Search Results

The success of stratified combustion is strongly determined by the injection and ignition system used. A large temporal and spatial variation of the main parameters - mixture composition and charge motion - in the vicinity of the spark location are driving the demands for significantly improved ignition systems. Besides the requirements for conventional homogeneous combustion systems higher ignition energy and breakdown voltage capability is needed. The spark location or spark plug gap itself has to be open and well accessible for the mixture to allow a successful flame kernel formation and growth into the stratified mixture regime, while being insensitive to potential interaction with liquid fuel droplets or even fuel film. For this purpose several different ignition concepts are currently being developed. The present article will give an ignition system overview for stratified combustion within Delphi Powertrain Systems.

Currently in automotive industrial, the emphasis on developing a better heat exchanger for vehicle thermal management is not only to address its functional performance but also its durability levels. One of the requirements for the latter is to test the heat exchanger in a simulated stone impact bench test with specified impact energy criteria. Due to various complex influence factors of this test, there is no existing simplified and physical-based relationship for heat exchanger design engineers to apply. With above considerations in mind and based on impact mechanical principles, impact heads configurations and heat exchangers geometrical details, this paper is proposing and developing a simplified impact mechanical models, where physical reasoned influence design factors can be presented and analyzed.

Soot fouling on exhaust gas recirculation coolers (EGRc) decreases thermal efficiency, implying the unfulfillment of NOx standards, and increases the pressure drop producing the malfunctioning of this device. The characterization of soot is of great interest since soot physico-chemical properties may have a direct influence on the degree of malfunctioning of EGRc. Thus, the combined analysis and interpretation of all the soot physico-chemical features are essential to correctly interpret its behavior when soot is deposited on the EGRc walls. In this context, the aim of this study is the characterization of five different types of diesel soot which were collected from several high pressure EGRc, working at different conditions (engine bench and vehicle). Each soot sample was characterized by means of elemental analysis, specific surface area (BET method), FESEM, FTIR, TGA, GC-MS and UV-visible spectroscopy.

Goldilocks is a proposed serial communication protocol designed to find the “sweet spot” in trading off overhead, complexity, throughput, cost, and real time performance. Simple off line analysis of schedulability is a feature.. While backward compatible with CAN at the applications level, Goldilocks promises to be performance and feature competitive with FlexRay with less complexity and cost.

The implementation and development efforts of lean NOx trap catalysts for heavy-duty applications decreased a number of years ago. Most heavy-duty engine manufacturers realized that the system complexity as well as the durability of such a system does not allow large volume production without significant risk. The current consensus of the heavy-duty community is that for 2010 the SCR system will be the prime path to meet the 0.2 g/bHPhr NOx emission standard, although this is subject to adequate infrastructure investment and progress. As a low volume manufacturer, in order to comply with the 2007 heavy-duty phase-in emission standards, General Engine Products (a subsidiary of AM General LLC) integrated a NOx adsorber system on the Optimizer 6500 engine. This engine features split combustion chamber design, rotary fuel injection pump and operates with EGR.

In order to allow continued production of the AM General Optimizer 6500 during MY 2007 through 2010 this IDI engine (Indirect Injection - swirl chamber) requires sophisticated aftertreatment controls while maintaining its fuel economy and durability. The main purpose of the development program was to retain the relatively inexpensive and simple base engine with distributor pump and waste-gated turbocharger, while adding hardware and software components that allow achievement of the phase-in emission standards for 2007 through 2010. The aftertreatment system consists of Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), NOx Adsorber Catalyst (or DeNOx Trap - DNT) and Diesel Particle Filter (DPF). In addition to the base hardware, an intake air throttle valve and an in-exhaust fuel injector were installed. The presented work will document the development process for a 2004 certified 6.5 l IDI heavy-duty diesel engine to comply with the 2007 heavy-duty emission standards.

An experiment was performed with a 1.3L catalytic converter design containing a front and rear catalyst each having a volume of 0.65 liters. This investigation varied the front catalyst parameters to study the effects of 1) substrate diameter, 2) substrate cell density, 3) Pd loading and 4) Rh loading on the FTP emissions on three different vehicles. Engine displacement varied from 2.4L to 4.7L. Eight different converters were built defined by a Taguchi L-8 array. Cold flow converter restriction results show the tradeoff in converter restriction between substrate cell density and substrate diameter. Vehicle FTP emissions show how the three vehicles are sensitive to the four parameters investigated. Platinum Group Metals (PGM) prices and Federal Test Procedure (FTP) emissions were used to define the emission value between the substrate properties of diameter and cell density to palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) concentrations.

