Conventional Engine Research Articles

Analytical Conversion of Conventional Car to Electric Vehicle Using 5KW BLDC Electric Motor

The automotive industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation solutions. This project aims to contribute to this transition by converting a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) car into an electric vehicle (EV) using a 5 kW Brushless DC (BLDC) electric motor. The conversion involves the removal of the traditional engine components and the integration of an electric propulsion system. The key components of the conversion include the BLDC motor, motor controller, battery pack, and associated power electronics. The BLDC motor is chosen for its efficiency, reliability, and compact design, making it suitable for retrofitting into existing vehicles. The motor controller manages the power supplied to the BLDC motor, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. The project explores the challenges and solutions encountered during the conversion process, including adapting the vehicle's chassis to accommodate the new components, integrating a charging system, and addressing safety considerations. Additionally, efforts are made to optimize the overall weight distribution and maintain the vehicle's original handling characteristics. Performance testing is conducted to evaluate the acceleration, top speed, and overall efficiency of the converted electric vehicle. The results are compared with the original performance specifications of the conventional car to assess the success of the conversion. This project not only showcases the technical feasibility of converting conventional cars to electric vehicles but also highlights the environmental benefits associated with reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The findings contribute valuable insights to the growing field of electric vehicle conversions and promote sustainable transportation solutions.

An Experimental Study on the Effect of Intake Pressure on a Natural Gas-Diesel Dual-Fuel Engine

Abstract Natural gas-diesel dual-fuel (NDDF) combustion can be a viable method to reduce diesel usage in compression ignition (CI) internal combustion engines. Potential benefits of NDDF engines in comparison to conventional diesel engines include decreases in soot and carbon dioxide emissions. This study focuses on the effect of intake pressure on a dual-fuel engine with intake port injected natural gas (NG) and direct injected diesel at two engine operation conditions – low load-high speed and high load-low speed. The research work was performed on a heavy-duty, single-cylinder engine at a NG-diesel energy ratio of approximately 3:1. The results show that when the intake pressure was increased, the indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) increased for diesel combustion. The trend was similar at the high load-low speed condition but opposite at the low load-high speed condition for NDDF. ITEs of diesel combustion were generally higher than NDDF combustion due to higher unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions associated with the latter. For low load-high speed dual-fuel combustion, increasing intake pressure increased the HC and soot emissions, but decreased the nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. For high load-low speed case, increasing intake pressure caused the HC emissions to increase and the NOx and soot emissions to decrease. In-cylinder temperature measured at the tip of the diesel injector showed that the injector tip temperatures were higher for NDDF cases compared to diesel cases. These temperatures could be correlated with the combustion phasing and NOx emissions.

CO2 emissions of fuel-cell battery hybrid system for large ships

ABSTRACT The needs of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and batteries in large ships are analyzed by estimating the amount of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Three types of systems are proposed: 1) fuel cells-battery-generator engine system, 2) battery-generator engine system, and 3) generator engine system. This study is based on the time-varying electric power demand and adopted the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method to find the optimal power distribution of mixed power sources. CO2 emissions in the SOFC hybrid system are 11.6% lower than in the conventional generator engine system, and those in the battery-generator engine system are 5.1% lower than in the conventional system. The reduction of CO2 emissions come from three factors: the operation of the generator engine at a relatively high load rate, the battery sharing the operation of the generator engine, and the high efficiency of the SOFC running. The SOFC hybrid system can be a sustainable technology in large vessels.

Effect of Fuel Injection Parameters on Engine Performance in A Conventional Single Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine

In this study, a 1D model was created using the Ricardo-Wave program for a single-cylinder, spark ignition, four-stroke, direct injection engine with a stroke volume of 398 cc. Air-fuel ratio (AFR), mixture temperature (MT), and start of injection (SOI) were used as fuel injection parameters. Using these parameters, 343 different cases were created. Brake power, thermal efficiency, and fuel consumption were used as engine performance parameters. By holding one injection parameter constant, a contour plot was created to examine the effect of the other two parameters on the engine performance parameter. According to the results, the effect of MT and SOI on brake power is 1%, the effect of AFR on brake power is 9.6%, the effect of MT and SOI on thermal efficiency is 1%, and the effect of AFR on thermal efficiency is 12.8%. The effect of MT and SOI on fuel consumption is 0.04%, the effect of AFR on fuel consumption is 22.9%, and the effect of AFR on brake specific fuel consumption is 22.9%. These results indicate that the most significant effect is provided by AFR, while MT and SOI also have a slight impact on engine performance.

