scholarly journals Investigations of the Friction Losses of Different Engine Concepts. Part 2: Sub-Assembly Resolved Friction Loss Comparison of Three Engines

Lubricants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Knauder ◽  
Hannes Allmaier ◽  
David E. Sander ◽  
Theodor Sams

In this work, friction loss investigations and comparisons of three different four-cylinder engines for passenger car applications are presented, using a recently developed combined approach. By merging extensive experimental with reliable and predictive journal bearing simulation results, a sub-assembly-resolved friction loss analysis of the piston group, crankshaft journal bearings and valve train is conducted for all three engines. The engines have been chosen individually based on their specific power output and crank train geometry. The measurement program covers a wide range of corresponding engine operation points (identical speed, load and thermal boundary conditions). In addition, the investigations are carried out for different engine media supply temperatures ranging from 70 ∘ C to 110 ∘ C for a comprehensive consideration of the friction losses at reduced lubricant viscosity. For reasons of comparability, all investigations conducted in this work have been carried out using the same modern SAE 5W30 lubricant. This is done to exclude influences from different lubricant properties which may have significant effects on the tribological behaviour of the engines’ sub-assemblies. While the diesel engine showed a friction reduction potential over the entire engine operation range when increasing the engine media supply temperatures, the gasoline engines showed a different behaviour. For the gasoline engines, disadvantages arise especially at low engine speeds. By using the developed combined approach, it was possible to assign mixed lubrication regimes at the valve train systems and at the piston groups.

Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Marian ◽  
Tim Weikert ◽  
Stephan Tremmel

The overall energy efficiency of machine elements and engine components could be improved by using new technologies such as surface modifications. In the literature, surface engineering approaches like micro-texturing and the application of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were frequently studied separately, with focus on a specific model contact and lubrication conditions. The contribution of the current study is to elucidate and compare the underlying friction reduction mechanisms of the aforementioned surface modifications in an application-orientated manner. The study applied the operating conditions of the thermo-elastohydrodynamically lubricated (TEHL) cam/tappet-contact of the valve train. Therefore, tribological cam/bucket tappet component Stribeck tests were used to determine the friction behavior of ultrashort pulse laser fabricated microtextures and PVD/PECVD deposited silicon-doped amorphous carbon coatings. Moreover, advanced surface characterization methods, as well as numerical TEHL tribo-simulations, were utilized to explore the mechanisms responsible for the observed tribological effects. The results showed that the DLC-coating could reduce the solid and fluid friction force in a wide range of lubrication regimes. Conversely, micro-texturing may reduce solid friction while increasing the fraction of fluid friction.


Lubricants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Knauder ◽  
Hannes Allmaier ◽  
David E. Sander ◽  
Theodor Sams

This work presents the application of a combined approach to investigate the friction losses in a modern four-cylinder passenger-car diesel engine. The approach connects the results from engine friction measurements using the indication method and the results from journal-bearing simulations. The utilization of the method enables a subassembly-resolved friction loss analysis that yields the losses of the piston group, crankshaft journal bearings, and valve train (including the timing drive and crankshaft seals). The engine and engine subassembly friction losses are investigated over the full speed and load range, covering more than 120 engine operation points at different engine media supply temperatures ranging from 70 to 110 ∘ C. The subsequently decreasing lubricant viscosity due to higher engine media supply temperatures allow for the identification of friction reduction potentials as well as possible risks due to an onset of mixed lubrication. Furthermore, additional strip-tests have been conducted to determine the friction losses of the crankshaft radial lip seals, the timing drive, and the crankshaft journal bearings, thus enabling a verification of the calculated journal-bearing friction losses with measurement results. For the investigated diesel engine, a friction reduction potential of up to 21% could be determined when increasing the engine media supply temperature from 70 to 110 ∘ C, at engine speeds higher than n = 1500 rpm and part load operating conditions. At low engine speeds and high load operations, the friction loss reduction potential is considerably decreased and below 8%, indicating mixed lubrication regimes at the piston group and valve train.


Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
Bugao Lyu ◽  
Xianghui Meng ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Yi Cui

As a vital component in the valve train of internal combustion engines (ICEs), the cam/tappet pair undergoes high mechanical and thermal loads and usually works in a mixed and boundary lubrication regime. This leads to considerable friction loss and severe surface wear. Currently, the applications of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for automotive components are becoming a promising strategy to reduce the friction and lower the wear. However, the practical performance of the coating is related to many factors, including friction coefficient, thermal properties, load conditions, and surface topography. In order to investigate these factors and successively improve the fuel efficiency and durability of the cam/tappet pair, a comprehensive multi-physics analytical model considering the mechanical, thermal and tribological properties of DLC coatings is established in this paper. Simulations are carried out for the coated as well as the uncoated cam/tappet conjunctions with different roughness at various ambient temperatures. The results show that both the fluid and asperity contact friction for the coated cam/tappet conjunction are significantly reduced due to their favourable characteristics. As a result, the friction loss of the coated cam/tappet pair is noticeably lower by almost 40% than that of the uncoated, despite a slightly higher asperity contact. In addition, the wear resistance of DLC coatings is also impressive, although the wear condition becomes progressively more severe with the increasing ambient temperature. Moreover, the roughness has complex effects on the friction and wear under different conditions.


Lubricants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Knauder ◽  
Hannes Allmaier ◽  
David E. Sander ◽  
Theodor Sams

One of the biggest requirements of today’s engine development process for passenger cars is the need to reduce fuel consumption. A very effective and economic approach is the use of low-viscosity lubricants. In this work, sub-assembly resolved friction reduction potentials and risks are presented for three different engine concepts. By using a developed combined approach, the friction losses of the base engines are separated to the sub-assemblies piston group, crankshaft journal bearings, and valve train over the full operation range of the engines. Unique analyzing of boundary conditions makes it possible for the first time to compare friction reduction potentials and possible risks, not only between diesel and gasoline engines for passenger car applications, but also with particular focus on the power density of the three engines. Firstly, the engines have been specifically chosen regarding their specific power output. Secondly, one identical SAE 5W30 lubricant suitable for all engines is used to neglect influences from different lubricant properties. Thirdly, identical test programs have been conducted at the same thermal boundary conditions at engine media supply temperatures of 70 ∘ C and 90 ∘ C. For the crankshaft journal bearings, high reduction potentials are identified, while risks arising occur at the valve train and the piston group systems.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Yeoh Jun Jie Jason ◽  
Heoy Geok How ◽  
Yew Heng Teoh ◽  
Farooq Sher ◽  
Hun Guan Chuah ◽  
...  

This study investigated the tribological behaviour of Pongamia oil (PO) and 15W–40 mineral engine oil (MO) with and without the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). The friction and wear characteristics were evaluated in four-ball anti-wear tests according to the ASTM D4172 standard. The morphology of worn surfaces and the lubrication mechanism of GNPs were investigated via SEM and EDS. This study also focuses on the tribological effect of GNP concentration at various concentrations. The addition of 0.05 wt % GNPs in PO and MO exhibits the lowest friction and wear with 17.5% and 12.24% friction reduction, respectively, and 11.96% and 5.14% wear reduction, respectively. Through SEM and EDS surface analysis, the surface enhancement on the worn surface by the polishing effect of GNPs was confirmed. The deposition of GNPs on the friction surface and the formation of a protective film prevent the interacting surfaces from rubbing, resulting in friction and wear reduction.


