A Simulation-Based Approach for Developing Optimal Calibrations for Engines with Variable Valve Actuation — Variable Valve Actuation (VVA) technology provides high potential for achieving improved performance, fuel economy and pollutant reduction. Benefits of VVA stem from better breathing and the ability to control internal residual. However, additional independent control variables in a VVA e...

We present a miniaturized, disposable, normally-closed electromagnetic dispensing valve for the microliter range to process 96-well plates. The novel injection-molded valve is designed to fit into a 9 mm grid to realize an eight channel dispensing head, enabling the serial processing of well plates row-by-row. The presented dispensing valve design originates from a miniaturization study of a pr...

This paper presents a failure analysis on a failed intake valve in a gasoline engine. During an endurance test, an intake valve was broken and caused some damages on the piston. Material examinations (by a light microscope and also a scanning electron microscope) were conducted on the fracture surface of the intake valve shaft. Results showed that no pores or defects could be observed and the m...

This paper reports for the first time the use of a cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) ionogel encapsulating the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulphate as a thermoresponsive and modular microfluidic valve. The ionogel presents superior actuation behaviour to its equivalent hydrogel. Ionogel swelling and shrinking mechanisms and kinetics are investigated as well as the perf...

Precise mass flow control is an essential requirement for novel, small-scale fluidic systems. However, a small-volume, low-leakage proportional control valve for minute fluid flows has not yet been designed or manufactured. A survey is therefore made of the primary design considerations of a micromachined, proportional control valve. Performance requirements are identified based on various appl...

Small diesel engines are widely used for commercial vehicle and passenger car applications due to their higher torque requirements, fuel economy, and better thermal efficiency. These engines are exposed to different operating and environmental conditions and hence emissions from these engines are erratic. Strategies are required to enhance performance and reduce engine-out emissions considering...

We present here a novel microchamber sealing valve that is self-actuated by a pressure change during the temperature change in the thermal activation of reactions. Actuation of our valve requires only the use of the same heating device as employed for the reactions. A thermoplastic UV-curable polymer is used as a device material; the polymer allows realization of the temperature-driven valve ac...

A computational optimization was performed for a direct-injection diesel engine using three-dimensional modeling. Fully transient CFD analyses of different valve profile strategies for the intake and compression strokes were performed to evaluate the effects on both engine performance and in-cylinder flow-field evolution. The turbulence model was used along with the second order linear upwin...