Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5552/crojfe.2023.1700
Effects of Changing Drive Control Method of Idling Wood Size Reduction Machines on Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Emissions
Łukasz Warguła
orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-778X
; Poznan University of Technology Faculty Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Institute of Machine Design pl. Marii Słodowskiej-Curie 5 60-965 Poznań POLAND
Piotr Lijewski
; Poznan University of Technology Faculty Faculty of Civil Engineering and Transport Institute of Internal Combustion Engines and Drives pl. Marii Słodowskiej-Curie 5 60-965 Poznań POLAND
Mateusz Kukla
; Poznan University of Technology Faculty Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Institute of Machine Design pl. Marii Słodowskiej-Curie 5 60-965 Poznań POLAND
Abstract
Operating conditions often fluctuate during processing of branches and sawmill offcuts using
low-power wood size reduction machines (WSRMs), mainly due to changes in wood supply
frequency. This results in relatively high proportions of idling time. Fuel consumption and associated
exhaust emissions of WSRMs with combustion engines can be reduced by using innovative
drive unit control systems during idling. The objective of the research was to determine
the effects of two speed control systems on the fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of a
WSRM with a two-cylinder cutting mechanisms driven by a small 9.5 kW spark ignition engine.
Speed control system A (commercially available) had a substantially higher rotational speed than
system B (an innovative, adaptive solution subject to patent application No. P433586). Pine
(Pinus sylvestris L.) wood sawmill offcuts (average cross-sectional area, length and water content:
25×40 mm, 3000 mm and ca. 12, respectively) were used in system tests at a feed rate of ca. 5
pieces min-1. Material of this size is typically processed by such machines. Operating conditions
were monitored by recording the rotational speed and torque. Emissions of harmful exhaust
compounds–carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen
oxides (NOx) – were recorded using a portable emission measurement system. Fuel consumption
values were also calculated from the data. The following effects were observed: application of
innovative system B resulted in 33% lower fuel consumption, as well as 30%, 37% and 33%
lower CO, CO2 and NOx emissions, respectively, than system A, but at the same time 290%
higher HC emissions were registered. In operating conditions with higher proportions of idling
time, solution B provides even higher reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.
Keywords
speed control, combustion, small SI engine, CO emissions, CO2 emissions, HC emissions, NOx emissions
Hrčak ID:
290885
URI
Publication date:
13.1.2023.
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