OPTIMIZATION OF METHODS AND PARAMETERS OF PRE-START THERMAL PREPARATION OF THE ENGINE FOR STARTING DEPENDING ON THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Due to the lack of a generally accepted methodology for calculating the starting processes of automotive diesel engines, today it is not possible to calculate their temperature parameters with a sufficient degree of accuracy during start-up, which determine the condition of a guaranteed start-up process. The main problem in applying theoretical calculations is that they take into account the compression ratio of the engine. But the compression ratio and the value of the actual pressure in the engine cylinders during the start-up are completely different indicators. The purpose of this work is to correct the generally accepted dependencies for determining the temperature parameters of a diesel engine by introducing a correction factor that takes into account the reduced pressure in the engine cylinders during start-up, as well as calculating the temperature parameters during start-up according to the proposed calculation method. The correction factor is determined experimentally and depends on the engine temperature. When applying the correction factor, it becomes possible to accurately calculate the temperature of the fuel-air mixture, which determines the possibility of a guaranteed start-up process and at the same time allows you to set the minimum necessary requirements for the means of thermal pre-start preparation. A group of graduate students and teachers (Izhevsk State Agricultural Academy and Kazan Agrarian University) conducted a number of practical studies on the basis of one of the leading agricultural enterprises of the Udmurt Republic JSC "Ilyich's Way". The MTZ-82 tractor was taken as the object of the study. The subject of the study was the launch of its D-243 engine at low temperatures in real operating conditions. The choice of this model of diesel engine is due to its wide application on tractors. The studies were carried out according to the approved test program, which consists in starting the D-243 engine of the MTZ-82 tractor at temperatures from - 30 ° C with an interval of 5 ° C to +5 ° C (engine temperature is equal to ambient temperature), as well as from +5 ° C to +90 ° C with an interval of 20 ° C (ambient temperature +20 ° C). Measurements were carried out to determine the amount of compression in the engine cylinders and the speed of rotation of the crankshaft at certain temperatures. The experiments were carried out using a starter charger that provides the full electric power of the diesel starter. As a result of the experimental work carried out, a change in the value of the correction coefficient from the engine temperature was established, and in accordance with the modified methodology of theoretical calculations, the values of the temperature of the fuel-air mixture at the end of the compression stroke of the diesel engine at start-up are given. It is established that the minimum required pre-start temperature of the diesel engine should be at least +5 ° C. Based on the results of the analysis of calculations, the directions of ensuring a guaranteed start of the diesel engine by simultaneously heating the coolant and engine oil are proposed. These requirements can be provided by a thermal storage system that does not require additional energy sources for its operation

An Algorithm for Obtaining 3D Egg Models from Visual Images

Mathematical models for describing the shape of eggs find application in various fields of practice. The article proposes a method and tools for a detailed study of the shape and peripheral contours of digital images of eggs that are suitable for grouping and sorting. A scheme has been adapted to determine the morphological characteristics of eggs, on the basis of which an algorithm has been created for obtaining their 3D models, based on data from color digital images. The deviation from the dimensions of the major and minor axes measured with a caliper and the proposed algorithm is 0.5–1.5 mm. A model of a correction factor has been established by which the three-dimensional shape of eggs can be determined with sufficient accuracy. The results obtained in this work improve the assumption that the use of algorithms to determine the shape of eggs strongly depends on those of the bird species studied. It is approved with data for Mallard eggs which have a more elliptical shape and correspondingly lower values of correction coefficient ‘c’ (c = 1.55–4.96). In sparrow (c = 9.55–11.19) and quail (c = 11.71–13.11) eggs, the form tends to be ovoid. After testing the obtained model for eggs from three bird species, sparrow, mallard, and quail, the coefficient of the determination of proposed model was R2 = 0.96. The standard error was SE = 0.08. All of the results show a p-value of the model less than α = 0.05. The proposed algorithm was applied to create 3D egg shapes that were not used in the previous calculations. The resulting error was up to 9%. This shows that in the test, the algorithm had an accuracy of 91%. An advantage of the algorithm proposed here is that the human operator does not need to select points in the image, as is the case with some of the algorithms developed by other authors. The proposed methods and tools for three-dimensional transformation of egg images would be applicable not only for the needs of poultry farming, but also in ornithological research when working with different shaped varieties of eggs. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has sufficient accuracy.

