Abstract: An exhaust gas heat recovery system for a vehicle is configured to selectively distribute a fluid heated by engine exhaust to a first path for generating electricity and a second path for heating one or more powertrain components of the vehicle. A controller selects a distribution of the fluid to the first and second paths based on minimizing a fuel consumption of an engine. The controller further selects a distribution of fluid to the powertrain components to minimize fuel consumption. The controller distributes the fluid according to the selected distribution.

Abstract: A method of managing a power plant for a rotary wing aircraft, said power plant comprising two main engines, a secondary engine, and a main power transmission gearbox (MGB). Said main and secondary engines mechanically driving said MGB so as to rotate a main rotor of said aircraft. Said secondary engine delivers two distinct mechanical power levels so that said main and secondary engines together deliver sufficient mechanical power to enable said aircraft to fly, firstly a first secondary mechanical power MPS1 and secondly a second secondary mechanical power MPS2 suitable for compensating for a loss of main mechanical power from at least one main engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a biofuel from an aqueous mixture of carbonized biomass obtained by means of a method for the hydrothermal carbonization of biomass, characterized in that it comprises: (a) grinding the aqueous mixture of carbonized biomass until a maximum size of less than 500 micrometers of the particles contained in the mixture is obtained; (b) applying a method for the physical separation of inorganic substances; and (c) reducing the moisture content until a water content of between 25 and 55 wt. % is reached. The invention also relates to the biofuel obtained by said method, and to the use thereof in various applications.

Abstract: When a lock demand of a camshaft phase occurs, a control mode of a hydraulic control valve is switched to a locking mode after the camshaft phase is controlled to a lock phase, and a lock pin is moved to a lock position. The camshaft phase is locked at the lock phase, and timing advance and timing retard chambers communicate with each other through a back space. In this state, a locking time filling control is executed. In the locking time filling control, the control mode of a hydraulic control valve is switched to a filling mode, the hydraulic oil is supplied to a timing advance chamber, both of the timing advance chamber and the timing retard chamber are filled with the hydraulic oil, the back space is filled with the hydraulic oil, and thereafter the control mode of the hydraulic control valve is returned to the locking mode.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating oil flow to advance and retard chambers of a variable cam timing (VCT) system and to a thrust bearing of a camshaft via an oil control valve. In one example, an oil control valve may be housed within a cam journal cap the cam journal cap comprising a thrust bearing for receiving and retaining a camshaft. The cam journal cap may include a vertical bore configured to house the control valve, where the vertical bore may include a first port for receiving oil from an oil pump, a second port for flowing oil to an advance chamber of a VCT system, a third port for flowing oil to a retard chamber of the VCT system, a fourth port, coupled to the thrust bearing for flowing oil thereto, and a drain port for flowing oil to an oil sump.

Abstract: A switching oil gallery de-aeration arrangement for a switchable valve arrangement is provided, including a switching control valve that activates or deactivates the switchable valve arrangement. The switching control valve is movable from a first position, in which pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic lash adjuster fluid gallery flows to a passage on the hydraulic lash adjuster and through a switching hydraulic fluid gallery to a check valve such that pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic lash adjuster fluid gallery pressurizes the switching hydraulic fluid gallery and is released through the check valve, and a second position, in which pressurized hydraulic fluid having a higher pressure sufficient for carrying out a switching function of the switchable valve arrangement is delivered by the switching hydraulic fluid gallery via the second intersection to the second port.

Abstract: A spring arrangement for a variable valve drive of an internal combustion engine includes an intermediate lever, a control shaft, a control shaft roller, a working cam contour, and a spring element. The intermediate lever comprises a contact surface, a camshaft roller which bears against a camshaft, and a slot roller which bears against a slotted guide. The control shaft roller is arranged on the intermediate lever to face away from the slotted guide. The control shaft roller bears against the control shaft. The working cam contour is formed at an end of the intermediate lever opposite the camshaft roller. The spring element comprises a force component on the contact surface in the direction of the camshaft and the slotted guide, and an end leg. The spring element loads the camshaft roller against the camshaft and the slot roller against the slotted guide. The end leg bears against the contact surface.

Abstract: A valve timing control device, in effect a cam phaser, for an internal combustion engine. The valve timing control device includes a rotor connected to a camshaft and having a plurality of vanes. A stator is engaged with the rotor, and includes a plurality of webs. Pressure chambers are provided between each of the webs and vanes. The cam phaser is configured to automatically locate to its mid-lock position, without having to rely on electronic control. At least one embodiment of the present invention is configured to use cam torque to recirculate oil from one side of the vanes of the rotor to the other.

Abstract: A system and method for generating energy by exploiting changes in atmospheric pressure. A system is provided that includes a pair of submerged vessels, each vessel containing a fluid; a mechanism for alternatively raising and lowering the submerged vessels to cause the fluid to expand and contract; a system for capturing mechanical energy resulting from the expansion and/or contraction; and a system for converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Abstract: A valve timing controller has a housing, a vane rotor, a valve body and a spool. The valve body has a supply port to communicate with an external oil feed section, a first drain port to communicate with a first oil pressure chamber, and a second drain port to communicate with a second oil pressure chamber. The supply port includes a supply recess recessed outward in a radial direction from an inner wall surface of a pipe part of the valve body. The second drain port includes a drain recess recessed outward in the radial direction from the inner wall surface of the pipe part. A depth of the drain recess in the radial direction is smaller than a depth of the supply recess in the radial direction.

