Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals representative of an engine noise transmitted via a plurality of noise sensors, wherein the noise sensors are disposed in a grid about an engine. The method further includes receiving a knock sensor signal representative of an engine noise transmitted via a knock sensor. The method additionally includes deriving a combustion event based on the knock sensor signal, and deriving an engine condition based on the plurality of signals and the combustion event. The method also includes communicating the engine condition.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal indicative of a change in an air-fuel ratio (AFR) for a mixture of air and fuel entering a first combustion chamber of a combustion engine, advancing firing timing of the first combustion chamber, receiving, from a knock sensor, a knock signal indicating that the combustion engine has begun to knock, determining a knock margin of the first combustion chamber based on when the combustion engine begins to knock, and storing the knock margin as associated with the knock timing and the AFR.

Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to receive noise signals acquired by at least two knock sensors of a plurality of knock sensors coupled to a reciprocating device. Each noise signal represents a noise signature of the reciprocating device detected at a respective knock sensor. The controller is also configured to determine a location of a coincident noise within the reciprocating device based at least on the received noise signals.

Abstract: A method of treating a biobased feedstock derived from agricultural resources and specifically from the non-distillate products of fermentation-derived renewable fuel and distilled spirit processes. The separation of thermally labile components from biobased feedstocks result in materials that are thermally stable and better suited for subsequent melt processing in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A moisture scavenger composition to address the processing of moisture sensitive materials or high moisture content materials in melt processable feed stocks. The moisture scavenger includes a desiccant, an elastomeric dispersant, and an optional hydrophillic synergist.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing piston slap from engine knock in a reciprocating device includes obtaining a fundamental frequency of a cylinder, the cylinder having a thrust face and an anti-thrust face, receiving a first signal from a first knock sensor mounted on the cylinder, and identifying piston slap by evaluating whether a first plurality of amplitudes of the first signal at the fundamental frequency and one or more harmonic frequencies of the fundamental frequency exceed a piston slap threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method may include retrieving, via a processor, a fundamental frequency of a cylinder type from a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, receiving, via the processor, a first signal from a first knock sensor disposed on a cylinder. The cylinder is disposed in an engine. The method may also include deriving whether a number of amplitudes of the first signal at the fundamental frequency and one or more harmonic frequencies exceed an undesired installation threshold value, and identifying an asymmetric piston as having an undesired installation if the undesired installation threshold value exceeds the number of amplitudes of the first signal and the one or more harmonic frequencies.

Abstract: A control system includes a first and second sensor configured to monitor a first type of operating condition of a first and second cylinder of an engine, respectively, a feedback component configured to monitor a second type of operating condition of the engine, and a controller communicatively coupled with the first and second sensors and feedback component. The controller is configured to receive a first measurement of the first type of operating condition from the first sensor, a second measurement of the first type of operating condition from the second sensor, and a third measurement of the second type of operating condition from the feedback component, to analyze the first and second measurements to detect a change in operating peak firing pressure in the first cylinder and/or in the second cylinder, and to analyze the third measurement to diagnose a cause of the change.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide variable valve timing (VVT) mechanisms. A VVT mechanism according to the disclosure can include: a lever having a first end, a second end, and a fulcrum positioned therebetween; a length-adjustable push rod coupled to the first end of the lever and including an actuator therein; a rod valve coupled to the second end of the lever, the rod valve being configured to open and close an intake valve of an engine system based on a movement of the lever; and an engine control unit (ECU) operatively connected to the actuator of the length-adjustable push rod, wherein the ECU adjusts a length of the length-adjustable push rod based on an operating condition of the engine system. In addition or alternatively, the ECU can control an amount of cushioning fluid for the valves to affect the rate at which the intake valve opens or closes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating an engine event location are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a controller is configured to receive a signal from at least one knock sensor coupled to a reciprocating engine, transform the signal, using a multivariate transformation algorithm, into a power spectral density, transform the power spectral density into a plurality of feature vectors using predictive frequency bands, predict the engine event location using at least the plurality of feature vectors and a predictive model, and adjust operation of the reciprocating engine based on the engine event location.