Pushing Theoretical Potassium Storage Limits of MXenes through Introducing New Carbon Active Sites.

Surface-driven capacitive storage enhances rate performance and cyclability, thereby improving the efficacy of high-power electrode materials and fast-charging batteries. Conventional defect engineering, widely-employed capacitive storage optimization strategy, primarily focuses on the influence of defects themselves on capacitive behaviors. However, the role of local environment surrounding defects, which significantly affects surface properties, remains largely unexplored for lack of suitable material platform and has long been neglected. As proof-of-concept, typical Ti3C2Tx MXenes are chosen as model materials owing to metallic conductivity and tunable surface properties, satisfying the requirements for capacitive-type electrodes. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the potential of MXenes with modulated local atomic environment is anticipated and introducing new carbon sites found near pores can activate electrochemically inert surface, attaining record theoretical potassium storage capacities of MXenes (291 mAh g-1). This supposition is realized through atomic tailoring via chemical scissor within sublayers, exposing new sp3-hybridized carbon active sites. The resulting MXenes demonstrate unprecedented rate performance and cycling stability. Notably, MXenes with higher carbon exposure exhibit a record-breaking capacity over 200 mAh g-1 and sustain a capacity retention higher than 80% after 20 months. These findings underscore the effectiveness of regulating defects' neighboring environment and illuminate future high-performance electrode design.

Laboratory systems for detonation research

Decarbonizing global energy systems is among the most pertinent challenges in the climate crisis. Tightly tied to the economic prosperity of a nation and responsible for more than 75% of global emissions, decarbonization of the energy sector will require well-developed solutions. The emergence of detonation engines can reduce emissions in aviation and gas-fired power generation, with theoretical efficiencies 40% lower than conventional engines. These efficiencies have yet to be realized in practice, due to our lack of understanding of detonation propagation and its instabilities. This project aimed to develop the laboratory systems required to study detonations. To this end, a long rectangular channel was manufactured and outfitted with a gas handling system to inject a mixture, an ignition system, pressure transducers to capture the propagation characteristics, and an optical system enabling Schlieren photography. The gas handling system uses sonic nozzles, thus flow rate is a linear function of upstream line pressure. Each line contains a pressure transducer, microcontroller to process signals, LCD for pressure readout, and a regulator for adjustment of the line pressure. The ignition system uses an ignition box that steps up a 12 V supply to 400 V, an ignition coil raising the voltage to 15-40 kV, and a spark plug to ignite the mixture. Ignition, pressure transducer signal acquisition, and Schlieren photography are all synchronized using a NI-6356 DAQ with LabVIEW. The DAQs analog input ports receive readings from the pressure transducers along the channel, the timing of which and known distance between transducers allows for velocity calculations. The schlieren system utilizes the digital output channels to synchronize camera shutter with an LED driver, and parabolic mirrors, positioned to optimize schlieren imaging. The LED driver requires greater current than produced by the DAQ thus a current amplifier circuit is used to bridge the DAQ and driver.

