Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the toxicological impacts of exhaust generated during the combustion process of aviation fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons. Design/methodology/approach Tests on aircraft turbine engines in full scale are complex and expensive. Therefore, a miniature turbojet engine was used in this paper as a source of exhaust gases. Toxicity was tested using innovative BAT–CELL Bio–Ambient Cell method, which consists of determination of real toxic impact of the exhaust gases on the human lung A549 and mouse L929 cells. The research was of a comparative nature. The engine was powered by a conventional jet fuel and a blend of conventional jet fuel with synthesized hydrocarbons. Findings The results show that the BAT–CELL method allows determination of the real exhaust toxicity during the combustion process in a turbine engine. The addition of a synthetic component to conventional jet fuel affected the reduction of toxicity of exhaust gases. It was confirmed for both tested cell lines. Originality/value In the literature related to the area of aviation, numerous publications in the field of testing the emission of exhaust gaseous components, particulates or volatile organic compounds can be found. However, there is a lack of research related to the evaluation of the real exhaust toxicity. In addition, it appears that the data given in aviation sector, mainly related to the emission levels of gaseous exhaust components (CO, Nox and HC) and particulate matters, might be insufficient. To fully describe the engine exhaust emissions, they should be supplemented with additional tests, i.e. in terms of toxicity.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment method of the toxicity emission evaluation during combustion in the miniature turbojet engine. Design/methodology/approach A small-scale turbojet engine was used for the research because measurements on real aircraft turbines are complex and expensive. The experiment was performed in accordance with innovative BAT – CELL Bio – Ambient Cell method which consists of determination of virtual toxic impact of the gas mixture on the living cells; it is therefore a direct method. The most significant innovation of this method is that, during the test, which consists of exposing the cells to the gas mixture, the cells are deprived of culture fluid. Findings The preliminary analysis shows that the method used here allows to determine the virtual impact of the gases on the human respiratory system and skin. It could be useful in defining the arduousness of an airport. The obtained results show that both of exhaust gases represent similar toxicity. Practical implications The new in vitro method allows to determine the virtual impact of the gases on the human respiratory system and skin. Significant potential for further research not only on the miniaturised engines, but also in the case of real objects, as this method does not have to be performed in a laboratory. Originality/value The work presents potential application of the innovatory method for exhaust gases toxicity evaluation in jet engines, which could be useful in defining the arduousness of an airport.

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Aviation is one of the fastest growing modes of transport. Due to the growing number of flights, the consumption of aviation fuels (mainly jet fuels) keeps increasing. The combustion process in the aircraft engine results in harmful exhaust emissions having an adverse impact on the environment. Alternative fuels based on bio-components and biofuels are a way of reducing the harmful exhaust emissions. Analyses and measurements performed on real aircraft engines are complex and expensive. For this reason, increasingly more research and development projects have been carried out on small-scale engines. This paper presents investigations into volatile organic compound emissions from jet fuel combustion in a miniature turbojet engine. Based on chromatography tests, the compositions of exhaust gases produced by the jet engine fed with various fuels were determined, which in turn led to evaluation of its toxicity and harmfulness. Conventional fossil-based fuel Jet A-1 and a blend of Jet A-1 with 25 vol. % of biobutanol were tested at the same fuel flow rates. The engine working parameters such as, e.g., thrust or emission index have been determined with respect to the type of fuel. The test results have been compared and analyzed.

Presently, most passive safety tests are performed with a precisely specified seat position and carefully seated ATD (anthropomorphic test device) dummies. Facing the development of autonomous vehicles, as well as the need for safety verification during crashes with various seat positions such research is even more urgently needed. Apart from the numerical environment, the existing testing equipment is not validated to perform such an investigation. For example, ATDs are not validated for nonstandard seatback positions, and the most accurate method of such research is volunteer tests. The study presented here was performed on a sled test rig utilizing a 50cc Hybrid III dummy according to a full factorial experiment. In addition, input factors were selected in order to verify a safe test condition for surrogate testing. The measured value was head acceleration, which was used for calculation of a head injury criterion. What was found was an optimal seat angle −117°—at which the head injury criteria had the lowest represented value. Moreover, preliminary body dynamics showed a danger of whiplash occurrence for occupants in a fully-reclined seat.

The dynamic loads acting on passengers during road accidents depend not only on the vehicle structure, but also on the properties of the applied passenger and driver protection system. Two-point seat belts are the most frequently used personal protection system for adult passengers in bus vehicles. The paper investigates the thread of dynamic loads acting on the body of a 50 percentile dummy placed in an armchair equipped with two-point seat belts. In order to solve this problem, tests recorded with the Phantom v310 camera were used, the object of which was the Hybrid II 50th dummy, and the recording of the tests was carried out for three different collision speeds. The article presents the results of the crash tests obtained with the use of the TEMA Automotive program. Crash test analysis showing the displacement of the head and upper torso of the dummy located in the limited space between the bus-type seats indicates that standard seat belts do not provide sufficient protection. The article indicates the basis for further research and improvement of the personal protection system of passengers transported in minibuses and buses.

Abstract. Exhaust gas recirculation systems (EGR), aside to a catalytic converters, are nowadays widely used in piston internal combustion engines to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust gas. They are characterized in that a portion of exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold is recirculated (via a condenser), and directed to a particular valve. The valve, depending on the current engine load and speed, doses the appropriate amount of exhaust gas into the exhaust manifold. Moreover, its location has a significant impact on the diverse formation of nitrogen oxides and fumes smokiness from the individual cylinders of the engine, which is a result of uneven propagation of exhaust gas into the channels of the intake manifold. This article contains the results of numerical characterized charges formed in symmetrical intake manifold with a centrally-placed EGR valve. Simulations were performed for the original intake system derived from the two-liter, turbocharged VW diesel engine.

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