ratio of the fuel injection amount on split injection are investigated. From the test results, the adequate combination of the ratio of the fuel injection amount for the split injection method has some benefit on exhaust and fuel economy performance in a naturally aspirated single cylinder diesel engine.     

Study of diesel spray combustion and ignition using high-pressure fuel injection and a micro-hole nozzle with a rapid compression machine: improvement of combustion using low cetane number fuel

This study aimed to reduce NO_x and soot by creating a more homogeneous lean fuel distribution in a diesel spray using high-pressure fuel injection and a micro-hole nozzle. This injection system shortened the ignition delay, but a homogeneous lean fuel distribution in the diesel spray was not achieved. Using a lower cetane number fuel, the resulting longer ignition delay made a uniform, lean fuel distribution in the diesel spray possible with this injection system. Ignition and combustion were analyzed by the combustion chamber pressure history, and flame temperatures and KL values were analyzed by the two-color method.     

Development of route information based driving control algorithm for a range-extended electric vehicle

A route information based driving control algorithm was developed for an RE-EV which consists of two motorgenerators, MG1 and MG2. A threshold power which controls the engine on/off to charge the battery was obtained by an optimization process using route information, such as the vehicle velocity and altitude. The threshold power allows the vehicle to travel to the final destination while making the final battery SOC close to SOC _low. Using the threshold power, route based control (RBC) was proposed by considering the driver’s characteristics and traffic conditions using the driving data base. In addition, a relationship between the threshold power and various initial battery SOC was obtained by off-line optimization. The performance of the RBC was evaluated by simulation and human-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) for city driving. It was found from the simulation and HILS results that the RBC achieved approximately 4 % to 12 % reduction in fuel consumption compared to the existing charge depleting/charge sustaining (CD/CS) driving control.     

Effects of the throttle opening ratio and the injection timing of CNG on the combustion characteristics of a DI engine

We investigated the effects of the fuel injection timing — both for early and late injection — in conjunction with the throttle opening ratio on the fuel-air mixing characteristics, engine power, combustion stability and emission characteristics of a DI CNG spark engine and control system that had been modified and designed according to the author’s original idea. We verified that the combustion characteristics were affected by the fuel injection timing and that the engine conditions were affected by the throttle opening ratios and the rpm. The combustion characteristics were greatly improved for a complete open throttle ratio with an early injection timing and for a partial throttle ratio with a late injection timing. The combustion duration was governed by the duration of flame propagation in late injection timing scenarios and by the duration of early flame development in cases of early injection timing. As the result, the combustion duration is shortened, the lean limit is improved, the air-fuel mixing conditions are controlled, and the emissions are reduced through control of the fuel injection timing and vary according to ratio of the throttle opening.     

Analysis of mixture formation of direct injection gasoline engine

In a direct injection gasoline engine, in order to achieve good stratified combustion, an extremely advanced control of air–fuel mixture is required. For this purpose, the method of diagnosing the quality of the state of mixture formation in combustion chambers becomes necessary. In this research, the state of air–fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of a TOYOTA D-4 was analyzed in space and time by visualization, A/F multi-point measurement and A/F high response measurement, and thus the effects that injection timing, swirl and fuel pressure exerted on mixture formation were elucidated.     

Low temperature premixed combustion within a small bore high speed direct injection (HSDI) optically accessible diesel engine using a retarded single injection