A Method for Optimizing Production Layer Regrouping Based on a Genetic Algorithm

As waterflooding multi-layer reservoirs reach the high-water-cut stage, inter-layer conflicts become increasingly serious, leading to a worsening development effect over time. Production layer regrouping is an effective approach for resolving inter-layer conflicts and improving waterflooding efficiency. At the current stage, there are limitations to most of the methods of production layer regrouping. This article proposes a smart method for optimizing the layer regroup plan based on a genetic algorithm. Comprehensively considering various factors that affect the regroup of layers, such as layer thickness, porosity, permeability, remaining oil saturation, remaining reserves, recovery ratio, water cut, etc., based on the combination principle of “smaller intra-group variance and larger inter-group variance of each influencing factor are expected”, a genetic algorithm is used to calculate the fitness value of the initial combination schemes, and the advantageous schemes with higher fitness values are selected as the basis of the next generation. Then, crossover and mutation operations are performed on those advantageous schemes to generate new schemes. Through continuous selection and evolution, until the global optimal solution with the highest fitness value is found, the optimal combination scheme is determined. Comparative analysis with numerical simulation results demonstrates the reliability of this intelligent method, with an increased oil recovery of 4.34% for the sample reservoir. Unlike selecting a preferable plan from a limited number of predefined combination schemes, this method is an automatic optimization to solve the optimal solution of the problem. It improves both efficiency and accuracy as compared to conventional reservoir engineering methods, numerical simulation methods, and most mathematical methods, thus providing effective guidance for EOR strategies of waterflooding reservoirs in the high-water-cut stage.

Assessment of performance and emission characteristics of CI engine using tyre pyrolysis oil and biodiesel blends by nano additives: An experimental study

In the current study, the diesel engine performance, emission, and combustion have been investigated using tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) and biodiesel blended with nano-additives. The effect of the blending ratio on fuel combustion and emission was evaluated. The tyre pyrolysis oil was derived from scrap tyres through the pyrolysis process and biodiesel was synthesized from used cooking oil (UCO) through the transesterification process. Moringa oleifera-derived strontium oxide (SrO) nanoparticles were mixed into the fuel to provide extra oxygen for better combustion. Three blended fuels were formulated as: a) 5 % biodiesel and 95 % TPO containing 50 ppm SrO nanoparticles (B5TPO95SrO50), b) 10 % biodiesel and 90 % TPO containing 100 ppm SrO nanoparticles (B10TPO90SrO100), c) 50 % TPO and 50 % biodiesel without nano-additives (B50TPO50). Among the blended fuels, B10TPO90SrO100 showed the best brake thermal efficiency at 31.4 % and a brake-specific fuel consumption of 0.21 kg/kWh at full load. The B5TPO95SrO50 blended fuel showed reduced emission parameters such as unburned hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 2.05 %, 8.30 %, and 18.00 %, respectively, as compared to the conventional diesel engine at an optimum engine load (27.9 Nm). Hence, waste tyre oil and UCO biodiesel blended with biogenic SrO nano additive can be considered a promising fuel for a sustainable environment.

A study on the influence of utilizing hydrogen at fuelling spark ignition engines

Abstract In the last 30 years, remarkable progress has been made in reducing pollutant emissions and fuel consumption in conventional internal combustion engines. Active and passive methods of reducing exhaust emissions have caused them to decrease significantly over the level of the 1980s. However, the problems of air pollution and the greenhouse effect are far from being solved. International organizations and institutions are pushing for measures to reduce emissions, especially the implementation of “zero-emission” (ZEV) vehicles. Due to its excellent combustion properties and the very low pollutant emissions resulting from its combustion, hydrogen is seen as an alternative fuel of the future. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in two ways: in internal combustion piston engines or in fuel cells. Research into the use of hydrogen as a fuel for spark ignition engines is divided into two directions: additive fuel or a total gasoline substitution with hydrogen. Compared to the gasoline-powered engine, the fully hydrogen-powered engine runs more economically at low loads but it can create a decrease of performance at high loads due to the high volumes of space needed in the combustion chamber. Because of the very low density, high volumes of hydrogen are difficult to storage, requiring also high pressure, so running only on hydrogen wouldn’t be practical. Combining the advantages of the two fuels came the use of gasoline with addition of hydrogen. An important aspect is that emissions are significantly reduced due to the very good combustion properties of hydrogen and the high diffusivity that helps to form a homogeneous mixture. This paper presents aspects of fuelling a spark ignition engine with gasoline and hydrogen. The influence of hydrogen on the cylinder mixture, on the energy and emissions of the engine is analysed. We will focus on: engine power, fuel consumption, the level of pollutant emissions and greenhouse gases, at the studied regimes.

