Abstract: A method is provided for operating an engine. The engine is configured to post inject a quantity of fuel into a combustion chamber and includes, but is not limited to a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) that has an inlet and an outlet. The method includes, but is not limited to determining an open loop post injection quantity qpost—OL of fuel as a function of a target temperature TOtarget for the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) outlet, the step of determining the current temperature TO at the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) outlet and the step of determining, for the temperature TO, a closed loop post injection quantity qpost—CL of fuel needed for correcting the open loop post injection quantity qpost—OL for determining a correct post injection fuel quantity qpost needed to match the desired DOC heat release related to the target temperature TOtarget when operating the engine system.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing emissions behind a catalytic converter in an exhaust gas stream of the engine. The method includes, but is not limited to controlling a power supply to a glowplug of a compression-ignition engine. The glowplug is activated if a set of at least two input values remains in a first characteristic region of an input parameter space for at least a predetermined activation time. The first characteristic region consists of one ore more contiguous regions of the input parameter space.

Abstract: A method for controlling glow plugs associated with respective cylinders of a Diesel engine, which includes, but is not limited to the steps of storing data indicative of the activation sequence of the cylinders and activating sequentially each glow plug according to the stored activation sequence of the cylinders.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating synthetic materials having different characteristics includes a rotating drum having a cylindrical shape with a tapered end and an opposite flat bottom wall; a device configured to introduce a mixture of at least two synthetic materials in particle form and a liquid having an intermediate specific weight relative to specific weights of the two products into the drum; a radial discharge opening in the tapered end of the drum; an axial slithering discharge opening located in the bottom surface of the drum, at a distance from the drum axis, a rotor located inside the drum having a first external helical blade with the same external shape as the drum, a device configured to set the rotor in rotation relative to the drum. The blade is located at a distance from the rotor axis greater than the distance between the drum axis and the axial discharge opening.

Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for estimating oxygen concentration downstream a diesel oxidation catalyst within a diesel engine system. The method includes, but is not limited to at least an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold, and the diesel oxidation catalyst located in the exhaust line upstream a diesel particulate filter, the method comprising: determining unburned fuel mass flow ejected from the combustion chamber, determining air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of said unburned fuel mass flow and said air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating oxygen concentration downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of the estimated air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating synthetic materials having different characteristics includes a rotating drum having a cylindrical shape with a tapered end and an opposite flat bottom wall; a device configured to introduce a mixture of at least two synthetic materials in particle form and a liquid having an intermediate specific weight relative to specific weights of the two products into the drum; a radial discharge opening in the tapered end of the drum; an axial slithering discharge opening located in the bottom surface of the drum, at a distance from the drum axis, a rotor located inside the drum having a first external helical blade with the same external shape as the drum, a device configured to set the rotor in rotation relative to the drum. The blade is located at a distance from the rotor axis greater than the distance between the drum axis and the axial discharge opening.

Abstract: A method for separating a granular synthetic material from a loose mass of various synthetic materials includes: conveying the granular mass along a trajectory having a rubbing surface subjecting the mass falling from the rubbing surface to an electrical field; and collecting at least one of the masses separated by the electrical field. The mass advances in a single layer on the rubbing surface, while maintaining the single layer contact with the rubbing surface, the rubbing surface being subjected to repeated acceleration in opposite directions in the plane of the rubbing surface, or tangential thereto to move the mass on the surface in order to improve the electrostatic charge. The rubbing surface is made of or clad with a material having intermediate triboelectric properties with respect to those of the granular mass, and is clad with a same material as that which it is intended to separate from the mass.

Abstract: A plant for storing products comprising at least a pair of vertical stores (40) facing one another, each being provided with opposite flanks (4) which are provided with pluralities of guides (6) located such that a pair of opposite guides (6) which face one another on the same horizontal plane define end rests for single drawers or trays (5). Housings for the drawers or trays (5) are defined between the pairs of guides (6) and the contiguous pairs of guides, each of which is transferable between a load/unload configuration of the products and a storage configuration in which the drawer or tray (5) is inserted with ends thereof on a pair of opposite guides (6) and vice versa. An elevator (9) is provided, associated to the frame (2) and mobile along a development direction (A) of the vertical stores (40) such as to move the drawers or trays (5).

Abstract: A machine for shredding various materials, such as blocks of plastics, wood residues, cardboard packaging, building materials and so forth, comprising a rotor constituted by a cylindrical roller and a plurality of shredding teeth, arranged in respective slots, which are provided in the surface of the roller and lie on radial planes which are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller, the shredding teeth comprising cutting elements constituted by plates and blocks for fixing the plates and cooperating with stationary teeth arranged in a comb-like arrangement, the plates being arranged directly on the slots provided in the surface of the roller and the blocks being accommodated in cavities shaped like seats for a key, which are formed in the surface of the roller in line with the slots and lie at right angles to them, the blocks being fixed by means of screws so that they can be removed from the seats and protruding from the slots with a portion that acts for the plates as an element for abutment and

Abstract: A method is provided that includes, but is not limited to estimating the temperature (TGP,est) of the glow-plug (GP) in accordance with a first model of the glow-plug (GP) as a function of the detected values of the glow-plug voltage and current (VGP, IGP) and the sensed values of some input variables, such as the engine speed (?E) and the engine temperature (TE), determining, in accordance with a second predetermined model of the glow-plug (GP), a desired value of the voltage (VGP,des) or power (PGP,des) to be supplied to the glow-plug (GP), as a function of a desired value of the glow-plug temperature (TGP,des), the estimated glow-plug temperature (TGP,est), and the sensed values of the input variables, and varying the duty-cycle of a pulse-width-modulated voltage (VPWM) applied to the glow-plug (GP), as a function of the calculated value of said desired voltage (VGP,des) or power (PGP,des).

