Automotive Engineering Commons^™

A Feasibility Study Of Fuel Cell Cogeneration In Industry, Scott B. Phelps, J. Kelly Kissock

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Up until now, most of the literature on fuel cell cogeneration describes cogeneration at commercial sites. In this study, a PC25C phosphoric acid fuel cell cogeneration system was designed for an industrial facility and an economic analysis was performed. The US DOE Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) database was examined to determine what industry considers a good investment for energy saving measures. Finally, the results of the cogeneration analysis and database investigation were used to project the conditions in which the PC25C might be accepted by industry.

Analysis of IAC database revealed that energy conservation recommendations with simple paybacks as high …

Application Of Reanalysis Techniques For Pattern Design Of Spot Welds, Young San Kim

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Extensive benchmarking on competitive cars has shown that the durability of vehicles, assembly-induced variations, and assembly cost are directly related to the quality and number of spot welds. On most luxury cars, approximately 4,500 to 5,000 spot welds are found. On less expensive cars, the range is from 3,500 to 4,500. These cars usually inherit more noise, rattles, squeaks, and other quality-related problems. These problems have motivated the search for a new capability to systematically place welds in the most critical areas, with a minimum number of welds for car bodies, while satisfying all performance requirements (e.g., stiffness, stress distribution, …

Application Of Mixed-Norm Optimal Control To A Multi-Objective Active Suspension Problem, John B. Allison

Theses and Dissertations

Mixed norm optimal control synthesis is used to solve a multiobjective suspension problem. The objective is to develop a controller for an active suspension system onboard a tractor semitrailer vehicle. The problem is first approached by using H₂ and H∞ optimization. It is shown that by combining both techniques into one mixed norm optimization method, it is possible to exploit the strengths of each norm to provide superior performance. Two H₂/H∞ designs were completed. One design concentrated on optimal performance at one design condition. The second design concentrated on providing the best performance possible at a medium …

Obligations And Penalties Under Lemon Laws: Automobiles Versus Tractors, Terence J. Centner, Michael E. Wetzstein

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

Distinctive new provisions of tractor lemon laws which create obligations and provide penalties for defective self-propelled agricultural equipment are contrasted with provisions of automobile lemon laws. Lemon-law obligations involve both producers' guarantees to provide consumers with a serviceable vehicle and producers' promises to remedy defects. Due to fewer manufacturer obligations under the tractor lemon laws as opposed to automobile lemon laws, tractors may be expected to have more defects than automobiles. Yet the tractor lemon laws contain fewer penalties in the form of restitution remedies. The inconsistences of these obligations and penalties suggest tractor laws may be inefficient.

Vehicle Maintenance Pollution Prevention, University Of Northern Iowa. Small Business Pollution Prevention Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Book Gallery

Pollution prevention can be defined as: "The use of materials, processes, or practices that reduces or eliminates the creation of pollutants or wastes at the source.” (EPA) Pollution prevention represents a shift away from the old school of thought, “pollution control,” in which waste was not dealt with until after it was generated. Through pollution prevention, we look at the processes that generate the waste to see if we can avoid creating a waste in the first place, or at least reduce the hazardous nature of the waste. When this is not possible, the next best solution to prevent wastes …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Fuel Injection Nozzle Roto Flow And Hydra Flow And The Engine Torque Of A Diesel Engine, Guang Jin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing diesel engine torque variation by optimizing fuel injection nozzle tip configuration. In order to reduce engine torque variation, test runs were conducted to determine whether fuel injection nozzles affected diesel engine torque. There was a further effort to determine whether a correlation existed between the fuel injection nozzle roto flow and hydra flow, and the engine torque at specified engine speeds.