An efficient multi-fidelity simulation approach for performance prediction of adaptive cycle engines

Adaptive cycle engine (ACE) with multi-stream, modulated bypass ratio, and high-thrust/high-efficiency mode provides the capability of multiple mission adaptation for the next-generation aviation propulsion system. The low-fidelity zero-dimensional (0D) performance simulation method is commonly adopted in conventional engines such as turbofan and turbojet. However, it is hard to accommodate well to ACE with complex variable geometry schemes and strong interaction between components. This paper presents an efficient multi-fidelity simulation approach, often referred to as component zooming, for predicting the performance of ACE with the three-stream configuration. The one-dimensional (1D) mean-line models of the adaptive fan and low-pressure turbine (LPT) are integrated into the 0D ACE model by the iteratively-coupled method. The performance predicted by the multi-fidelity ACE models with different component zooming strategies is compared. The maximum deviations of thrust, specific fuel consumption, turbine inlet temperature, and bypass ratio between the 0D/1D Adaptive Fan/1D LPT coupled model and 0D ACE model are −10.8%, −4.4%, −5.4% (−75 K), and 1.6%, respectively, which are considerable and non-negligible for the application in the design stage of ACE. The computing time of all the multi-fidelity models is less than 2 minutes. The effects of the key aerodynamic parameters of the adaptive fan and LPT on the engine performance are also evaluated. The proposed approach provides a generic and efficient solution for multi-fidelity ACE performance prediction with acceptable computing resource requirements and time cost, which is applicable in the engine conceptual and preliminary design stage.

Performance of a Methanol-Fueled Direct-Injection Compression-Ignition Heavy-Duty Engine under Low-Temperature Combustion Conditions

Low-temperature combustion (LTC) concepts, such as homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) and partially premixed combustion (PPC), aim to reduce in-cylinder temperatures in internal combustion engines, thereby lowering emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and soot. These LTC concepts are particularly attractive for decarbonizing conventional diesel engines using renewable fuels such as methanol. This paper uses numerical simulations and a finite-rate chemistry model to investigate the combustion and emission processes in LTC engines operating with pure methanol. The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the physical and chemical processes in the engine and to identify optimal engine operation in terms of efficiency and emissions. The simulations replicated the experimentally observed trends for CO, unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs), and NOx emissions, the required intake temperature to achieve consistent combustion phasing at different injection timings, and the distinctively different combustion heat release processes at various injection timings. It was found that the HCCI mode of engine operation required a higher intake temperature than PPC operation due to methanol’s low ignition temperature in fuel-richer mixtures. In the HCCI mode, the engine exhibited ultra-low NOx emissions but higher emissions of UHC and CO, along with lower combustion efficiency compared to the PPC mode. This was attributed to poor combustion efficiency in the near-wall regions and engine crevices. Low emissions and high combustion efficiency are achievable in PPC modes with a start of injection around a crank angle of 30° before the top dead center. The fundamental mechanism behind the engine performance is analyzed.

The Magnet Engine

This research paper explores Michel K. Walden's Magnetite Engine and its transformative potential in engineering. The Magnetite Engine represents a significant advancement in propulsion technology, promising greater efficiency and performance than conventional combustion engines. Through a literature review and case studies, the paper assesses the engine's theoretical and practical aspects, focusing on its impact on automotive and aerospace industries. While it offers benefits like reduced emissions and improved energy efficiency, challenges such as scaling production and infrastructure integration remain. Future research directions are proposed to fully realize the Magnetite Engine's potential for sustainable engineering solutions.