Abstract: A system includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one of vibration, pressure, acceleration, deflection, or movement within a reciprocating engine and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a raw signal from the at least one sensor, derive a filtered knock signal using predictive frequency bands by applying a filter, derive an absolute filtered knock signal from the filtered signal, identify a maximum of the absolute filtered knock signal for each engine cycle, predict a peak pressure value of each of one or more engine cycles using the identified maximums of the absolute filtered signal and a predictive model, and adjust operation of the reciprocating engine based on the predicted peak pressure values.

Abstract: A system includes a combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system coupled to the combustion engine and configured to route exhaust generated by the combustion engine from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold, and a first knock sensor coupled to the combustion engine and configured to measure vibrations of the combustion engine and output a first vibration signal. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the combustion engine, the knock sensor, the EGR system, or any combination thereof. The controller is configured to determine a peak firing pressure (PFP) within the combustion engine and control operations of both the combustion engine and the EGR system based on the PFP.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (“EGR”) in an engine. In one embodiment, the system may include a knock sensor coupled to the engine that sends a signal corresponding to at least one operating condition of the engine to a controller. The controller may estimate an amount of EGR gas administered to the engine and regulate the amount of EGR gas being administered to the engine when the estimated amount of EGR gas is not an effective amount.

Abstract: The deposition of graphene is accomplished by various techniques that result in a change of the graphene's solubility in the liquid medium. The solubility change enables the deposition of the graphene onto the substrate. Once the graphene is deposited onto the substrate, the at least partially coated substrate may be separated from the liquid medium. The substrates may then serve as a carrier to deliver the graphene to a desired application.

Abstract: A system includes an engine control system configured to receive a first vibration signal from a first knock sensor disposed about a reciprocating engine, apply a binaural model to the first vibration signal, derive an engine health condition based on the application of the binaural model to the first vibration signal, and communicate the engine health condition.

Abstract: A system includes a cylinder, a piston, a sensor configured to detect vibrations of the cylinder, piston, or both that correspond with varying pressures within the cylinder, and a controller coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to receive a first signal from the sensor corresponding with first vibrations of the cylinder and to deduce from the first signal a first operating value of a parameter indicative of peak firing pressure at a first time, to compare the first operating value with a baseline value of the parameter indicative of peak firing pressure to detect a change in peak firing pressure, to receive a second signal from the sensor corresponding with second vibrations of the cylinder and to deduce from the second signal a second operating value of the parameter indicative of peak firing pressure at a second time, and to compare the second operating value with the baseline value to confirm the change in peak firing pressure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals representative of an engine noise transmitted via a plurality of noise sensors, wherein the noise sensors are disposed in a grid about an engine. The method further includes receiving a knock sensor signal representative of an engine noise transmitted via a knock sensor. The method additionally includes deriving a combustion event based on the knock sensor signal, and deriving an engine condition based on the plurality of signals and the combustion event. The method also includes communicating the engine condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media stores instructions. The instructions, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to receive engine rotation timing event signals for one or more components of the engine and vibration signals indicative of movement of the one or more components, to synchronize the engine rotation timing event signals and the vibration signals to generate synchronized vibration signals, to determine whether a fault exists by comparing the synchronized vibration signals to vibration signatures, and to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that depicts the synchronized vibration signals at angular positions of the one or more components in relation to time as the one or more components rotate during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal indicative of a change in an air-fuel ratio (AFR) for a mixture of air and fuel entering a first combustion chamber of a combustion engine, advancing firing timing of the first combustion chamber, receiving, from a knock sensor, a knock signal indicating that the combustion engine has begun to knock, determining a knock margin of the first combustion chamber based on when the combustion engine begins to knock, and storing the knock margin as associated with the knock timing and the AFR.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a signal representative of an engine vibration transmitted via a knock sensor, wherein the knock sensor is disposed in an engine. The method additionally includes deriving an engine condition during operation of the engine. The method further includes correlating the engine condition to the signal via a lookup table, wherein the lookup table comprises at least a first column, and a second column, wherein the first column is representative of a knock sensor time window, and the second column is representative of a position range of a component of the engine, and communicating the engine condition.