Author(s):  
Mirko Baratta ◽  
Stefano d’Ambrosio ◽  
Daniela Misul ◽  
Ezio Spessa

An experimental investigation and a burning-rate analysis have been performed on a production 1.4 liter CNG (compressed natural gas) engine fueled with methane-hydrogen blends. The engine features a pent-roof combustion chamber, four valves per cylinder and a centrally located spark plug. The experimental tests have been carried out in order to quantify the cycle-to-cycle and the cylinder-to-cylinder combustion variation. Therefore, the engine has been equipped with four dedicated piezoelectric pressure transducers placed on each cylinder and located by the spark plug. At each test point, in-cylinder pressure, fuel consumption, induced air mass flow rate, pressure and temperature at different locations on the engine intake and exhaust systems as well as ‘engine-out’ pollutant emissions have been measured. The signals correlated to the engine operation have been acquired by means of a National Instruments PXI-DAQ system and a home developed software. The acquired data have then been processed through a combustion diagnostic tool resulting from the integration of an original multizone thermodynamic model with a CAD procedure for the evaluation of the burned-gas front geometry. The diagnostic tool allows the burning velocities to be computed. The tests have been performed over a wide range of engine speeds, loads and relative air-fuel ratios (up to the lean operation). For stoichiometric operation, the addition of hydrogen to CNG has produced a bsfc reduction ranging between 2 to 7% and a bsTHC decrease up to the 40%. These benefits have appeared to be even higher for lean mixtures. Moreover, hydrogen has shown to significantly enhance the combustion process, thus leading to a sensibly lower cycle-to-cycle variability. As a matter of fact, hydrogen addition has generally resulted into extended operation up to RAFR = 1.8. Still, a discrepancy in the abovementioned conclusions was observed depending on the engine cylinder considered.


2021 ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
VALERIY L. CHUMAKOV ◽  

The paper shows some ways to improve the environmental characteristics of a diesel engine using gaseous hydrocarbon fuel and operating the engine in a gas-diesel cycle mode. Some possibilities to reduce toxic components of exhaust gases in a gas-diesel engine operating on liquefi ed propane-butane mixtures have been studied. Experiments carried out in a wide range of load from 10 to 100% and speed from 1400 to 2000 rpm showed that the gas-diesel engine provides a suffi ciently high level of diesel fuel replacement with gas hydrocarbon fuel. The authors indicate some eff ective ways to reduce the toxicity of exhaust gases. The engine power should be adjusted by the simultaneous supply of fuel, gas and throttling the air charge in the intake manifold. This method enriches the fi rst combusting portions to reduce nitrogen oxides and maintains the depletion of the main charge within the fl ammability limits of the gas-air charge to reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. The authors found that when the engine operates in a gas-diesel cycle mode, the power change provides a decrease in nitrogen oxide emissions of gas-diesel fuel only due to gas supply in almost the entire load range as compared to the pure diesel. At high loads (more than 80%) stable engine operation is ensured up to 90% of diesel fuel replaced by gas. Even at 10% of diesel fuel used the concentration of nitrogen oxides decreases by at least 15…20% as compared with a diesel engine in the entire load range. However, there is an increased emission of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases. Further experimental studies have shown that optimization of the gas diesel regulation can reduce the mass emission of nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases in 2…3 times and greatly reduce the emission of incomplete combustion products – carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.


1970 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-107
Author(s):  
B. H. Croft

The requirements of the modern automotive petrol engine in relation to higher specific power outputs while retaining good driveability and satisfying the impending exhaust emission control regulations, motivated an investigation into the potential of petrol injection. Consideration of the control requirements and accuracy necessary led, at an early stage, to the selection of electronic control on the basis of control capability, long term reliability, relatively low cost and the potential for future development. The fuel system was designed round the electronic control, manifold injection being used instead of direct injection on the basis of simplicity, lower cost and greater installation flexibility. The original system concept has changed only in detail, development effort being applied to the refinement of the system components to achieve a high standard of performance and the facility to apply the system with minimal modification to a wide range of engine types. The system is described in some detail and typical examples of the system performance on vehicles are presented.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshid Zabihian

