ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF A DIESEL ENGINE IN PARALLEL AND SERIES HYBRID POWER PLANTS OF A VEHICLE USING AMESIM

This article presents the results of a comparative study on the operation of a small-displacement diesel engine 3ChN 8.8/8.2 within a hybrid powertrain system of a transport vehicle. The research was conducted by developing simulation models in the Simcenter Amesim environment for two basic hybrid drive architectures — parallel and series configurations. Currently, governments of many countries are implementing stringent emission standards for harmful substances (particularly NOx, CO, CO2, HC), which requires vehicle manufacturers to implement innovations in powertrain technology. The developers of the Euro 7 standard, which is set to come into force in 2025, clearly understand that tightening certain requirements, such as particulate matter emissions, has practically reached its limits, while establishing even stricter NOx emission limits for diesel vehicles remains possible, which also required attention. Therefore, within the scope of this research, the impact of each configuration on fuel economy, emission levels of harmful substances (CO, HC, NOx), and overall powertrain efficiency during typical urban and mixed driving modes (NEDC cycle) was analyzed. Special attention was given to the technical and functional feasibility of using a small-displacement diesel engine as an energy source in modern hybrid power systems, considering its design features, load characteristics, and adaptability to environmental constraints. The obtained results demonstrate comparable fuel efficiency of both configurations, significant advantage of the series architecture in reducing CO and NOx emissions, and lower HC levels in the parallel configuration. Meanwhile, the parallel configuration demonstrates higher dynamic flexibility and adaptability under variable driving conditions. The research has practical applications and is aimed at developing energy-efficient technologies in the field of specialized vehicles for military, expeditionary, or commercial purposes, where the combination of reliability, autonomy, and environmental compliance is particularly relevant. It was determined that the 3ChN 8.8/8.2 diesel engine demonstrated satisfactory technical and operational performance and adaptation potential to modern hybridization requirements. Its application is also feasible in the context of specialized transport, where economy, autonomy, and reliability are priorities.