An optically accessible single-cylinder high speed direct-injection (HSDI) Diesel engine equipped with a Bosch common rail injection system was used to study low temperature Modulated Kinetics (MK) combustion with a retarded single main injection. High-speed liquid fuel Mie-scattering was employed to investigate the liquid distribution and evolution. By carefully setting up the optics, three-dimensional images of fuel spray were obtained from both the bottom of the piston and the side window. The NOx emissions were measured in the exhaust pipe. The influence of injection pressure and injection timing on liquid fuel evolution and combustion characteristics was studied under similar fuel quantities. Interesting spray development was seen from the side window images. Liquid impingement was found for all of the cases due to the small diameter of the piston bowl. The liquid fuel tip hits the bowl wall obliquely and spreads as a wall jet in the radial direction of the spray. Due to the bowl geometry, the fuel film moves back into the central part of the bowl, which enhances the air-fuel mixing process and prepares a more homogeneous air-fuel mixture. Stronger impingement was seen for high injection pressures. Injection timing had little effect on fuel impingement. No liquid fuel was seen before ignition, indicating premixed combustion for all the cases. High-speed combustion video was taken using the same frame rate. Ignition was seen to occur on or near the bowl wall in the vicinity of the spray tip, with the ignition delay being noticeably longer for lower injection pressure and later injection timing. The majority of the flame was confined to the bowl region throughout the combustion event. A more homogeneous and weaker flame was observed for higher injection pressures and later injection timing. The combustion structure also proves the mixing enhancement effect of the liquid fuel impingement. The results show that ultra-low sooting combustion is feasible in an HSDI diesel engine with a higher injection pressure, a higher EGR rate, or later injection timing, with little penalty on power output. It was also found that injection timing has more influence on HCCI-like combustion using a single main injection than the other two factors studied. Compared with the base cases, simultaneous reductions of soot and NOx were obtained by increasing EGR rate and retarding injection timing. By increasing injection pressure, NOx emissions were increased due to leaner and faster combustion with better air-fuel mixing. However, smoke emissions were significantly reduced with increased injection pressure.     

Effect of fuel injection strategies on the combustion process in a PFI boosted SI engine

A low-cost solution based on fuel injection strategies was investigated to optimize the combustion process in a boosted port fuel injection spark ignition (PFI SI) engine. The goal was to reduce the fuel consumption and pollutant emissions while maintaining performance. The effect of fuel injection was analyzed for the closed and open valve conditions, and the multiple injection strategies (MIS) based on double and triple fuel injection in the open-valve condition. The tests were performed on an optical accessible single-cylinder PFI SI engine equipped with an external boost device. The engine was operated at full load and with a stoichiometric ratio equivalent to that of commercial gasolines. Optical techniques based on 2D-digital imaging were used to follow the flame propagation from the flame kernel to late combustion phase. In particular, the diffusion-controlled flames near the valves and cylinder walls, due to fuel deposition, were studied. In these conditions, the presence of soot was measured by two-color pyrometry, and correlated with engine parameters and exhaust emissions measured by conventional methods. The open valve fuel injection strategies demonstrated better combustion process efficiency than the closed ones. They provided very low soot levels in the combustion chamber and engine exhaust, and a reduction in specific fuel consumption. The multiple injection strategies proved to be the best solution in terms of performance, soot concentration, and fuel consumption.     

Numerical Analysis of the Mixture Formation in a Two-Stroke Wall-Guided LPG DI Engine for Extended-Range Electric Vehicle

The use of automotive LPG characteristics which are easy to evaporate vaporization and carry. The paper presents a design of extended-range electric vehicle for wall-guided two stroke LPG engine with direct injection combustion system. Based on the modified vehicle LPG spray model, a database describing the characteristics of vehicle LPG fuel was built and imported into the CFD software. And the accuracy of the model is verified by the Schlieren experimental results. The concentration and velocity field of the mixture in the cylinder under different load conditions are numerically analyzed. The analyzed result indicated that the start injection time θ = 60°–70°CA BTDC under part load condition, the plug electrode near the gathering of a richer mixture is easy to be fired at spark ignition time, the obvious formation of mixture in cylinder is formed and the overall air-fuel ratio is above 40: 1. The start-transition working condition and large load conditions in the piston moves upward before closing the exhaust port to start injection LPG. The optimized LPG injection start time θ ensures that the fresh gas is locked in the cylinder when the exhaust port is closed (63°CA ABDC). In the ignition time of the spark plug, an ideal homogeneous mixture in the cylinder is realized.     