Engines installed in cotton pickers and tractors were used for this study. Engines, five from the cotton picker and five from the tractor group were chosen randomly …

Mat Forming Apparatus, Bernard C. H. Sun

Michigan Tech Patents

Mat forming apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow material transporting member, drive structure for producing a pressure differential across spaced portions of the transporting member so that material is propelled from one of the spaced portions to the other within the hollow transporting member, material directing structure communicating with the drive structure for receiving material from the hollow transporting structure and, responsive to the drive structure, operative to direct the received material in a predetermined path, the hollow transporting member having a non-linear inner surface so that flow in the hollow transporting member is turbulent causing the material being transported …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Modeling Brigade Templates In Camex, Douglas A. Hersh

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis effort modeled brigade-sized templates within the CAMEX model, and determined the effects of those templates on the direct fire attrition methodology. The model simulated combat between a U.S. brigade from a mechanized or armored division and a Soviet-style motorized rifle regiment. Three different scenarios were used to simulate combat between the forces. The scenarios included a movement to contact, an attack, and a deliberate defense. Each scenario was run using the battalion-sized templates and again with the brigade-sized templates. The results revealed that use of the model with brigade-sized templates will demonstrate similar results to those obtained using …

Laser Doppler Velocimetry Research Of The Blowby Gas Characteristics In An Internal Combustion Engine, Mark Kevin Coffill

Masters Theses

The project was designed to measure a reciprocating engine fluid flow (blowby gases past the piston rings) using a laser doppler velocimeter (LDV). Blowby gases were obtained by introducing compressed air into an engine cylinder (piston held at TDC) to simulate engine combustion pressures. Beginning the proposed research included starting an LDV/reciprocating engine laboratory at Western Michigan University and determining the limits of the measurement devices (LDV system in particular).

The limitations which were found in the LDV system only allowed for limited results of in cylinder optical measurements. The results obtained were for cylinder pressures below 0.6 kPa gauge …

Book Review, Allan M. Wheatcraft

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of the following: LEONARD EVANS, TRAFFIC SAFETY AND THE DRIVER. (Van Nostrand Reinhold 1991) [404 pp.] About the author, author index, figures, notes, preface, subject index, tables. LC 90-44233, ISBN 0-4421-00163-0. [Cloth $51.95. P.O.B. 668, Florence KY 41022-0668.]

Apparatus For Measuring The Temperature Of A Piston In An Internal Combustion Engine, Carl L. Anderson, Glen L. Barna, Douglas B. Brumm

Michigan Tech Patents

An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a piston in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a thermistor to sense the temperature of the piston and generate an electrical signal representative of that temperature, a transmission unit connected to the thermistor for receiving the electrical signal and for converting the signal to an infrared beam for transmission to a point remote from the piston, and a receiver to receive the beam and convert the beam to an electrical signal corresponding to the electrical signal generated by the thermistor. The first mentioned electrical signal is converted to a rectangular wave …

Shape Sensitivity Analysis And Optimization Of Skeletal Structures And Geometrically Nonlinear Solids, Ching-Hung Chuang

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Formulations and computational schemes for shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization have been developed for both skeletal structures and geometrically nonlinear elastic solids. The continuum approach, which is based on the weak variational form of the governing differential equation and the concept of the material derivative, plays a central role in such a development.

In the first part of this work, the eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivity equations for skeletal structures are derived with respect to configuration variables of joint and support locations. This derivation is done by the domain method as well as the boundary method. The discrete approach for …

The Safety Risks Of Proposed Fuel Economy Legislation, John D. Graham

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Based on, e.g., a comprehensive assessment of what is known of factors influencing automobile safety, previous industry responses to requirements for fuel economy and prior success of regulators in reducing injuries, Professor Graham concludes that pending fuel economy bills are apt to add 1650 fatalities and 8500 serious accidents to the annual highway toll. He also presents several short-term and long-term strategies for simultaneously saving fuel and lives.

Method And Apparatus For Sensing The Regeneration Of A Diesel Engine Particulate Trap, John H. Johnson, Peter V. Woon

Michigan Tech Patents

A diesel engine exhaust system is provided with a particulate trap for collecting the products of incomplete combustion during the engine power cycle. A sensing mechanism including an electrode downstream of the trap and a signal generating circuit provides a positive indication of occurrence of regeneration of the trap. Charged particles generated during regeneration induce a charge of the electrode, that charge activates the signal generating circuit and it, in turn, produces an indication external of the exhaust system that trap regeneration is occurring. That indication can be in the operator’s compartment.

