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Each OEM has a distinguishing drivability character that defines its image in the market to achieve brand differentiation. Drivability is one of the important factors along with fuel economy that determines the success of a vehicle vis-à-vis its competitors. It can be said that the need for good drivability among customers is increasing day by day similar to the need for high fuel economy. Drivability is the response that a vehicle delivers to the inputs of the driver which are mainly accelerator, brake, clutch, gear and steering. The dynamic response of the vehicle is mainly in terms of velocity and acceleration. The way the response is delivered will characterize the drivability of a vehicle. The drivability event discussed in this paper is throttle tip-in response which is one of the critical evaluation factors for defining the character of a Sports Utility Vehicle.

The EPAct/V2/E-89 gasoline fuel effects program collected emissions data for 27 test fuels using a fleet of 15 high-sales cars and light trucks from the 2008 model year (all with port fuel injection). The test fuel matrix covered values of T50, T90, vapor pressure, ethanol content, and total aromatic content spanning ranges typical of market gasolines. Emission measurements were made over the LA92 cycle at a nominal temperature of 24°C (75°F). The resulting emissions database of 956 tests includes a particulate matter (PM) mass measurement for each. Emission models for PM fuel effects were fit based on terms for which the fuel matrix was originally optimized, with results published by EPA in a 2013 analysis report. This paper presents results of a subsequent modeling analysis of this PM data using the PM Index fuel parameter, and compares these models to the original versions.

Recent developments in front wheel drive based all-wheel drive (AWD) systems have focused on the disconnection of the secondary driveline to provide a high efficient 2-Wheel Drive (2WD) mode in order to minimize parasitic losses and increase fuel economy when all-wheel drive is not required. This present study compares a base on-demand all-wheel drive system without disconnect features to one with disconnect features in the rear drive module (RDM) and power transfer unit (PTU) to fully disconnect the secondary drive line. In order to further reduce parasitic losses the RDM also utilized an on-demand lubrication system. In conjunction with the active lubrication system, the oil sump level was reduced to assure all clutch housings and their associated plates were above the oil level at all times in order to minimize shear losses. Positive plate separation was also employed to assure ample clearance for free-running clutch plates.

In response to increasing demands for measures to conserve the global environment and the introduction of more stringent CO2 emissions regulations around the world, the automotive industry is placing greater focus on reducing levels of CO2 through the development of fuel-efficient technologies. With the aim of improving fuel economy, a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been developed for 2.0-liter class vehicles. This new CVT features various technologies for improving fuel economy including a coaxial 2-discharge port oil pump system, wider ratio coverage, low-viscosity CVT fluid, and a flex start system. This CVT is also compatible with a stop and start (S&S) system that reduces fuel consumption by shutting off the engine while the vehicle is stopped. In addition, the development of the CVT improves driveability by setting both the driving force and engine speed independently.

High fatigue strength is required for maraging steel for CVT belts. Two types of next generation maraging steels for CVT belts were studied using the following conditions, (a) increasing tensile strength, (b) increasing compressive residual stress on the nitrided surface, and (c) no addition of Ti. AlloyB (Fe-19%Ni-5%Co-5%Mo-1%Cr-0.8∼1.5%Al, %=mass%) with low Co and AlloyC (Fe-19%Ni-12.5%Co-5%Mo-0.5∼1%Cr,%=mass%) with high Co, were developed by additions of optimized amounts of Al and Cr, which are based on different strengthening ideas of Ti addition. These maraging steels showed tensile strengths and fatigue strengths equal to or better than those of conventional Ti-containing maraging steels.

The recent implementation of new rounds of stringent nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions reduction legislation in Europe and North America is driving the expanded use of exhaust aftertreatment systems, including those that treat NOx under the high-oxygen conditions typical of lean-burn engines. One of the favored aftertreatment solutions is referred to as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which comprises a catalyst that facilitates the reactions of ammonia (NH3) with the exhaust nitrogen oxides (NOx). It is customary with these systems to generate the NH3 by injecting a liquid aqueous urea solution, typically at a 32% concentration of urea (CO(NH2)2). The solution is referred to as AUS-32, and is also known under its commercial name of AdBlue® in Europe, and DEF - Diesel Exhaust Fluid - in the USA. The urea solution is injected into the exhaust and transformed to NH3 by various mechanisms for the SCR reactions.

