• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.8-14
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• 2013

Hydrogen-natural gas blends(HCNG) engine is optimizing technology of performance and emission characteristics with use of hydrogen's fast flame speed and wide flammability limit. As lean-burn limit is extended, the improvement in thermal efficiency and harmful emissions can be achieved. However, the extension of lean-burn limit under a wide open throttle operation point could be realized with the increase in boosting capacity in a lean-burn engine with turbo-charging system. In the present study, the power output characteristics of HCNG engine with turbo-charger change is assessed and feasibility of the increase in boosting capacity is evaluated. The turbo-charger design with high efficiency at higher flow rate rather than higher boosting pressure makes efficient operation possible at relatively rich mixture condition.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2007

This paper experimentally investigates the effects of oxygen-enriched air (OEA) on the running behaviors of an LPG SI engine during both start/warm-up (SW) and hot idling (HI) stages. The experiments were performed on an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, LPG SI engine with an electronic fuel injection system and an electrically-heated oxygen sensor. OEA containing 23% and 25% oxygen (by volume) was supplied for the experiments. The throttle position was fixed at that of idle condition. A fueling strategy was used as following: the fuel injection pulse width (FIPW) in the first cycle of injection was set 5.05 ms, and 2.6 ms in the subsequent cycles till the achieving of closed-loop control. In closed-loop mode, the FIPW was adjusted by the ECU in terms of the oxygen sensor feedback. Instantaneous engine speed, cylinder pressure, engine-out time-resolved HC, CO and NOx emissions and excess air coefficient (EAC) were measured and compared to the intake air baseline (ambient air, 21% oxygen). The results show that during SW stage, with the increase in the oxygen concentration in the intake air, the EAC of the mixture is much closer to the stoichiometric one and more oxygen is made available for oxidation, which results in evidently-improved combustion. The ignition in the first firing cycle starts earlier and peak pressure and maximum heat release rate both notably increase. The maximum engine speed is elevated and HC and CO emissions are reduced considerably. The percent reductions in HC emissions are about 48% and 68% in CO emissions about 52% and 78%; with 23% and 25% OEA, respectively, compared to ambient air. During HI stage, with OEA, the fuel amount per cycle increases due to closed-loop control, the engine speed rises, and speed stability is improved. The HC emissions notably decrease: about 60% and 80% with 23% and 25% OEA, respectively, compared to ambient air. The CO emissions remain at the same low level as with ambient air. During both SW and HI stages, intake air oxygen enrichment causes the delay of spark timing and the increased NOx emissions.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

A front-end loader (FEL) mounted on an agricultural tractor is one of the most commonly used implements to mechanize routine agricultural tasks. When the FEL is used with a loaded bucket, careful operation is required to maintain safety and avoid spillage when the tractor passes a bump because a change in the gravity center of the tractor due to varied loadings can affect the stability of the tractor. Use of a boom suspension system consisting of accumulators and orifice dampers can be instrumental in reducing pitching vibrations while increasing the handling performance of the FEL-mounted tractor. The objective of this research was to reduce bump shocks by adding an orifice and a flow control valve to the original hydraulic circuit composed solely of accumulators. A simulation study was performed using the SimulationX program to investigate the effects of an accumulator and an orifice-throttle damper on bump shocks. Results showed that the peak pressure on a boom cylinder and the vertical acceleration of a bucket were significantly affected by use of both an accumulator and an orifice damper. In a field test conducted with a 75-kW tractor, the peak pressure of the boom cylinder, and the root mean square (RMS) vertical acceleration of the bucket and seat were reduced by on average, 23.0, 42.2, and 44.9% respectively, as compared to those measured with the original accumulator system, showing that an improved design for the accumulator hydraulic circuit can reduce bump shocks. Further studies are needed to design a tractor suspension system that includes the effects of cabin suspension and tires as well as dynamic analysis.