The focus of this study is to determine the effect of using B-20 (a blend of 20% soybean methyl ester biodiesel and 80% ultra low sulfur diesel fuel) on the combustion process, performance and exhaust emissions in a High Speed Direct Injection (HSDI) diesel engine equipped with a common rail injection system. The engine was operated under simulated turbocharged conditions with 3-bar indicated mean effective pressure and 1500 rpm engine speed. The experiments covered a wide range of injection pressures and EGR rates. The rate of heat release trace has been analyzed in details to determine the effect of the properties of biodiesel on auto ignition and combustion processes and their impact on engine out emissions. The results and the conclusions are supported by a statistical analysis of data that provides a quantitative significance of the effects of the two fuels on engine out emissions.

Embedded software is a software system that permanently resides in a device whose operations it controls. Typically, embedded systems are housed on flash memory or ROM chip and may be found in systems like cellular phones, household and office appliances having digital interfaces, medical equipment, automotive components, avionics etc. The fundamental problem facing the design of embedded systems is heterogeneity. Multiple styles of algorithms (e.g. signal processing, communications, and controls) are implemented using a variety of technologies (e.g., digital signal processors, microcontrollers, field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integrated circuits, and real-time operating systems).Other challenges in automotive development are increasing requirements and therefore increasing size and complexity of the code, development and management of offshore / muti-site software development to reduce costs.

The EASIS project clarified typology of dependent failures (Common Cause Failures, Common Mode Failures and Cascading Failures). Typology of dependent failures is a key concept used within safety standards such as IEC61508, or the on-going ISO26262. A presentation of this typology supported with concrete examples will be used to introduce a discussion on dependent failure analysis and bring in the distinction between the concepts of independence and absence of interference. Independence of EE architectural elements is required particularly between two architectural elements implementing a function and its associated safety mechanism. Absence of interference which is less demanding than independence is required to allow architectural elements of different criticality to cohabit (among others, safety-related elements and non-safety-related elements). Typical EE automotive examples will support this discussion

Embedded software is a software system that permanently resides in a device whose operations it controls. Typically, embedded systems are housed on flash memory or ROM chip and may be found in systems like cellular phones, household and office appliances having digital interfaces, medical equipment, automotive components, avionics etc. The fundamental problem facing the design of embedded systems is heterogeneity. Multiple styles of algorithms (e.g. signal processing, communications, and controls) are implemented using a variety of technologies (e.g., digital signal processors, microcontrollers, field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integrated circuits, and real-time operating systems).Other challenges in automotive development are increasing requirements and therefore increasing size and complexity of the code, development and management of offshore / muti-site software development to reduce costs.

The transportation industry, and in particular the automotive industry is undergoing the effects of two major events: in 2008 the soaring price of oil and in 2009 the global economic crisis. In addition to these events, new regulations are being signed into law in many countries around the world to reduce, or at least control, CO2 emissions. In parallel, to respond to these challenges, automotive manufacturers and suppliers are developing the internal combustion engine along 3 major trends: Downsizing with integration of turbocharger or supercharger Hybridization : from micro hybrid to full hybrid Low-cost engine for the just required performance These new powertrain systems call for a growing number of combustion modes and separate controls, dependent of the operating point, to satisfy all functional and legislative requirements. Likewise, they require new components which are more and more complex and controllable with greater accuracy.

Signal processing incorporating Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has been shown to be well suited for modeling engine-related performance indicators [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] that require multi-dimensional parametric calibration space. However, to obtain acceptable accuracy, traditional ANN implementation may require processing resources beyond the capability of current engine controllers. This paper explores the practicality of implementing an ANN-based algorithm performing real-time calculations of the volumetric efficiency (VE) for an engine with variable valve actuation (phasing and lift variation). This alternative approach was considered attractive since the additional degree of freedom introduced by variable lift would be cumbersome to add to the traditional multi-dimensional table-based representation of VE.