The first part of this thesis deals with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power stations. The GHG emission estimation from fossil fuel power generation industry signifies that emissions from this industry can be significantly reduced by fuel switching and adaption of advanced power generation technologies. In the second part of the thesis, steady-state models of some of the advanced fossil fuel power generation technologies are presented. The impacts of various parameters on the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) overpotentials and outputs are investigated. The detail analyses of operation of the hybrid SOFC-gas turbine (GT) cycle when fuelled with methane and syngas demonstrate that the efficiencies of the cycles with and without anode exhaust recirculation are close, but the specific power of the former is much higher. The parametric analysis of the performance of the hybrid SOFC-GT cycle indicates that increasing the system operating pressure and SOFC operating temperature and fuel utilization factor improves cycle efficiency, but the effects of the increasing SOFC current density and turbine inlet temperature are not favourable. The analysis of the operation of the system when fuelled with a wide range of fuel types demonstrates that the hybrid SOFC-GT cycle efficiency can be between 59% and 75%, depending on the inlet fuel type. Then, the system performance is investigated when methane as a reference fuel is replaced with various species that can be found in the fuel, i.e., H₂, CO₂, CO, and N₂. The results point out that influence of various species can be significant and different for each case. The experimental and numerical analyses of a biodiesel fuelled micro gas turbine indicate that fuel switching from petrodiesel to biodiesel can influence operational parameters of the system. The modeling results of gas turbine-based power plants signify that relatively simple models can predict plant performance with acceptable accuracy. The unique feature of these models is that they are developed based on similar assumptions and run at similar conditions; therefore, their results can be compared. This work demonstrates that, although utilization of fossil fuels for power generation is inevitable, at least in the short- and mid-term future, it is possible and practical to carry out such utilization more efficiently and in an environmentally friendlier manner.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amira Abdelrasoul

The low-pressure membrane applications are considered to be the most effective and sustainable methods of addressing environmental problems in treating water and wastewater that meets or exceed stringent environmental standards. Nevertheless, membrane fouling is one of the primary operational concerns that is currently hindering a more widespread application of ultrafiltration (UF) with a variety of contaminants. Membrane fouling leads to higher operating costs, higher energy demand, reduced membrane life time, and increased cleaning frequency. As a consequence, an efficient and well-planned UF process is becoming a necessity for consistent and long-term monetary returns. Examining the source and mechanisms of foulant attachment to the membrane’s surface is critical when it comes to the research of membrane fouling and its potential practical implementation. A mathematical model was developed in this study in order to predict the amount of fouling based on an analysis of particle attachments. This model was developed using both homogeneous and heterogeneous membranes, with a uniform and non-uniform pore sizes for the UF of simulated latex effluent with a wide range of particle size distribution. The objective of this mathematical model was to effectively identify and address the common shortcomings of previous fouling models, and to account for the existing chemical attachments in membrane fouling. The mathematical model resulting from this study was capable of accurately predicting the mass of fouling retained by the membrane and the increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP). In addition, predictive models of fouling attachments were derived and now form an extensive set of mathematical models necessary for the prediction of membrane fouling at a given operating condition, as well as, the various membrane surface charges. Polycarbonate and Polysulfone flat membranes, with pore sizes of 0.05 μm and a molecular weight cut off of 60,000 respectively, were used in the experimental designs under a constant feed flow rate and a cross-flow mode in UF of the simulated latex paint effluent. The TMP estimated from the model agreed with the experimentally measured values at different operating conditions, mostly within 5.0 - 8.0 % error, and up to 13.0% error for the uniform, and non-uniform pore size membranes, respectively. Furthermore, different types of membranes with a variety of molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) values were tested so as to evaluate the accuracy of the models for a generalized application. In addition , a power consumption model, incorporating fouling attachment as well as chemical and physical factors in membrane fouling, was developed in order to ensure accurate prediction and scale-up. Innovative remediation techniques were likewise developed and applied in order to minimize membrane fouling, enhance the membrane performance, and save energy. Fouling remediation methodologies included the pre-treating of the latex effluent, so as to limit its fouling propensity by using different types of surfactants as cationic and anionic, in addition to the pH change. The antifouling properties of the membranes were improved through the implementation of the membrane pH treatment and anionic surfactant treatment. Increasing the ionic strength of latex effluent or enhancing the membrane surface hydrophilicity facilitated a significant increase in the cumulative permeate flux, a substantial decrease in the total mass of fouling, and a noticeable decrease in the specific power consumption.


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