Abstract: A method for the estimation of oil viscosity in an internal combustion engine, the engine subjected to fuel post injections to activate Particulate Filter regeneration processes and to fuel hydrocarbons (HC) evaporation events affecting said oil viscosity. The method includes, but is not limited to determining if the particulate filter is subjected to a regeneration process and, in the affirmative case, calculating an oil viscosity decrease during said Particulate Filter regeneration process as a function of an oil dilution rate, and calculating an oil viscosity increase after said regeneration process as a function of an Hydrocarbon (HC) evaporation rate and of a time during which fuel Hydrocarbon evaporation takes place, where said evaporation time is determined as a function of a time spent in evaporating fuel Hydrocarbon from engine oil in a previous fuel hydrocarbons evaporation event.

Abstract: A method for controlling glow plugs associated with respective cylinders of a Diesel engine, which includes, but is not limited to the steps of storing data indicative of the activation sequence of the cylinders and activating sequentially each glow plug according to the stored activation sequence of the cylinders.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a glow plug of a combustion machine of a vehicle, the glow plug being driven by a first predetermined effective voltage, the first predetermined effective voltage being lower than the voltage of the battery of the vehicle when the combustion machine is running

Abstract: A method is provided for managing the regeneration of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in a Diesel engine system. The engine having an intake and an exhaust line and being configured to after-inject or post-inject quantities of fuel into a combustion chamber for raising the temperature of the engine exhaust gas. The engine including in the exhaust line, but not limited to, a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). The method including, but not limited to identifying a faulty condition of the engine system and, in case that such faulty condition is not critical, measuring the intake air charge and, in case such intake air charge is acceptable, and performing a regeneration process for said Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an engine. The engine is configured to post inject a quantity of fuel into a combustion chamber and includes, but is not limited to a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) that has an inlet and an outlet. The method includes, but is not limited to determining an open loop post injection quantity qpost—OL of fuel as a function of a target temperature TOtarget for the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) outlet, the step of determining the current temperature TO at the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) outlet and the step of determining, for the temperature TO, a closed loop post injection quantity qpost—CL of fuel needed for correcting the open loop post injection quantity qpost—OL for determining a correct post injection fuel quantity qpost needed to match the desired DOC heat release related to the target temperature TOtarget when operating the engine system.

Abstract: A glow plug control unit is provided that includes a first switch for connecting power supply lines to a glow plug. The glow plug control unit further includes a voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage at the power supply lines. A current measurement unit is built for measuring the current through the first switch and a control circuit is built for controlling the first switch and, in a current control mode, for regulating the current through the first switch.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing emissions behind a catalytic converter in an exhaust gas stream of the engine. The method includes, but is not limited to controlling a power supply to a glowplug of a compression-ignition engine. The glowplug is activated if a set of at least two input values remains in a first characteristic region of an input parameter space for at least a predetermined activation time. The first characteristic region consists of one ore more contiguous regions of the input parameter space.

Abstract: A method is provided for regenerating a diesel particulate filter within a diesel engine system that includes, but is not limited to at least a combustion chamber defined by a reciprocating piston inside a cylinder, at least an exhaust valve for cyclically open the combustion chamber towards an exhaust line, and the diesel particulate filter located in the exhaust line, wherein the method comprises injecting an amount of fuel into the combustion chamber by means of least two consecutive after-injection pulses (AIP1-AIP3), each of which starts (SOI) after the piston has passed the top dead center (TDC), and sufficiently near to the latter for the fuel to burn at least partially inside the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling one or more glowplugs in a compression-ignition engine. The controlling of the glowplug involves the prediction of a glow plug temperature to control a power supply to the glowplug. A supplied power to a glowplug and a combustion chamber temperature is determined. A temperature of the glowplug is predicted and the predicted glowplug temperature is used to control a power supply to the glowplug. The predicted glowplug temperature is derived from a numerical solution of a differential equation for the glowplug temperature. The differential equation is nonlinear in the glowplug temperature.

Abstract: A method and a control system are provided for estimating oxygen concentration downstream a diesel oxidation catalyst within a diesel engine system. The method includes, but is not limited to at least an intake manifold, a combustion chamber, an exhaust manifold, and the diesel oxidation catalyst located in the exhaust line upstream a diesel particulate filter, the method comprising: determining unburned fuel mass flow ejected from the combustion chamber, determining air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of said unburned fuel mass flow and said air mass fraction in the exhaust manifold, estimating oxygen concentration downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst as a function of the estimated air mass fraction downstream the diesel oxidation catalyst.