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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.

This paper describes two simple laser instruments which the automotive engineer can use in vibrational studies of diesel engines. The first is a ‘normal surface velocity’ instrument which the engineer can hand hold and simply ‘point’ at the target surface for measurement. Field tests have shown it to be quick and easy to use with excellent accuracy and reliability. It is a particular time-saver in test cell use where the necessity for many accelerometer fittings is removed. The second is a laser torsional vibrometer which can measure the torsional oscillation of rotating machinery parts. This has shown itself to be superior to the more standard techniques of slotted discs and slip rings, etc. and provides advantages of higher frequency response, greater accuracy and non-contact measurement. Conclusions drawn herald a step forward in measurement techniques and demonstrate the great potential of laser technology in heavy engineering applications.