Previous studies have indicated that longer torque increase time benefits the reduction of emissions during transient process for a diesel engine. However, quantitative conclusions on reduction of emissions and effects on fuel economy have not been made clear so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the transient process of diesel engine under different torque increase time, and to find the quantitative statement between torque increase time, fuel economy and engine-out emissions. To do this, experiment was carried out on a 7L common rail diesel engine used for commercial vehicles. Three engine speeds (1100r·min−1, 1300r·min−1 and 1500r·min−1) were chosen to represent an engine working range. For each speed, the engine torque is increased within different time (0.5s, 1s, 2s and 5s). It was shown that, in the transient process mentioned above, engine torque increase time effects fuel economy, smoke opacity and CO emission.

The variety of increasingly complex powertrains including Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) is associated with a number of challenges to measure exhaust gas emissions: Although the conventional constant volume sampling (CVS) and exhaust gas measurement systems remain a high precision emission measurement concept new questions occur that need to be answered, such as mass transport, catalyst cooling during ICE-off and emission measurement accuracy. Mass transport of exhaust emissions from the transfer tube into the dilution tunnel during engine-off complicates phase assignment. This includes the investigation of the physical processes that are diffusion on basis of concentration differences, extraction due to the CVS underpressure and convection because of density diversities. Catalyst cooling will be investigated using a temperature sensor positioned at the oxy catalyst of a Diesel-PHEV.

Impingement of injected fuel spray against the cylinder liner (wall wetting) is one of the main obstacles that must be overcome in order for early injection Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (EI HCCI) combustion. In the strategies to reduce or prevent wall wetting explored in the past, limiting the spray cone angle was proved to be a useful approach. This paper is presented to study the effect of the spray cone angle on the mixture formation, particularly the region near the cylinder wall (wall wetting region), and CO/Soot emissions of an EI HCCI diesel engine. Three-dimensional modeling was performed in AVL FIRE code. The calculation grid was divided into three regions which were defined as the combustion chamber region, the wall wetting region, and the central regions. The history of the CO/soot mass of each region and the equivalent ratio/temperature (φ-T map) of wall wetting region were analyzed.

This paper investigates the torsional dynamic behaviour of a Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) both numerically and experimentally. First, the experimental setup is described, followed by a mathematical description in the frequency domain of the mechanical system under test, using a lumped parameter model. An analytical expression for the frequency response function describing the rotational dynamics is derived and compared with experimental data. Sine sweep tests are used to characterise the system, imposing constant amplitude excitation, i.e. the torque applied to the engine side of the DMF. Moreover a method for enhancing the dynamic performance of the electric motor torque control is suggested in order to use it as a torsional shaker.

In recent years, Magneto-rheological (MR) fluid has drawn a lot of attention for its applications in a variety of torque transmission devices, such as brakes, clutches and soft starters of mechanical equipment. Compared with the conventional clutch of vehicle, the novel MR clutch has the advantages of fast response with electronic signal, accuracy control and simple structure without mechanical wear in plates. Besides, MR clutch may be helpful to fast response of vehicle in some situation. Nowadays, most applications of MR fluids in the torque transmission field mainly are used in low-power situation. As far as we know, the proposed effective methods enhancing the output torque of MR devices will increase either the number of fluid gaps or the magnetic field in the MR fluid. This article presents a novel vehicle clutch utilizing magnetorheological fluid and multiple-disc structure.

A boost system with an auxiliary gas turbine used to recover diesel engine power at plateau conditions is proposed. System matching calculation, preliminary design, and performance simulation of the compressor with double parameter output are presented, as well as the preliminary design, flow simulation, and combustion process of the combustion chamber. Results show that the new system has better recovery performance and higher fuel economy potential than the simple charging scheme. For future research work, possible improvements and development direction are recommended.

The customer of today is sensitive towards shift quality. The demand is for a crisp and precise gear shift with low shift effort. The impulses from synchronizers make shifts feel notchy. After synchronization the blocker ring releases the sleeve. The sleeve then hits the teeth of the clutch body ring. The second impulse causes a phenomenon called double bump. This can be felt at the hand and makes a shift feel notchy or sluggish. An ideal way to overcome this is to optimize the detent profile. This paper explains in detail the various factors that contribute to the perceived shift feel. Various methods to optimize the forces on the knob by changing the detent profile are discussed. Gear Shift Quality Assessment (referred as GSQA henceforth) is a tool to acquire the required shift feel data. Using this tool shift efforts and kinematics of a 5 speed manual transmission are plotted for illustration. The calculations required to optimize the detent profile are explained in detail.

