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This paper describes the reliability of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET. We clarified the relation between the lifetime of the gate oxide and the crystal defects. We fabricated MOS diodes using thermal oxidation and measured their lifetimes by TDDB (Time Dependent Dielectric Breakdown) measurement. The wear-out lifetime is sufficient for hybrid vehicle but many MOS diodes broke in shorter time. The breakdown points were defined by Photo-emission method. Finally, we classified the defects by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). A TSD (Threading Screw Dislocation) plays the most important role in the lifetime degradation of the gate oxide. The lifetime of the gate oxide area, in which a TSD is included, is shorter by two orders of magnitude than a wear-out breakdown. The mechanism by which threading dislocations degrade the gate oxide lifetime was not discovered. To explain the degradation, we assumed two models, the shape effect and the oxide quality degradation.

Compressed air systems are employed in virtually all manufacturing plants, including automotive industries, and compressed air systems can account for five to twenty percent of plant energy consumption. Therefore, exploring opportunities to decrease the energy consumption of this equipment can result in significant energy and cost savings, resulting in more energy efficient automotive plants. In this paper, a case study for a 360,000 square-foot automotive interiors plant operated by Johnson Controls andlocated in Alabama, United States is considered. The plant uses two 150 horsepower rotary screw compressors which deliver an average of 800 cubic feet per minute with an energy usage of 1,414,000 kWh per year. A compressed air system analysis was performed at this plant using the Department of Energy (DOE) software tool AIRMaster. Energy usage was determined by measuring the current draw from the air compressors using data loggers over a period of two weeks.

Mechanical stamping presses and hydraulic systems consume a large portion of their rated power while idle. This paper discusses a method to control press and hydraulic system operations with the goal of reducing energy consumption during idle. First, key equations relating fraction of rated power to load are derived using measured data. Next, these relations are used to determine the “energy payback period”-the length of an idle period required to justify a system shutoff. It is shown that energy use is reduced when the machines are turned off if they will idle for a period of time longer than their energy payback period. This is demonstrated in two case study examples from industry.

Automotive industries in the US and around the world have enormous impact on the economy of each country. Not just the major vehicle manufacturer, but all the other companies in the supply chain are equally important. This was evident with the earthquake and Tsunami that happened in March 2011. Because of the massive destruction at suppliers' facilities, the automakers in the US and other countries struggled to get the necessary parts and supplies. This created a ripple effect throughout the world and led to the closure of several automakers' facilities for a long time. Thus, the automotive supply chains are as important as the main automotive manufacturing facilities. Since these suppliers produce a lot of parts and supplies, the corresponding energy usage is also significant. The current research is focused on compressed air and process heating system analysis at one of the automotive parts manufacturer in Mexico.

In an electric vehicle, a maximum cruising range is adversely affected by electric power consumption of auxiliary electric components for heating and cooling. Therefore, it is important for the air-conditioning to consume energy as efficiently as possible. This study describes how a proposed Occupied-Zone(OZ) HVAC system has attained a significant increase in the cruising range of an electric vehicle by air-conditioning occupied seats only. The idea of OZ HVAC is to confine air-conditioning to occupied-zones only. The OZ HVAC has an option of selectively air-conditioning three zones corresponding to driver, passenger and rear seating positions, while a conventional HVAC system air-conditions a whole cabin regardless of occupancy in each zone, which results in more power consumption compared to the proposed idea.

This paper will compare systematically coaxial and non-coaxial internal heat exchanger types on the component and the system level as applied to R1234yf mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems. Pressure drop, heat transfer rate, effectiveness, and efficiency ratio of the Internal Heat Exchanger (IHX) are compared on the component level for the different heat exchanger types. At the system level, a MAC system optimized for efficiency as well as evaporator cooling capacity is used to assess these different internal heat exchanger types. System level factors that will be discussed include IHX heat transfer rate, pressure drop, compressor efficiency, compressor discharge temperatures, and the impact of these factors on the efficiency and capacity of the MAC system. This paper also describes the test bench used for the system level tests and the testing procedure applied.

As Internal Heat eXchanger (IHX) applications become more numerous for R-134a, and because they will likely become standard with R-1234yf, a detailed look at how they influence system parameters becomes necessary. This paper uses a proprietary air-conditioning system model to evaluate the system impact of three different IHX co-axial geometries. The three IHX cross-sections result in different heat transfer and pressure drops per unit length. The model assumes a 1,000mm suction line, including an IHX whose length is varied from 200mm to 800mm, in 100mm increments.