To The U.S. Department Of Transportation: Comments Of The Environmental Defense Fund On The Secretary Of Transportation’S National Transportation Policy, Robert E. Yuhnke

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

20 pages.

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control: The Remaining Issues, Michael P. Walsh

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

26 pages (includes illustrations).

Contains references.

Agenda: Air Quality Protection In The West, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Air Quality Protection in the West (November 27-28)

Conference organizers, session moderators and/or speakers included University of Colorado School of Law professor Mark S. Squillace.

Visibility, acid rain, air toxics, and urban air pollution are the topics of an upcoming Center conference on air quality in the West. The conference will be held at the School of Law in Boulder on November 27-28, 1989. Presentations will describe the nature and scope of the issues, the existing legal framework and experience with its implementation, and proposed changes in the law. Emphasis will be placed on air quality issues in the West and efforts underway to address these problems. Special …

An Analysis Of The Importance Of Selected Applied Physics Concepts As Prerequisites To Training In Automotive Technology, Patrick Michael Mccleskey

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study has been to develop information that may be useful in the preparation of curriculums and materials dedicated to the remediation of applied physics knowledge and skill deficits demonstrated by entering automotive technology students. The problem was to identify and rank-order the importance of applied physics concepts within the mechanical, fluidal, electrical/electronic, thermal, and chemical domains that are foundational to training in automotive technology.

A questionnaire containing 77 concept statements with a corresponding graphic rating scale was administered via mailed correspondence to all 196 of California's full-time community college automotive instructors. Of these, 130 (66.33%) were …

The System Design And Evaluation Of A Microprocessor Controlled Dispenser Using A Radar Ground-Speed Sensor, Yu-Charn Chen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This experimental research focused on the design of a new approach to control seed dispensers and to analyze the performance characteristics of a Doppler radar ground speed sensor for a microprocessor control dispenser. The research focused on comparing the effectiveness of using a radar unit with a fifth-wheel encoder for measuring ground speed when both were connected to a microprocessor controlled seed dispenser.

The system designed for this study consisted of hardware and a computer program in 6502 assembly language. The hardware for this study consisted of a monitor device, microprocessor control unit, stepper motor, fifth-wheel encoder, Doppler radar and …

Simplifying Lubricants For Farm Machinery, R A. Platt

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

All moving parts on machinery needs lubrication. With the rapid development in farm machinery and its attendant sophistifications, the stresses imposed on the lubricants have also increased.

This article looks at some of the changes in requirements and developments in lubricants available.

The Relationship Of Textbooks To Development Of Course Content In The Teaching Of Small Gas Engines, Frank Demchuck

All Master's Theses

This study compares and evaluates the ideas and opinions of practitioners with the ideas and opinions of educational theorists. Information from the practitioners was gathered by questionnaire. Information from the theorists was gathered by a search of the related literature. The findings, showing the relationship or textbooks to the development of course content in the teaching of small gas engines, are presented and evaluated. A small gas engines textbook outline based on information gained from this study is also presented.

A History Of Maine Roads 1600 - 1970, State Highway Comission

Maine Collection

A History of Maine Roads 1600 - 1970.

State Highway Commission, Augusta, Maine, 1970.

Sections: Two Transportation Firsts, Early Roads, The Stagecoach Arrives, Steamboats and Railroads, Better Roads Movement, The Automobile, State Roads, First Highway Commissioner, State Highway Department, State Highway Commission, Patrol Maintenance, Bridge Law, Federal Aid, Highway Finances, World War 1, First Route Markers, Traffic Counts, Snow and Ice Control, Planning Activities, World War 2, The Maine Turnpike, Right of Way, Division Offices, Chairman Full-Time Position, Engineering Tools and Techniques, Engineering Pioneers, The Interstate Program, Roadside Beauty, Highway Safety, Operation of the Department Today.

Australian Tractor Test Report No. 54 : Fiat 615, G H. Vasey, W. F. Baillie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

AUSTRALIAN TRACTOR TEST REPORT

No. 54 - FIAT 615

The tractor is designed for working either with mounted implements directly through the three-point linkage or through the drawbar.

Old Hickory Trucks, Kentucky Library Research Collections

Research Collections

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