Introductory part of this thesis is aimed on theoretical description, principle and building of biogas stations, which require solution of many different problems. A specific group of the problems concern transport of mixed substrates of different concentrations both in and outside the area of biogas station. A major part of the substrate transport is done by pumping it in pressure pipeline. Experimental work consists of design and description of a measuring circuit. Graphic characteristics for water and gas loss levels are drawn from the measured readings. Multiples of pressure losses by flowage of substrates with different levels of dry basis are graphically expressed with a help of correction coefficients.

Master’s thesis deals with the description of cranktrain friction and presents and describes experimental cranktrain friction loss evaluations and computational cranktrain friction loss evaluations. The main problem is the creating software solution of selected computational friction loss evaluations that leads to calculation of cranktrain friction losses. Master’s thesis describes chosen computational friction loss methods and the subsequent creation of the software solution. After application on chosen internal combustion engine, it evaluates the results and draws conclusions about functionality of the software solution.

This master's thesis deals with the determination of mechanical losses in the valvetrain of the combustion engine. It describes the computational and experimental methods of determining the mechanical losses of valve mechanism. The practical part of the thesis focuses on the programing of structures in Matlab. This application calculates the values of mechanical losses of valvetrain and displays their graphical representation. This program is used for computing the mechanical losses of the selected real engine.

This diploma thesis describes hydraulic properties of specific types of fittings designed to HVAC systems with primary focus on pressure losses of these fittings. We are focusing on comparison of specific fittings with usual systems of spiro pipes in the project part of this thesis.

The aim of this master`s thesis was to design a single-cylinder test engine for measuring of the friction forces between the piston group and the cylinder liner. Main engine parameters are based on the common production engine. A floating liner device was chosen for a friction forces measurement. It was necessary to solve an attachment and sealing of the floating liner. Stress-strain analysis of the floating liner has been done. Next step was to re-design a production crankshaft also with a connected balancing devices for single-cylinder engine. Powertrain was seated in a completely new units. Finally the engine was completed and mounted on a stand.

This Diploma Thesis is aimed at exploring the potential of offset crankshaft mechanism for four cylinder inline petrol engine in terms of reducing the frictional losses of the piston group. Thesis deals with the influence of eccentricity on kinematics, dynamics and balance of the crank train. Furthermore, specific crankshaft balancing is elaborated and applied on 3D CAD model of the crankshaft. Calculation of fatigue safety factor using the advanced LSA method that takes into consideration the effect of forced torsional vibration and utilizes outputs from the FEA software (ANSYS APDL) is performed as well. Thesis also includes design of two options of rubber torsion damper mounted on the engine belt pulley and the follow-up choosing of the more advisable one.

This document describes the possibilities of increasing the mechanical efficiency of the crank train of an internal-combustion engine. For this purpose, a concept with a reduced number of main bearings is chosen and its contribution is verified experimentally. The proposed solution consists of an innovative crankshaft design of a four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with only three main journal bearings and laser-welded sheet metal crank webs. The new design is compared to the mass-produced one in terms of friction losses, vibrations and loading of engine parts by means of simulations of crank train dynamics using the Multi-Body System. The increase in vibration, accompanied by a reduction in friction losses, is compensated by a torsional vibration damper and its effect is experimentally verified. Experimental research of laser welds on the crankshaft in terms of fatigue life is also described. The overall potential is also summarised and further possible development of this innovative and patented design is outlined.