Electronic thermal management reduces pump and fan power consumption through gains in controllability and efficiency, and also provides for additional control of heat rejection management and variable control of coolant, oil, and engine temperatures. This paper represents the design, bench testing, and wind-tunnel vehicle testing of an advanced system comprised of an electric pump, electronic water flow proportioning valve, 42V alternator, 36V starter, and an electronic control system which commands the performance of the valve, pump, and fan clutch in relation to the cooling demand on a 1999 Volvo VN tractor equipped with a Cummins N14 engine. System design and test data are compared from both the stock cooling system and the advanced thermal management system (ATMS).

Worldwide scrutiny of the global warming impact of R-134a has presented the automotive industry with a pressing challenge to search for suitable alternative refrigerant(s). HFC-152a, referred to as R-152a in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, is touted as an alternative [1, 2] to R-134a because of its lower global warming potential (GWP). R-152a is more environmentally benign than R-134a with GWP of 120 versus 1300. This paper is a follow up to the work on the potential applications of R-152a presented at the 2003 Vehicle Thermal Management Systems Conference (VTMS6) [3]. It documents continuing progress in applying R-152a to vehicle climate control systems. The paper compares R-152a cooling performance and energy performance to comparable R-134a system designs, including direct and indirect expansion systems. Also discussed are efforts to provide safe system operation with R-152a refrigerant.

The development and preliminary testing of an algorithm that detects impending rollover is described. The algorithm is intended for use in conjunction with active chassis systems to prevent some types of rollovers. Several methods of estimating roll angle and roll rate from physical principles using available sensors are presented. Advantages and drawbacks of each method and their ranges of reliable operations are discussed. An approach using a closed-loop adaptive observer for estimating roll angle and roll rate of vehicle body with respect to the road is proposed. Performance and robustness of the estimator are evaluated through numerical simulations and vehicle testing, using various scenarios, including maneuver induced and road induced body roll. The estimates are shown to be consistently superior to those obtained from other methods. A roll index is proposed, which uses the estimated roll angle and other signals to indicate rollover danger.

The relationship between engine oil formulations and catalyst performance was investigated by comparatively testing five engine oils. In addition to one baseline production oil with a calcium plus magnesium detergent system, the remaining four oils were specifically formulated with different additive combinations including: one worst case with no detergent and production level zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDTP), one with calcium-only detergent and two best cases with zero phosphorus. Emissions performance, phosphorus loss from the engine oil, phosphorus-capture on the catalyst and engine wear were evaluated after accumulating 100,000 miles of taxi service in twenty vehicles. The intent of this comparative study was to identify relative trends.

Considered in this study by the use of finite element model is a unit of assembled stator and one-way clutch (OWC) housed in a test setup, where the inner chamber is maintained at a given elevated temperature while its exterior housing surfaces are exposed to the room temperature. The two key components of dissimilar metals are assembled through the conventional interference fitting at their interface surfaces to form a friction joint at the room temperature. Due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of two dissimilar materials, the outer component of aluminum from this joint tends to expand more than the inner component of steel when the temperature rises, thus leading to a possible relaxation in joining connection at their interface.

The control of sound fields radiated by vibrating structures in a passenger compartment, (especially structures connected to different organs like the engine powertrain, the fan motor unit, seats, the steering column, electrical motors more and more, etc.) is among the functions of the automotive manufacturers. The absence of physical prototypes in the development phase systems led OEMs1 to use tests results obtained on benches following technical specifications from manufacturers. The transition "bench to vehicle" for vibro- acoustic behaviour sets many challenges that this standard intends to clear up. This standard specifies the experimental method to transpose the dynamic forces generated by the global movements of an active component between the vehicle and a test bench. The efforts are first measured on test benches and then transposed from test bench towards the vehicle. The standard is now a French standard (XP R 19-701) and is submitted to ISO process [1].

With more emphasis on developing a better fuel-economic vehicle, applications of charged air cooler (CAC) in turbo charged gas and diesel engine plays an increasing critical role in both aspects of reduction of engine intake manifold temperature level and increase of intake air density. However, there is a limitation on how far charged air can be cooled when it starts to condensate within the charged air cooler (CAC). In this paper, staring from basic thermodynamics principles, a thermal flow model is developed and explains the physical reasons for the condensation generation inside charged air cooler (CAC) tubes.