In order to introduce Dana's Variglide Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) technology to the mobility industry, Dana has produced demonstrator transmissions for use in a rear wheel drive C-class car and in a fork lift truck. The intention is to illustrate how the CVP can be combined with conventional transmission technology to produce either a continuously variable transmission with the ratio range comparable to that of the latest step ratio transmissions, or used in a simple IVT configuration for off-highway applications. The co-axial design of the CVP allows it to package well into current drivetrain solutions. The ratio control of the device is fast, precise, and stable and the CVP does not require high power consumption for clamping. Multiple power flow configurations of the CVP are shown to blend well with current conventional transmission technology as well as future hybrid configurations.

Dry dual clutch transmission (DCT) has played an important role in the high performance applications as well as low-cost market sectors in Asia, with a potential as the future mainstream transmission technology due to its high mechanical efficiency and driving comfort. Control system simplification and cost reduction has been critical in making dry DCT more competitive against other transmission technologies. Specifically, DCT clutch actuation system is a key component with a great potential for cost-saving as well as performance improvement. In this paper, a new motor driven clutch actuator with a force-aid lever has been proposed. A spring is added to assist clutch apply that can effectively reduce the motor size and energy consumption. The goal of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of this new clutch actuator, and the force-aid lever actuator's principle, physical structure design, and validation results are discussed in details.

The traditional automotive torque converter (TC) is equipped with a single-blade stator, at the suction side of which there is an apparent boundary layer separation at stalling condition because of its large impending angle. The separation flow behind the suction side of stator blade is found to create large area of low-energy flow which blocks effective flow passage area, produces more energy losses, decreases impeller torque capacity and transmission efficiency. It is found effective to suppress the boundary layer separation by separating the original single-blade stator into a primary and a secondary part. The gap between them guides high-energy flow at the pressurized side of the primary blade to the suction side of the secondary one, which helps to make boundary layer flow stable. As a result, the impeller torque capacity and torque ratio at low-speed ratio increase tremendously at the cost of little drop of maximum efficiency.

1 The modern engine is capable of producing high torque and horsepower. Now the customer wants state of the art comfort and ergonomics.Thus the manufacturers are focusing on reducing the clutch pedal effort and providing a pleasurable driving experience. In heavy traffic conditions where the clutch is used frequently, the pedal effort required to disengage the clutch should be in comfortable range. Often drivers who drive HCV complain about knee pain which is caused due to high pedal effort, this occurs when ergonomics of ABC (accelerator, brake and clutch) pedals is not designed properly. Thus there is a need to reduce the driving fatigue by optimizing the clutch system. Latest technologies like turbo charging and pressure injection have increased the engine power and torque but have also led to increase the clamp load of clutch. Thus the release load required to disengage the clutch has also increased.

This paper proposes the several methods for recovering the performance of degraded fuel cell stack for FCEV. Recovery procedure is focused on the reduction of oxidized layer and desorption of sulfonated anion formed on the surface of platinum catalyst during automotive operation at cathode side. As a result of application of recovering methods, it is possible to partially rehabilitate the performance of fuel cell stack by ca. 20-30%. In additions, it is expected that the durability of fuel cell can be improved ultimately with an application of recovery process.

This paper presents a detailed design study and associated considerations supporting the development of high-performance plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Due to increasingly strict governmental regulations and increased consumer demand, automotive manufacturers have been tasked with the reduction of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. PHEV powertrains can provide a needed balance in terms of fuel economy and vehicle performance by exploiting regenerative braking, pure electric vehicle operation, engine load-point shifting, and power-enhancing hybrid traction modes. Thus, properly designed PHEV powertrains can reduce fuel consumption while increasing vehicle utility and performance.

This paper focuses on the thermodynamic analysis of Solid Oxide fuel cell (SOFC). In the present work the SOFC has been modeled to work with internal reforming of fuel which takes place at high temperature and direct energy conversion from chemical energy to electrical energy takes place. The fuel-cell effluent is high temperature steam which can be used for co-generation purposes. Syn-gas has been used here as fuel which is essentially produced by steam reforming of methane in the internal reformer of the SOFC. A thermodynamic model of SOFC has been developed for planar cell configuration to evaluate various losses in the energy conversion process within the fuel cell. Cycle parameters like fuel utilization ratio and air-recirculation ratio has been varied to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of the fuel-cell. Output performance parameters like terminal voltage, cell-efficiency and power output have been evaluated for various values of current densities.