In today's highly competitive marketplace and ever-shrinking vehicle development cycle, automotive HVAC engineers are constantly challenged to develop systems that deliver adequate thermal comfort at lower cost and higher fuel-efficiency. However, in the absence of a reliable predictive tool that is capable of quantifying thermal comfort early in the vehicle development program, OEMs employ expensive and time-consuming human subject test rides to assess HVAC system's performance. In order to address this issue, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of a virtual thermal manikin in a passenger cabin is developed in this study. The model is capable of providing thermal sensations, as experienced by humans, under any arbitrary thermal environment. Additionally, the model can provide sensitivity of various critical parameters, such as solar load, A/C discharge outlet air flow-rate and temperature, A/C outlet locations, various HVAC modes etc., to thermal sensation.

Current innovations in the area of power train engineering for cars are generating significant and unprecedented challenges for the development of acoustically unobtrusive transmissions. As regards relevance for customers, noise phenomena caused by loose parts play a key role. Transmission rattle, whose primary trigger is the pulse-like torque output of conventional combustion engines, also falls into this category. Current trends within the engine development (e.g. down speeding and downsizing) generate significant challenges for the development of acoustically unobtrusive transmissions. The aim of the presented approach is the evaluation and optimization of transmissions regarding the gear rattling noise perceived by the customer/passenger inside the vehicle. The investigation is divided into several experimental parts. The sound characteristics of the perceivable rattling noise is determined and evaluated as well as the transfer of rattling noise into the passenger compartment.

Most vehicles designed primarily for off-road use - whether for the SUV, military, agricultural or earthmoving industries - employ all wheel drive systems. For off-road conditions where the traction is limited by the deformable nature of the ground, for example, loose track, soil or sand, providing a drive torque to all the wheels is the obvious design solution for maximising the total tractive effort. For military or commercial vehicles, this results in optimum mobility in difficult terrain, whereas for agricultural or earthmoving vehicles it often results in optimum work rates. In order to analyse the performance of off-road vehicles, it is necessary to understand the torque and power flows through the driveline system to each axle or wheel. The research presented in this paper focuses on the use of novel, non-contact torque sensors to measure the driveline torque distribution.

The feeling given through the vibration, which is transiently generated by the body when the throttle is beginning to be opened, is one of the important factors that affect the quality of drivability in motorcycles. This feeling is usually evaluated by subjective ratings on actual motorcycles carried out by expert riders and the specifications are decided based on those results. In this research, the subjective rating was expressed as a formula and the simulation technology of behavior prediction was constructed for the parts associated with the drive train as well as the motorcycle body. The responding time delay, the magnitude of overshoot and the vibration frequencies were extracted as highly correlated factors with the evaluation results of subjective ratings through the analysis on the characteristics of longitudinal acceleration responses of the body to the magnitude of throttle opening.

The mechanism of vibration in a metal pushing V-belt was analyzed using a simulation of the dynamic behavior of the belt in order to identify measures in response to unexpected noise occurring during CVT development. The results showed that the unexpected noise originated in self-induced vibration occurring when the elements of the belt moved in the radial direction close to the exit of the drive pulley. This paper will also discuss the realization of a method of reducing the unexpected noise.

Apart from performance, comfort, cost and fun to drive, the reduction of fuel consumption has become a primary driver in the world market of the automotive industry. As continuously variable transmissions based on the pushbelt principle can be operated in an optimal state at any time, they are very suitable to meet the mentioned requirements. However, the power transmission in the system is very complicated. Both detailed measurements and simulations are necessary to understand and to optimize the physical mechanisms, power density and shift characteristics. The current paper presents a spatial simulation model for transient analysis at different levels of detail. An initial model based on non-smooth multi-body theory is outlined. It consists of two rigid pulleys each with one tilting loose sheave. The pushbelt comprises two ring packages based on the co-rotational approach.