Abstract: A multi-stage vacuum pump may include a sealing arrangement for sealing between the stator components of the pump. The end seals of the arrangement comprise an annular portion for sealing between end stator components and shell components and axial portions which extend from the annular portion and together with separate axial seals seal between the shell components.

Abstract: A method for monitoring cold start of Brayton cycle power generation system comprises: measuring an ambient temperature to obtain a Brayton cycle predetermined operating line of a working fluid, parameter values and calculated values of three monitoring points of the Brayton cycle predetermined operating line, and a position of a saturation curve of the working fluid according to the ambient temperature and a LUT; starting the cold start, continuously measuring the parameter values of the three monitoring points, and meanwhile continuously recording and displaying moving trajectories of the parameter values and the calculated values of the three monitoring points; after the parameter values and the calculated values of the three monitoring points are close to the default values, operating the Brayton cycle power generation system for a predetermined time; and ending the cold start, to enter a stable operating state of the Brayton cycle power generation system.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for estimating ash accumulation. An interpolation module calculates a first particulate accumulation from an interpolation function. An ash feedback module calculates an ash accumulation as an ash feedback function of the first particulate accumulation and a stored first ash accumulation estimate. In one embodiment, an ash feedforward module calculates an added ash estimate. An ash accumulation module may calculate a second ash accumulation estimate as the sum of the ash accumulation and the added ash estimate. A regeneration module may deep clean the filter if the second ash accumulation estimate exceeds an ash threshold. In one embodiment, a soot calculation module calculates a soot accumulation as a second particulate accumulation minus the second ash accumulation estimate.

Abstract: A method of desulfating a catalytic NOx storage and conversion device is disclosed, wherein the method includes determining an amount of sulfur stored in the catalytic NOx storage and conversion device; determining an interval for exposing the catalytic NOx storage and conversion device to a rich exhaust stream based upon the determined amount of sulfur stored, wherein the interval is longer for lower amounts of sulfur stored and shorter for higher amounts of sulfur stored; and exposing the catalytic NOx storage and conversion device to the rich exhaust stream for the determined interval.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a mobile combustion engine includes at least one exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe has at least one catalytically active reaction chamber, inside which long-chain hydrocarbons contained in the exhaust gas are cracked. A method for operating such an exhaust system is also provided.

Abstract: An engine control system that regulates fuel to an engine after lean idle operation includes a first module that determines a rich mass fuel rate based on a lean operation mass air flow and a stoichiometric air to fuel ratio (AFR) and that calculates a time rich based on the rich mass fuel rate. A second module regulates fuel to the engine during a rich operation period after the lean idle operation to provide the rich mass fuel rate for the time rich.

Abstract: A control device of an internal combustion engine suppressing catalyst deterioration by prohibiting fuel cuts, wherein the generation of odor from the catalyst after deceleration is suppressed. The control device is provided with a fuel cut executing device for stopping the supply of fuel to an internal combustion engine when a vehicle is in a decelerating state and a fuel cut prohibiting device for prohibiting a fuel cut when a temperature of a catalyst provided in an exhaust system is a predetermined temperature or more, wherein when a fuel cut is prohibited by the fuel cut prohibiting device when the vehicle decelerates in a predetermined period after an increased fuel operation is performed, the internal combustion engine is operated so that the combustion air-fuel ratio becomes lean in the decelerating state or in the decelerating state and its succeeding idling state.

Abstract: Unobstructed, pressurized air from the forward movement of a vehicle such as a pickup, SUV or automobile is forced into an air scoop (mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle). This air is then channeled through a section of exhaust pipe (having the fewest possible bends) parallel (with an approximate 4? separation) along the muffler to the end of the tailpipe. A section of exhaust pipe (“crossover pipe”) is welded to the tailpipe outward at an acute angle which is then welded at an obtuse angle to the pressurized air pipe with both pipes being welded open to each other. As the pressurized air passes the crossover pipe, a vacuum is created in the crossover pipe pulling gases out of the tailpipe and then pushing them out of the pressurized air pipe, with this process reducing backpressure in the exhaust system and improving fuel economy.

Abstract: The aftertreatment apparatus and method of the invention concentrate diesel exhaust under low engine load conditions in a motor vehicle, such as idling, before filtering the diesel exhaust. The apparatus has a housing which is in fluid communication with a filter and other components of the diesel exhaust system. The apparatus has an exhaust concentrator to concentrate the low load diesel exhaust. The concentrated exhaust is directed a limited part of the filter and/or the catalytic device, such as the center. The exhaust concentrator is at least partially disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system includes an exhaust gas cooler configured to receive exhaust gas from the engine and to cool the exhaust gas before it is recirculated back into the engine. A valve is located downstream from the exhaust gas cooler, and is operable to control the amount of exhaust gas passing through the exhaust gas cooler. Intake air mixes with the exhaust gas downstream from the first valve. The mixed gas is then cooled by a mixed gas cooler before it enters the engine intake manifold. A coolant is circulated through the mixed gas cooler and a heat exchanger. The mixed gas rejects heat to the coolant via the mixed gas cooler, and the coolant rejects heat to the ambient air via the heat exchanger.