Experimental studies on low pressure semi-direct fuel injection in a two stroke spark ignition engine

In this work a two-stroke scooter engine was modified to work with semi-direct injection of gasoline at a pressure of 8 bar from an injector in the cylinder barrel pointed toward the cylinder head. The influence of injection timing, injection pressure, spark plug location and air-fuel ratio, on performance, emissions and combustion characteristics has been investigated. In addition, a comparison has been made with manifold injection of gasoline on the same engine at a given speed and various outputs. A significant reduction in HC emissions and fuel consumption with no adverse effects on NOx emissions and combustion stability was observed. A small drop in power and increase in CO emission were observed disadvantages of the new injection system. Injection timing was found to be the most important factor and a balance between reduction in shortcircuited fuel by late injection, and time for mixture preparation by advancing the injection, was found to be essential.     

Comparison of two injection systems in an HSDI diesel engine using split injection and different injector nozzles

The demand for reduced pollutant emissions has motivated various technological advances in passenger car diesel engines. This paper presents a study comparing two fuel injection systems and analyzing their combustion noise and pollutant emissions. The abilities of different injection strategies to meet strict regulations were evaluated. The difficult task of maintaining a constant specific fuel consumption while trying to reduce pollutant emissions was the aim of this study. The engine being tested was a 0.287-liter single-cylinder engine equipped with a common-rail injection system. A solenoid and a piezoelectric injector were tested in the engine. The engine was operated under low load conditions using two injection events, high EGR rates, no swirl, three injection pressures and eight different dwell times. Four injector nozzles with approximately the same fuel injection rate were tested using the solenoid injection system (10 and 12 orifice configuration) and piezoelectric system (6 and 12 orifice design). The injection system had a significant influence on pollutant emissions and combustion noise. The piezoelectric injector presented the best characteristics for future studies since it allows for shorter injection durations and greater precision, which means smaller fuel mass deliveries with faster responses.     

The influence of fuel properties on combustion and emissions in a DI stratified charge engine

The influence of fuel properties on combustion characteristics and exhaust emissions in a direct injection stratified charge SI engine with a “two-stage fuel injection system” was examined. The results showed that this type of DISC combustion system can be used with a wider range of fuels than ordinary homogeneous combustion systems. Lower exhaust emissions and higher thermal efficiency were achieved even with fuels with lower octane numbers and higher distillation temperatures.     

Common rail injection system iterative learning control based parameter calibration for accurate fuel injection quantity control

This paper presents an accurate engine fuel injection quantity control technique for high pressure common rail (HPCR) injection systems by an iterative learning control (ILC)-based, on-line calibration method. Accurate fuel injection quantity control is of importance in improving engine combustion efficiency and reducing engine-out emissions. Current Diesel engine fuel injection quantity control algorithms are either based on pre-calibrated tables or injector models, which may not adequately handle the effects of disturbances from fuel pressure oscillation in HPCR, rail pressure sensor reading inaccuracy, and the injector aging on injection quantity control. In this paper, by using an exhaust oxygen fraction dynamic model, an on-line parameter calibration method for accurate fuel injection quantity control was developed based on an enhanced iterative learning control (EILC) technique in conjunction with HPCR injection system. A high-fidelity, GT-Power engine model, with parametric uncertainties and measurement disturbances, was utilized to validate such a methodology. Through simulations at different engine operating conditions, the effectiveness of the proposed method in rejecting the effects of uncertainties and disturbance on fuel injection quantity control was demonstrated.     

柴油机喷油过程参数获取的数值方法研究

利用内燃机整机工作过程一维仿真分析,通过数值计算多方案比较来得到最优喷油过程参数。对1台喷油过程参数未知的高压共轨柴油机的工作过程进行仿真和台架试验对比,结果表明,该柴油机的动力性、经济性和NOx排放性能在计算最优折中喷油过程参数点处与实测性能基本吻合,间接验证了仿真分析获取的喷油过程参数即为满足柴油机各性能的最优喷油过程参数。