A comparative study of first and second generation biodiesel blends under quaternary injection strategies for enhanced engine performance and reduced emissions

Biodiesel is a promising renewable alternative fuel, offering compatibility with conventional engines without necessitating significant engine modifications. To facilitate the practical integration of biodiesel into engine systems, this study evaluates the performance of two different biodiesel blends (fatty acid methyl ester and hydrogenated catalytic) in a turbocharged inter-cooled diesel engine. The research employs quaternary injection techniques an advanced injection technique, which involve multiple injection events per cycle to enhance engine combustion and emission characterictics of the biodiesel blend fuels and comparing their performance and emission characteristics with those of conventional diesel. Results showed that fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel effectively reduced the CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at lower blend ratios (up to 10 %), with minimal impact on the brake-specific fuel consumption. Conversely, hydrogenated catalytic biodiesel demonstrates notable advantages in reducing fuel consumption with carbon monoxide and particle emissions, particularly for higher blend ratios (20 %), leading to improved indicated thermal efficiency. Additionally, an investigation on higher biodiesel blends under varying early injection timings showed that, optimal fuel efficiency was observed at an early injection timing of −43.6 °CA, accompanied by reductions in total particle number and unburned hydrocarbon emissions albeit with elevated carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. These findings suggest that advanced injection strategies combined with sustainable biodiesel blends can significantly improve engine performance and reduce environmental impact, supporting the transition towards cleaner and more efficient transportation fuels.

Development of Driving Robot and Driver Model Applied Regenerative Brake Control of Electrified Vehicles

Real driving emissions (RDE) test procedures for type approval were initiated in Japan in 2022. In Japan, the test vehicle is driven on a test road (test course) by tracing the speed pattern prepared for each RDE test. The vehicle needs to trace the patterns in the same manner as in the conventional chassis dynamometer test. The use of a driving robot is effective for reproducibility in precisely tracing the target vehicle speed during these tests. In this study, we developed a driving robot for electrified vehicles (HEV, plug-in HEV, BEV, and FCV), which have regenerative brake-control systems. We applied a new logic to our robot that was developed in-house for conventional engine vehicles. We focused on braking deceleration of the regenerative brake control to change the operation timing from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. We verified the improvement of speed traceability of the driving robot installed with the proposed logic on the chassis dynamometer and test road.

CFD Methodology to Capture the Combustion Behavior of a Conventional Diesel Engine Retrofitted to Operate in Gasoline Compression Ignition Mode

CFD Methodology to Capture the Combustion Behavior of a Conventional Diesel Engine Retrofitted to Operate in Gasoline Compression Ignition Mode

Moving Towards Sustainable Purchase Behaviour: Determinants of Consumers’ Acceptance of Electric Vehicles in Malaysia

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common in the transportation industry in recent times. However, the market share of EVs is still unrivalled by that of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), particularly in developing countries such as Malaysia. This study seeks to investigate the factors of consumer acceptance of EVs in Malaysia. This study specifically investigates six selected factors that may have a significant role in determining EV acceptance. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach, with data collected via an online questionnaire survey among consumers using snowball sampling. Based on 243 valid responses, the findings revealed that environmental concern, energy efficiency of EVs, cost consideration of EV purchases, government policy towards EVs, availability of charging infrastructure, and social influence are positively and significantly associated with consumer acceptance. This study highlights the importance of improving the user experience, resolving practical issues, and emphasising the benefits of EVs to expedite the transition to sustainable and eco-friendly EVs in the context of developing countries.

Enhancing PEMFC Performance: Optimization of Hot-Pressed Decal Transfer Conditions for MEA Fabrication