Compilation of Drilling Load Spectrum Based on the Characteristics of Drilling Force

In order to overcome the problem that the existing methods of compiling load spectrum of spindle or machine tool mainly aim at the cutting force spectrum, torque spectrum and speed spectrum respectively, which ignore the connection between each spectrum, in this paper, a method for compiling drilling load spectrum of motorized spindle in CNC machine tool based on the characteristics of drilling force is proposed. Firstly, drilling tests under different processing technologies are carried out to measure its load, and the correction coefficient in the empirical formula of drilling force is obtained through fitting the measured drilling force, which makes the calculation of the axial force and torque more reasonable. Secondly, compared with the extended factor method, the transcendental probability method is optimized to solve the ultimate load of the axial force. Then, after setting the axial force as the main load of drilling, an eight-stage load spectrum for the main load is compiled. Finally, according to the relationship between the axial force and other loads, the eight-stage loading spectrum is transformed into a multi-dimensional drilling load spectrum.

STUDY OF DYNAMIC MODES OF THE SPEED-OPTIMIZED ELECTRIC DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM UNDER CONDITIONS OF ALTER THE DESIGN VOLTAGE AMPLITUDE

The relevance of the work is due to the need to adapt the methods of the theory of optimal control to modern technical capabilities. The complexity of optimization of control systems by variational methods led to the creation of the N–i switching method. It is characterized by the simplicity of the mathematical apparatus, however, certain methodological aspects encourage research aimed at improving this method with a focus on software implementation. The purpose of this study is to develop the mathematical apparatus of the N–i switching method by developing a technique for correcting the settings of cascade structure relay systems for speed control of electric drives, based on the use of empirically obtained data. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved in the work: the parameters of the mathematical model of the electric drive were calculated, on which a series of numerical experiments were performed under the conditions of varying the calculated amplitude of the voltage of the power converter, which made it possible to reveal a stable pattern of changes in the speed of the system depending on the coefficient of the calculated voltage; built a calibration diagram, which is designed to determine the correction factor in the entire range of speed control. The revealed regularity is based on the indirect influence of the varied parameters on the conditions of controllers switching, the moments of occurrence and the nature of their sliding modes. The result of the work is a method for correcting the parameters of relay controllers, which brings the duration of the speed control of the electric drive closer to the empirically set optimal value. Its implementation does not require the involvement of large additional resources and provides an improvement in the quality of transient processes. The empirical component of the proposed optimization method consists not in the direct selection of one of the key parameters of the system, but in the preliminary refinement of the initial data, which is effective within the used synthesis method. The prospect of this study is an analytical solution to the problem of determining the correction coefficient, which will contribute to the practical application of the proposed optimization algorithm.

Bearing Capacity of Footings on Rock Masses Using Flow Laws

The influence of the non-associative flow law on the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on rock masses is, in general, a subject that is not discussed in the field of rock mechanics. The calculation methods of bearing capacity usually do not define which flow law is adopted and, in some methods, the associative flow rule is assumed without knowing how that hypothesis influences the bearing capacity of the rock mass. In this paper, the study of the influence of the dilatancy angle on the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on rock masses is presented. The variation of the bearing capacity with the associative flow law and the non-associative flow law with zero dilatancy angle is studied using the finite difference method and by considering the influence of the self-weight of rock material. The calculations confirm the great influence of the flow law on the bearing capacity and a correction coefficient is proposed, which makes it possible to estimate the variation of the bearing capacity of the rock mass in terms of the function of the flow law for the hypothesis of weightless rock masses.

Macrocell Corrosion of Steel in Concrete under Carbonation, Internal Chloride Admixing and Accelerated Chloride Penetration Conditions

Steel corrosion has become the main reason for the deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. Due to the heterogeneity of concrete and the spatial variation of environmental conditions, macrocell corrosion is often formed by localized corrosion, which is more detrimental if the anode is supported by large numbers of cathodes. The macrocell corrosion caused by concrete carbonation has been seldom studied. Furthermore, the influence of geometrical conditions on cathode-controlled corrosion in the chloride environment needs to be further clarified. In this work, the macrocell corrosion of steel embedded in concrete specimens exposed to accelerated carbonation, chloride contamination, and chloride penetration is studied using a modified ASTM G109 method. Concrete specimens with various binder types, geometrical parameters (i.e., concrete cover thickness and the diameter of embedded steel), and boundary conditions were tested. A simplified mathematical model for the prediction of the steel corrosion rate was developed considering two-dimensional oxygen diffusion. The results showed that, at the same level of anodic potential drops, the corrosion current rate in chloride-induced corrosion is higher than that of carbonation-induced corrosion. Chloride contamination is less detrimental to concrete incorporated with slag and pulverized fly ash than it is to pure ordinary Portland cement (OPC), likely due to enhanced chloride binding capacity. The results also indicated that the model considering two-dimensional diffusion can accurately predict the cathodic reaction process on corroded steel bars, which provides a theoretical basis for considering the correction coefficient of steel bar position in the establishment of a steel bar corrosion rate model.

