Viorel Nicolae

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle with a Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Traction Type

To promote in the academic environment the ways for reducing global warming produced by the Sport Utility Vehicles, the grand hamster—electric way 4WD concept has developed within the University of Pitesti. It is a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle powered in electric/hybrid modes by a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) traction battery technology, 205 V, 12 kWh. The concept is developed on the Dacia DUSTER crossover vehicle, 4 × 2 series version by implementing an electric propulsion system in the rear axle. The objective of this project is to realize a 4WD environmentally-friendly vehicle maintaining the leisure of driving the vehicle in the city using the continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the electric mode and the diesel motorization outside of the town in the thermal mode. The architecture is parallel type and E-4WD with a standard diesel engine 1,5 dCi FAP, 79 kW(107 bhp) and 6 speed manual gearbox in the front, and an asynchronous electric motor 31 kW (41 bhp) coupled with the reduction and differential gearbox unit at the rear. The traction battery is monitored by a battery monitor and charged by an embarked charger. The charging and discharging of the battery is authorized by the Battery Management System. The paper presents the firsts performances of the vehicle on the road tests.

STUDY OF THE DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF A CAR BODY FOR MOUNTING THE REAR AXLE

This paper presents a dynamic analysis of the car body for mounting the rear axle. It was performed a study on the frequency response by determining the values for the inertances. The calculated values were compared with those provided by the specifications. FEM (Finite Element Method) was used as calculation method and the results were compared with those determined experimentally on the test bench.

Development of a wireless battery charger for Dacia Electron EV

Wireless charging of electric or hybrid vehicles is a modern technology based on power electronics with high prospects of extension both due to the advantages it offers against the plug-in charging and as an integral part of the technology for achieving autonomous vehicles, a highly topical issue. Although the theory of these wireless systems is well known, at practical achievement one should take into account the conditions of use, where at least two elements with variable character intervene: the battery charging state and the vehicle ground clearance. Because transferred powers between 3 and 20 kW are involved, the efficiency of this conversion is essential. In this paper there is described the wireless charger used for Dacia Electron EV achieved on the structure of a Dacia Sandero series vehicle.

Comparative study on performances of a continuously variable transmission used in two different powertrain architectures

Given the importance of reducing carbon emissions from road transport, price and security of oil supply, hybrid electric vehicle can provide a viable alternative solution to conventional vehicles, equipped with thermal engines, which use fossil fuels. Based on the growing trends of new vehicles sales, which include hybrid and electric vehicles closely associated with their use in terms of harmful emissions, strict regulations are established. In this paper were created models of thermal and hybrid electric powertrains groups, using computer simulation program AVL Cruise, making a comparative study using petroleum fuels for continuously variable transmission. The results obtained highlights both fuel consumption as well as pollutant emissions.

Key Characteristics of the World Class Manufacturing Concept in the Production of Chassis for Buses Industry

This paper presents the approach of the implementation of WCM in the chassis production in the bus industry.

Improvement of the 8D Analysis Through a System Based on the “Internet of Things” Concept Applied in Automotive Industry

The Eight Disciplines Problem Solving - 8D analyses represents, for the automotive industry companies, the main working tool with which the defect analysis is made following a complaint received from an (internal or external) customer, as well as the means used to communicate the results of this analysis, all these supplemented by required the corrective and preventive actions. 8D purpose is to identify, correct, and eliminate recurring problems and when it’s being used the right way can help the companies come to a solution for the most complex of problems. This paper presents a solution to decrease the response time for the 8D methodology: by warning of the workstations and the warehouse to the appearance of a customer complaint and by using a software for the computerized management of some documents needed for the 8D analysis.