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) hold significant promise in curbing greenhouse gas emissions within the transportation sector. While historically more expensive than conventional internal combustion engines, the cost per kW is poised to significantly drop as production volumes increase and the adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles progresses [1]. In heavy-duty vehicle applications, predictions suggest that hydrogen fuel cells will achieve a cost equivalence with diesel, potentially becoming the most cost-effective option when evaluating the total ownership expenses [2]. Membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEAs) serve as the core of fuel cells, where all reactions—proton and electron generation, distribution, and consumption occur. Their efficiency dictates both cell performance and lifespan. Various methods for fabricating MEAs have been developed, including decal transfer, catalyst-coated membrane (CCM), and catalyst-coated gas diffusion layer (CCG) techniques. Among these, the decal transfer method is widely regarded as the most appropriate for large-scale production of MEAs [3]. This study delves into an examination of diverse hot-pressed decal transfer conditions for the preparation of MEAs tailored for PEMFC application. Our investigation involves fabricating MEAs through hot-press decal transfer at temperatures spanning 115°C to 145°C and pressures ranging from 200 psi to 400 psi, each held for a 5-minute duration. Electrochemical characterizations were performed within a single-cell setup to assess MEA performance. Moreover, an accelerated stress test (AST) was carried out to scrutinize the stability of the fabricated MEAs concerning their decal transfer conditions and morphological variations. Our study extensively explored catalyst layers transferred under diverse hot-pressed decal transfer conditions, focusing on their fuel cell performance and transport properties. To comprehensively understand the influence of morphological alterations on electrochemical characteristics, additional morphological characterizations, including white light interferometer (WLI) imaging, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and nano-computed tomography (Nano-CT) were employed for MEA evaluation. Our findings indicate that the MEA produced at 145°C and 200 psi exhibited superior performance in both pre- and post-AST testing. Comprehensive experimental results and insights will be elaborated upon during the conference presentation.

A wind-to-wake approach for selecting future marine fuels and powertrains

Global shipping contributes (2.8%) to greenhouse gas emissions and needs to find future fuels which will allow the International Maritime organisation's 2050 net zero targets to be met. There is much uncertainty as to which fuels should be used between hydrogen, ammonia or methanol as future costs are uncertain. We propose and evaluate a Wind-to-Wake ratio that provides an objective measure based on the amount of renewable energy required to propel a ship. Time domain voyage energy demand profiles are used to simulate the fuel used and emissions for a cruise ship, a research survey vessel, a container ship and a large multi-fuel Liquefied Natural Gas carrier. Alternative ship power systems are investigated using various carbon-based fuels, ammonia and hydrogen either using conventional engines or fuel cells. For all voyage and fuel scenarios the combination of hydrogen and fuel cells uses 30% less renewable energy than ammonia and 26% less than methanol. Hydrogen only emits steam whereas the other fuel scenarios still emit significant amounts of greenhouse gasses.

Bioprinting of osteochondral tissues: A perspective on current gaps and future trends.

Osteochondral tissue regeneration has remained a critical challenge in orthopaedic surgery, especially due to complications of arthritic degeneration arising out of mechanical dislocations of joints. The common gold standard of autografting has several limitations in presenting tissue engineering strategies to solve the unmet clinical need. However, due to the complexity of joint anatomy, and tissue heterogeneity at the interface, the conventional tissue engineering strategies have certain limitations. The advent of bioprinting has now provided new opportunities for osteochondral tissue engineering. Bioprinting can uniquely mimic the heterogeneous cellular composition and anisotropic extra-cellular matrix (ECM) organization, while allowing for targeted gene delivery to achieve heterotypic differentiation. In this perspective, we discuss the current advances made towards bioprinting of composite osteochondral tissues and present an account of challenges—in terms of tissue integration, long-term survival, and mechanical strength at the time of implantation—required to be addressed for effective clinical translation of bioprinted tissues. Finally, we highlight some of the future trends related to osteochondral bioprinting with the hope of in-clinical translation.

A micromechanical study on sand − FRP interface subjected to cyclic loading

Fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) is a promising composite to be used in construction in coastal and marine environments to resist seawater corrosion that deteriorates the properties of conventional civil engineering materials. A classical ground or seabed − structure interaction problem that is involved in the design of FRP structures, is however less understood when the soft nature of FRP is in subjection to the cyclic loadings from traffic, wind, wave and currents, causing penetration and abrasion at the soft FRP − soil interface. This study has downscaled the preceding problem into a micromechanical study at a benchmark sand grain − FRP interface. A large number of cyclic loading is applied, for the first time, at the sand − FRP composite interface, focusing on the development of the elastoplastic behaviour in the normal direction and the evolution of friction and energy dissipation in the tangential direction. The study combines the understanding from the tribology with the knowledge of civil engineering involved in the sand − FRP interaction, suggesting that a larger stick zone at the contact subjected to cyclic shearing is a key triggering of the simultaneous occurrence of the increased coefficient of friction and reduced damping ratio.