Hysteretic Energy Demand under Superposition of Bidirectional Ground Motions

To address the irrationality of making a structure subjected to bidirectional ground motions equivalent to an SDOF system, a new approach method is presented in this paper. The ratio between modal participation factors of the two components of the structure is expressed as γ, and the superposition of bidirectional ground motions is regarded as one-directional earthquake excitation for the equivalent SDOF system. Based on this, an energy balance equation is established, and a method used to estimate normalized hysteretic energy (NHE) is proposed. Analysis of the ratio between NHE (γ ≠ 0) and NHE (γ = 0) is suggested in order to analyze the influence of bidirectional ground motions on hysteretic energy demand, and then, “α1 = NHE (γ ≠ 0)/NHE (γ = 0)” is defined, and bidirectional ground motion records for different soil sites are selected for establishing superimposed excitations. In addition, the period range of 0–5 s for the energy spectrum is divided into 6 ranges. In each period range, the means of α1 are defined as α. The curves of α of constant ductility factors for different soil sites are established, in which α is the vertical coordinate and γ is the horizontal coordinate. Through nonlinear response history analysis, the influence of soil types at different sites, the ductility factor, the ratio of modal participation factors, and the period on the values of α are analyzed. According to the analytical results, correction coefficient αs (the simplified value of α) is obtained so that the hysteretic energy demand under bidirectional ground motions can be determined.

Degree of Biomass Conversion in the Integrated Production of Bioethanol and Biogas

The integrated production of bioethanol and biogas makes it possible to optimise the production of carriers from renewable raw materials. The installation analysed in this experimental paper was a hybrid system, in which waste from the production of bioethanol was used in a biogas plant with a capacity of 1 MWe. The main objective of this study was to determine the energy potential of biomass used for the production of bioethanol and biogas. Based on the results obtained, the conversion rate of the biomass—maize, in this case—into bioethanol was determined as the efficiency of the process of bioethanol production. A biomass conversion study was conducted for 12 months, during which both maize grains and stillage were sampled once per quarter (QU-I, QU-II, QU-III, QU-IV; QU—quarter) for testing. Between 342 L (QU-II) and 370 L (QU-I) of ethanol was obtained from the organic matter subjected to alcoholic fermentation. The mass that did not undergo conversion to bioethanol ranged from 269.04 kg to 309.50 kg, which represented 32.07% to 36.95% of the organic matter that was subjected to the process of bioethanol production. On that basis, it was concluded that only two-thirds of the organic matter was converted into bioethanol. The remaining part—post-production waste in the form of stillage—became a valuable raw material for the production of biogas, containing one-third of the biodegradable fraction. Under laboratory conditions, between 30.5 m3 (QU-I) and 35.6 m3 (QU-II) of biogas per 1 Mg of FM (FM—fresh matter) was obtained, while under operating conditions, between 29.2 m3 (QU-I) and 33.2 m3 (QU-II) of biogas was acquired from 1 Mg of FM. The Biochemical Methane Potential Correction Coefficient (BMPCC), which was calculated based on the authors’ formula, ranged from 3.2% to 7.4% in the analysed biogas installation.

The Research and Experiments on Contact Sealing Theory of the Underwater Clamp Connector

With regard to the sealing structure characteristics of the underwater clamp connector, based on the Hertz contact theory, this article studies the method of solving the extreme value of the radius of curvature on the two curved surfaces at the sealing contact point; first, the method of calculating the extreme value of the radius of curvature at any surface point of the rotary part is obtained, and then the equivalent radius of curvature is solved. Using finite element simulation to study the contact sealing characteristics without considering the edge thickness and width of the sealing gasket, it is verified that the Hertz contact theory is applicable to the metal contact theory of underwater clamp connectors. Then, the sealing simulation with the influence of the detailed dimensions of the sealing gasket is compared with the theoretical result of the direct application of the Hertz contact theory in the underwater clamp connector contact, and the theoretical correction coefficient of metal contact seal for underwater clamp connectors is introduced to solve the errors. The pressure sealing experiment is carried out on six-inch flange and metal sealing gasket, which proves that the coefficient can greatly enhance the theoretical calculation accuracy of the contact sealing of the underwater clamp connector.