Clean-combustion engine facilities

Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are widely used in transportation and stationary power generation. Switching to low/zero-carbon fuels in ICEs is a key part of the transition to a renewable energy future.

At our clean-combustion engine facilities, our experts work with you to characterize low/zero-carbon fuels, test them in full-scale ICEs, develop advanced engine technologies, optimize engine performance, and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Our services

Fuel characterization and evaluation
Development of advanced combustion strategies for liquid and gaseous low- or zero-carbon fuels in ICEs
Comparison of engine performance and exhaust emissions between diesel and various low- or zero-carbon fuels
Evaluation and optimization of exhaust after-treatment systems
Modelling of engine combustion and emission performance

Equipment

Fuel characterization

Ignition quality tester (IQT^TM)
Parr 6200 isoperibol calorimeter
High-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) for lubricity testing
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
Viscometer (SVM 3000 Stabinger-Anton PAAR)

Homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine test cell

This test cell is ideal for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of fuel-property effect on combustion and emissions.

Single cylinder, 4-stroke engine
Variable compression ratio
Port fuel injection
Controllable intake/exhaust conditions
Coupled to an eddy current dynamometer
Suitable for various liquid and gaseous fuels

Fuel-flexible compression ignition heavy-duty engine test cell

This test cell is ideal for developing advanced combustion strategies for liquid and gaseous low/zero-carbon fuels in compression ignition engines, and for evaluating combustion and emission performances of various fuels. It is also used to test performance and optimize operation of after-treatment components such as diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), diesel particulate filters (DPF), selective catalytic reduction (SCR), or a complete after-treatment system under real engine operating conditions.

4-stroke, single cylinder engine
Common rail direct liquid fuel injection
Port gaseous fuel injection
Fully instrumented including flow measurement for fuels and air
Controllable intake/exhaust conditions, including intake temperature from chilled to heated air to test a range of environmental conditions
Controllable engine load and speed

Fuel-flexible compression ignition power-generation engine test cell

This test cell is ideal for developing advanced combustion strategies for biogas and syngas in combined heat- and power-generation applications, and for evaluating combustion and emission performances of low/zero-carbon fuels in power-generation systems. It is also used to compare engine performance and exhaust emissions between diesel and bio-oil-diesel blends as fuels.

A 4-stroke, 4 cylinder engine
- Direct and/or port fuel injection
- Controllable load
- Fully instrumented with flow meters for fuels and air
- Controlled diesel-injection strategy
- Can directly use biogas/syngas from waste treatment and biomass gasification
A 4 kW diesel generator with a 4-stroke, single-cylinder, naturally aspirated, mechanically controlled diesel engine

Emission analyzers

2 sets of California Analytical Instruments' gas analyzers (CO₂, CO, HC, CH₄, NOx)
Continuous Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) MultiGas analyzer (MKS 2030)
3DATX portable emission-measurement system
Nova Model 975PA transportable syngas analyzer
Portable natural gas analyzer
2 AVL smoke meters (415S)
Laser-induced incandescence (LII) black-carbon measurement instrument
BG-2 particulate partial flow sampling system
Controlled clean room
IndiCom real-time combustion analysis system