DUSTER ZERO – ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH 4WD

This paper presents the new aspects regarding a full electric vehicle, all wheels drive developed within the Automotive Engineering Research Centre, University of Pitesti, Romania on the mechanical platform DACIA DUSTER 4WD. The conversion was made by implementing a new electric powertrain that contains Renault ZE components already launched on the market for commercialized vehicles. For reasons of cost, the architecture of the electric drive is mono-motor type and includes a synchronous electric motor type, 44 kW, a robotized gears box with two speeds (L—Low for all terrain and H—High for the road) and the classic mechanical all-wheel drive system. This system allows three different driving modes: 2WD front-wheel drive for maximum electric energy efficiency, Auto, in which the rear-wheel drive is engaged automatically and Lock, whereby 50 % of torque is consistently fed through the rear axle. The traction battery, divided into two stacks is lithium-ion technology type, 400 V, 22 kWh. The performances are: maximum speed: 130 km/h; autonomy (NEDC) (estimated): 160 km; standard charging: 6–8 h with home WALL BOX; fast charging: 0.5–1 h with public and quick charger.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF COMPLEX INTERSECTIONS BY MICRO-SIMULATION

The increase of motorization index, the spatial redistribution of land use functions, the jobs crisis, the degradation of level of service provided by rail mode occurred in Romania in the last two decades have led to increased demand for road transport mode. In the large cities and their suburban areas the phenomenon of congestion occurs, as a consequence of the fact that weren’t major interventions in order to increase the transport capacity. An essential stage in the transport planning process is the diagnosis of current situation, because based on its results is possible to propose solutions for improving traffic conditions. To analyze complex intersections or groups of junctions, the measured traffic volumes are insufficient and traffic micro-simulation is required. Micro-simulation takes into account the physical characteristics of the vehicle, the traffic rules and psychological behavior of the driver, achieving a stochastic and dynamic representation of each vehicle in the traffic flow. In this paper is made an analysis of performances offered by the road intersection located in the suburban area of Pitesti City, situated at the junction of three main networks (a highway, two national roads and the urban network), by applying the micro-simulation of traffic flows.

Virtual Model Used for Kinematics Study of Car’s Rear Axle

Abstract: The paper presents the possibility of generating a complex kinematic model that can be used to simulate various types of semi-independent rear axle used in the design of new cars. This model allows quick check for such axles of the interference that may occur in their functioning on the car. For application it was used the CATIA V5 software.

Accelerated testing of an optimized closing system for automotive fuel tank

Taking into account the legal prescriptions which are in force and the new regulatory requirements that will be mandatory to implement in the near future regarding testing characteristics of automotive fuel tanks, resulted the necessity to develop a new testing methodology which allows to estimate the behaviour of the closing system of automotive fuel tank over a long period of time (10-15 years). Thus, were designed and conducted accelerated tests under extreme assembling and testing conditions (high values for initial tightening torques, extreme values of temperature and pressure). In this paper are presented two of durability tests which were performed on an optimized closing system of fuel tank: (i) the test of exposure to temperature with cyclical variation and (ii) the test of continuous exposure to elevated temperature. In these experimental tests have been used main components of the closing system manufactured of two materials variants, both based on the polyoxymethylene, material that provides higher mechanical stiffness and strength in a wide temperature range, as well as showing increased resistance to the action of chemical agents and fuels. The tested sample included a total of 16 optimized locking systems, 8 of each of 2 versions of material. Over deploying the experiments were determined various parameters such as: the initial tightening torque, the tightening torque at different time points during measurements, the residual tightening torque, defects occurred in the system components (fissures, cracks, ruptures), the sealing conditions of system at the beginning and at the end of test. Based on obtained data were plotted the time evolution diagrams of considered parameter (the residual tightening torque of the system consisting of locking nut and threaded ring), in different temperature conditions, becoming possible to make pertinent assessments on the choice between the two types of materials. By conducting these tests and interpreting the obtained results, it can be created a clear picture of the capacity of closing system of fuel tank to fulfil the functional requirements following the exposure to values of testing parameters significantly above the values that may appear throughout the entire service life of the vehicle. The proposed accelerated testing method shows the main advantage of simulation in a limited time all the situations which may be encountered in a much longer period of time, namely the service life of the vehicle.