[ES] En la actualidad, el ambito del transporte mediante el uso de vehículo ligero sufre un gran cambio hacia la descarbonización. Cada vez más, las autoridades europeas restrigen las emisiones de gases de efectos invernaderos hacia la atmósfera emitidos por estos vehículos. Soluciones alternativas a la propulsión con energía fósil, como la implementación de vehículos eléctricos o híbridos, no está lo suficientemente desarrollada para sustituir a los motores de combustión interna alternativos (MCIA), debido a su todavía alto coste de producción y baja infrastructura para abastecer la demanda de energ ́ıa eléctrica. En este contexto, la transición hacia una movilidad sostenible y renovable sigue pasando por el aumento de la eficiencia y la reducción del consumo de combustible en motores de combustión interna. Una alternativa a la mejora de la eficiencia es la reducción de las pérdidas mecánicas por fricción, o en otras palabras, optimización de la tribología. La tribología en un MCIA lleva asociada aspectos mecánicos como la optimización de los acabados superficiales de los distintos componentes que conforman el motor y la optimización de propiedades física, químicas y reológicas del aceite que lo compone. Esta última solución presenta un alto ratio beneficio/coste, ya que su implementación no lleva asociada ninguna modificiación en el hardware y su implementación es directa. Uno de los objetivos de la Tesis Doctoral, es desarrollar un modelo 1D que contenga la información tribológica de un motor de combustión interna que no se puede obtener experimentalmente, que contribuya al entendimiento y optimización de las pérdidas mecánicas por fricción y que ahorre el coste experimental asociado a entender la tribología desde el punto de vista empírico. Estos parámetros van desde el espesor de película de aceite entre los componentes de un par rozante hasta la contribucción a la fricción de las componentes hidrodinámicas y de asperezas de cada elemento rozante. Adem ́as, se ha desarrollado un modelo cuasi estacionario para cuantificar la energ ́ıa disipada por fricción en un ciclo de conducción real y el consumo de combustible asociado al mismo. As ́ı pues, a través de este modelo, se implementan soluciones que pasan desde aceites optimizados reológicamente hasta acabados superficiales de baja rugosidad, entendiendo la fenomenología asociada a cada tecnología y aportando parámetros claves para la optimización de dicha solución. Finalmente, se estima el ahorro en términos de consumo de combustible que se puede alcanzar con estas soluciones implementadas mediante el modelo cuasi estacionario en condiciones de conducción real / [EN] Currently, the field of light-duty vehicle transport is undergoing a major shift towards decarbonisation. Increasingly, European authorities are restricting emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from these vehicles. Alternative solutions to fossil fuel propulsion, such as the implementation of electric or hybrid vehicles, are not sufficiently developed to replace internal combustion engine alternatives (ICEs), due to their still high production cost and low infrastructure to meet the demand for electric power. In this context, the transition towards sustainable and renewable mobility continues to be based on increasing efficiency and reducing fuel consumption in internal combustion engines. An alternative to improving efficiency is the reduction of mechanical frictional losses, or in other words, optimisation of tribology. Tribology in an MCIA is associated with mechanical aspects such as the optimisation of the surface finishes of the different components that make up the engine and the optimisation of the physical, chemical and rheological properties of the oil that makes up the engine. This last solution presents a high benefit/cost ratio, as its implementation does not involve any hardware modification and its implementation is straightforward. One of the objectives of the Doctoral Thesis is to develop a 1D model that contains the tribological information of an internal combustion engine that cannot be obtained experimentally, which contributes to the understanding and optimisation of mechanical friction losses and saves the experimental cost associated with understanding tribology from an empirical point of view. These parameters range from the oil film thickness between two tribological components to the contribution to friction of the hydrodynamic and roughness components of each friction element. In addition, a quasi-stationary model has been developed to quantify the energy dissipated by friction in a real driving cycle and the associated fuel consumption. Thus, through this model, solutions ranging from rheologically optimised oils to low roughness surface finishes are implemented, understanding the phenomenology associated with each technology and providing key parameters for the optimisation of the solution. Finally, the savings in terms of fuel consumption that can be achieved with these solutions implemented using the quasi-stationary model in real driving conditions are estimated. / [CA] Actualment, l’àmbit del transport mitjan ̧cant l’us de vehicles lleugers pateix un gran canvi cap a la descarbonització. Cada vegada m ́es, les autoritats europees restringeixen les emissions de gasos d’efecte hivernacle cap a l’atmosfera emesos per aquests vehicles. Les solucions alternatives a la propulsió amb energia fòssil, com la implementació de vehicles elèctrics o híbrids, no està prou desenvolupada per substituir els motors de combustió interna alternatius (MCIA), a causa del seu encara alt cost de producció i baixa infraestructura per abastir la demanda d’energia elèctrica. En aquest context, la transició cap a una mobilitat sostenible i renovable continua passant per l’augment de l’eficiència i la reducció del consum de combustible en motors de combustió interna. Una alternativa per a la millora de l’eficiència es la reducció de les pèrdues mecàniques per fricció, o en altres paraules, la optimització del comportament tribològic del motor. La tribologia en un MCIA porta associada aspectes mecànics com ara l’optimització dels acabats superficials dels diferents components que conformen el motor i l’optimització de propietats física, químiques i reològiques de l’oli que va a emprar. Aquesta ́ultima solució presenta una alta ratio benefici/cost, ja que la seva implementació no porta associada cap modificació de la màquina i la seva implementació ́es directa. Un dels objectius de la Tesi Doctoral es desenvolupar un model 1D que permet obtindré la informació tribològica d’un motor de combustió interna que no es pot obtenir experimentalment, que contribueixi a l’enteniment i l’optimització de les pèrdues mecàniques per fricció i que estalvi ̈ı el cost experimental associat a entendre la tribologia des del punt de vista empíric. Aquests paràmetres van des de l’espessor de pel·lícula d’oli entre els components d’un parell tribològic fins a la contribució a la fricció dels components amb regim hidrodinàmic i de la rugositat de cada element. A més, s’ha desenvolupat un model gairebé estacionari per quantificar l’energia dissipada per fricció en un cicle de conducció real i el consum de combustible associat. Així, a traves d’aquest model, s’implementen solucions que passen des d’olis optimitzats reològicament fins a acabats superficials de baixa rugositat, entenent la fenomenologia associada a cada tecnologia i aportant paràmetres clau per optimitzar aquesta solució. Finalment, s’estima l’estalvi en termes de consum de combustible que es pot assolir amb aquestes solucions implementades mitjan ̧cant el model quasi estacionari en condicions de conducció real. / Agradezco al programa de Formación de Profesorado Universitario del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades por soportar financieramiente mis estudios doctorales (FPU18/02116) y la estancia de investigación que contribuyó a aumentar los conocimientos desarrollados en la presente tesis doctoral (EST21/00451). / Jiménez Reyes, AJ. (2022). Assessment and Optimization of Friction Losses and Mechanical Efficiency in Internal Combustion Engines [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/188986