Search Results

A liquid fuelled, fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) can provide efficient, quiet and low pollution power for a variety of applications including commercial and military vehicles. Truck idling regulation, customer comfort or military “stealth” operation by using electrical power, require a device disconnected from the main diesel engine. The power can be utilized for air conditioning as well as other auxiliary systems found on board commercial trucks for driver comfort. In a military vehicle, this regulated power could be supplied to telecommunication and other computer equipment required for military operations. A system designed to be an add-on or retrofit solution using alternative fuel can have the potential to meet these requirements on the hundreds of thousands of existing vehicles currently in service or as optional equipment on a newly procured vehicle.

The fundamental effect that cycle difference of a reciprocating internal combustion engine has on noise and performance, together with noise and vibration characteristics of 2- and 4-cycle diesel engines, is described. Some of the conclusions drawn from extensive noise and vibration measurements include: 1. Variation in engine surface vibration and noise radiated is linearly related to a force input applied to the structure. 2. A method of predicting combustion noise levels of current automotive diesel engines. 3. A combination of engine performance calculations with relations for predicting overall engine noise in initial design stages.