Alternative fuels appeared soon after the first internal combustion engines were designed. The history of alternative fuels is basically as long as the history of the automotive industry. Initially, fuels whose physicochemical properties allowed for a change in parameters of the combustion process in order to achieve greater efficiency and reliability were searched for. Nowadays, there are significantly more variables; in addition to the above mentioned parameters, alternative fuels are being sought that will ensure environmental protection during vehicle operation and improve the ergonomics of use. This article outlines the results of the authors’ own comparative tests of vibrations of a vibroacoustic character. Based on a popular engine model, the vibration–acoustic responses of a system powered by two types of fuel, namely, diesel and biodiesel (B10), are compared. The research consists of comparing vibrations in both time and frequency domains. In the case of the time domain, the evaluation was performed with vibrations as a function of engine torque and speed. In the case of frequency analysis, the focus was on changes in the frequency response for the tested fuels. The research shows that the profile of vibroacoustic vibrations changes in the case of biodiesel power supply in relation to standard fuel. The vibration profile changes significantly as a function of speed and only slightly in relation to the engine load. The results presented in this article show different vibroacoustic responses of an engine powered by diesel and biodiesel; the change is minor for lower speeds but significant (other harmonics are dominant) for higher speeds (changes in the dominant harmonic magnitude of up to 10% at a crankshaft speed of 3000 rpm).

The paper presents a study of the variation of ignition advance when the engine works with methane and a comparison with values when the engine runs on gasoline. It is known that methane has a lower burning velocity than gasoline, and therefore, to obtain a maximal efficiency from the working process (the maximum value of cylinder pressure p_z should be 7-15 degrees after TDC), ignition advance should be increased, as for different operating regimes this angle should be increased with different values. A gasoline engine has been studied and were measured and analysed the ignition advance at work with gasoline and methane, with optimal air-fuel ratio (α) for both fuels. Three-dimensional graphics of ignition advance variation across the rpm and load range were made. In conclusion, on the basis of the experiments, a table is produced, which presents the values of coefficients for change of base parameters of ignition advance for all engine operating modes, in dependence on rpm and load of the engine.

The ergonomics of transport is a topic widely described in the literature. One of the fields of ergonomics that researchers are engaged in is vibrometry (both laser and accelerometry) of travel and its translation into NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). However, so far, the influence of baby carriage movement on the generated vibrations has not been described in more detail. The topic seems to be particularly important considering occurrence of vibrations with significant amplitudes, whose frequency range can have a direct bearing on the resonance frequencies of the child’s internal organs. The article presents the results of research consisting in the measurement of vibrations to which an infant, lying in two different types of prams, may be exposed when being transported on different surfaces. The author’s measurement system, based on accelerometry, was used for the research. The obtained weighted RMS acceleration values not only exceeded human comfort level in all cases (according to ISO standard) but several times were in the range of the highest discomfort (>2 m/s²). Furthermore, the observed vibration frequency range (≈0 ÷ 32 Hz) coincided with the frequencies of free vibration of organs and parts of the child’s body.