Manganese oxides show high catalytic activity for CO and HC oxidation without including platinum group metals (PGM). However, there are issues with both thermal stability and resistance to sulfur poisoning. We have studied perovskite-type YMnO₃ (YMO) with the aim of simultaneously achieving both activity and durability. This paper describes the oxidation activity of PGM-free Ag/i-YMO, which is silver supported on improved-YMO (i-YMO). The Ag/i-YMO was obtained by the following two methods. First, Mn⁴+ ratio and specific surface area of YMO were increased by optimizing composition and preparation method. Second, the optimum amount of silver was supported on i-YMO. In model gas tests and engine bench tests, the Ag/i-YMO catalyst showed the same level of activity as that of the conventional Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ (Pt = 3.0 g/L). In addition, there was no degradation with respect to either heat treatment (700°C, 90 h, air) or sulfur treatment (600°C to 200°C, total 60 h, 30 ppm SO₂).

With the rapid expansion of the automotive market in China, air quality in the major cities has become a severe concern. Great efforts have been made in introducing new emission regulations; however, fuel and lubricant qualities, emissions aftertreatment system durability and in-use compliance to the emissions regulations still require significant improvement. China follows the European Union (EU) emission regulations in general, but different levels of standards exist. This paper gives a comprehensive overview of the current and near-future heavy-duty diesel emission regulations, as well as fuel and lubricant specifications.

Experimental and theoretical methods are presented to characterize the transient filtration efficiency (FE) behavior of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) exposed to soot laden exhaust gas streams under laboratory and engine exhaust conditions. A (1+1) dimensional transient model, comprising a one dimensional channel model in combination with a one dimensional wall microstructure model is presented to study the sensitivity of the FE behavior on DPF microstructure and geometry properties, along with the impact of the hydrodynamic and aerosol flow conditions (flow rate, temperature, aerosol characteristics). The dynamic model also considers the dynamic soot oxidation by passive regeneration. The model has been validated through use of an extensive set of experimental data obtained under different operating conditions and with DPFs of different microstructure.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers are commonly used in diesel engines to reduce the temperature of recirculated exhaust gases in order to reduce NOx emissions. The presence of a cool surface in the hot exhaust causes particulate soot deposition as well as hydrocarbon and water condensation. Fouling experienced through deposition of particulate matter and hydrocarbons results in degraded cooler effectiveness and increased pressure drop. In this study, a visualization test setup is designed and constructed so that the effect of water condensation on the deposit formation and growth at various coolant temperatures can be studied. A water-cooled surrogate rectangular channel is employed to represent the EGR cooler. One side of the channel is made of glass for visualization purposes. A medium duty diesel engine is used to generate the exhaust stream.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, and the California Air Resources Board have recently released proposed new regulations for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy for light-duty vehicles and trucks in model years 2017-2025. These proposed regulations intend to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fleet fuel economy from current levels. At the fleet level, these rules the proposed regulations represent a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by new vehicles in 2025 compared to current fleet levels. At the same time, global growth, especially in developing economies, should continue to drive demand for crude oil and may lead to further fuel price increases. Both of these trends will therefore require light duty vehicles (LDV) to significantly improve their greenhouse gas emissions over the next 5-15 years to meet regulatory requirements and customer demand.

The pressure drop across the aftertreatment systems directly affects the fuel economy as a function of the flow characteristics and also the soot loading in the case of the Diesel particulate filter. However, the relative position of this system with respect to the turbine has an additional effect which is dependent on the influence of the turbine expansion ratio. When the DPF is placed upstream of the turbine, its pressure drop is not affected by the multiplicative effect of the turbine expansion ratio to set the exhaust manifold pressure. This work concentrates on the analysis of the influence that the aftertreatment pressure drop has on the engine performance depending on the DPF soot loading and the location of the aftertreatment with respect to the turbine. The interaction with the turbocharger and the EGR operation is also analyzed taking as reference a two stage turbocharger heavy duty Diesel engine.

The main focus nowadays for the development of future vehicle powertrain systems is the improvement in fuel efficiency alongside the reduction of pollutant emissions and greenhouse gasses, most notably carbon dioxide. The automotive community is already engaged in seeking solutions to these issues, however, the ideal solution, namely zero emission vehicle is still regarded as being a long way from fruition for the mass market. In the meantime steps are being taken, in terms of engineering development, towards improved fuel efficiency and sustainability of relatively conventionally powered vehicles. One approach to the decarbonization of road vehicles is to supplement existing fossil fuels with sustainable biofuels.