Research

Cutting-edge research with international networking

Top researchers, international networking, multidisciplinarity and a unique test bench infrastructure for large engines ensure research at the highest level. Our research work on sustainable large engines is divided into the five major research areas of Combustion & Fuels, Robust Engine Solutions, Digital Engine, Integrated Systems and Simulation & Validation, with the latter acting across domains. With the COMET module LEC HybTec, the research focus is being placed even more intensively on the integration of Big Data methods in order to map phenomena that could not be modeled previously.

Combustion & Fuels (Area A)

The area Combustion & Fuels conducts applied research and develops methods on single-cylinder
research engines as well as on a multicylinder engine and is decisively shaping the large engine of the future.

Ultra clean and efficient combustion concepts
Engine concepts for very high power densities
System requirements and assessment of new technology components
Combustion concept design for future fuels and recovery of waste

The requirements for the energy and transportation systems of the future are high: CO2-neutral fuels, high engine efficiency along with high power density in combination with the lowest possible emissions in order to protect our climate and nature. It is necessary to develop efficient and environmentally friendly large engines at the core of energy and transportation systems.

This research area encompasses all basic engine concepts—from diesel to dual fuel to gas—as well as new, progressive approaches. The focus is on developing ultra clean and highly efficient combustion concepts and especially alternative concepts for the next generation of large engines. Combinations of different fuel qualities, in-cylinder condition-based feedback control, and a variety of actuators (e.g., injection technologies, variable valve timing, and variable compression ratio) are key.

Area Manager: Dr. Nicole Wermuth

Robust Engine Solutions (Area C)

The area Robust Engine Solutions is entirely devoted to the reliability and durability of engine systems and develops robust engine components as well as highly innovative monitoring tools.

Components and systems optimized for wear and deposits
Assessment of highly stressed engine components
Development of sensors and CBM applications
Lubrication optimization for effective engine operation

Large engines must be reliable and durable and have low maintenance costs.
Current challenges are increasing power output, consequential very high peak cylinder pressures, and high loads on individual engine components. The complexity of systems and the increasing use of alternative fuels also require enhancement and optimization of existing components.

Our research provides insight into the mechanisms that cause damage to the most stressed engine components and facilitates more accurate prediction of component lifetime. Our area focuses on the development of suitable tools for CBM* applications (operation monitoring and condition monitoring) as well as simulation (generation of a database as a prerequisite for simulation model validation and calibration). Our in-house developed LEC telemetry system and innovative sensors, many of which we also developed, are used in R&D as well as in field tests.

Area Manager: Dr. Michael Engelmayer

Digital Engine (Area D)

The area Digital Engine is concerned with all aspects of digital technologies that contribute to an improvement in the performance and robustness of large engines.

Development of advanced sensor technology
Condition monitoring and condition-based maintenance
Intelligent control strategies
Safe data transfer and data storage architectures

One research focus is on “intelligent components” that facilitate and improve condition monitoring of components and the overall engine using new integrated sensor technology and integrated digital systems. Wear or damage can be prevented or counteracted with appropriate control strategies so that engine performance remains at the highest possible level over the entire lifetime. The measurement database generated during engine operation with the help of new sensor concepts is essential to the set up of data-driven models that permit condition-based maintenance of the engine and thus less downtime.

Area Manager: Dr. Constantin Kiesling

Integrated Systems (Area S)

The area Integrated Systems is devoted to providing environmentally responsible system solutions for the energy and transportation sector through optimal integration of all subsystems.

Effective and durable catalyst technology
Exhaust gas aftertreatment system integration
Energy-efficient system solutions
CO2-neutral power generation and transportation systems

The establishment of large engines as part of an ecologically sustainable energy transition requires innovative measures that minimize pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced exhaust gas aftertreatment systems and their optimal integration into the overall system are the key to fulfilling the most stringent emission legislation. Powertrain hybridization and waste heat recovery technologies make it possible to optimize the overall efficiency of these systems. Through the use of CO2-neutral fuels, any impact on the climate from engines can be avoided completely.

Area Manager: Dr. Christoph Redtenbacher

Simulation & Validation (Area X)

The area Simulation & Validation is in charge of fundamental research at the LEC and provides methods and tools for research in the other areas.

Simulation of ignition, combustion and emission formation in steady-state and transient conditions
Combination of physics-based and data-driven modeling approaches
Models and methods for analyzing and checking the plausibility of measurement data
Comprehensive modeling of energy and transport systems by multi-disciplinary simulation methods

The knowledge gained from fundamental research is incorporated into the LEC simulation methodology. To this end, detailed models and methods that simulate all subsystems and their interactions within the overall system are developed. Relevant physical phenomena are investigated in detail and supported by in-depth basic research experiments. Stochastic processes are modeled by data-driven approaches. Following the current strategy of increasing the overall share of simulation tasks in development processes, the area Simulation & Validation focuses on establishing a simulation environment that facilitates virtual development of all processes relevant for large engine applications.

Area Manager: Dr. Gerhard Pirker

COMET Modul LEC HybTec

The COMET Module LEC HybTec combines complementary technologies to hybrid approaches in order to derive completely new concepts for the optimization of energy and transportation systems that meet the challenges of the future.

Hybrid simulation methods for the prediction of stochastic phenomena in combustion engines
Optimization of overall systems combining renewable energy sources, energy converters, novel energy carriers and energy storages
Tribological simulation of the piston/ring/liner system to predict friction, wear and lube oil consumption.
Improving the wear resistance of spark plug electrodes by coating them with novel hybrid metal-ceramic materials.

To enable sustainable solutions for highly flexible power generation and transportation systems, large engine technology must achieve reduced emissions while maintaining optimal performance parameters and increased robustness. Furthermore, all necessary components of the overall system as well as the interactions between these components must be optimized.

The hybrid approaches considered in the research program focus on combining physical and data-driven models to understand stochastic phenomena such as cycle-to-cycle variations or knocking in engines, to improve the prediction quality of the simulation, and to increase the quality of engine and combustion control as well as overall system performance, especially with respect to operation with CO2-neutral fuels. The use of ceramic-metal material combinations in the design of highly stressed engine components such as spark plugs extends the hybrid approach.

Module Manager: Dr. Gerhard Pirker

Find all LEC
publications, abstracts and
papers to download.

To our Publications

LEC InfrastructureSince the mid-1990s, the LEC has been researching how to make large engines more efficient, robust, flexible and thus more sustainable - the aim is to drastically reduce emissions. Hydrogen and e-fuels play an essential role in this. How does the LEC's research infrastructure, which is unique in the world, play a role in this? What makes this so unique?

The infrastructure

LEC Data Challenge 2021

Large Engines – Big Data: Can you handle the pressure at the second LEC Data Challenge?

With the LEC Data Challenge, we would like to encourage data-enthusiastic students and practitioners from various disciplines to develop a model that determines the in-cylinder pressure trace based on a corresponding signal from an acceleration sensor incorporated in the engine’s cylinder head.

Stories

RECAP-HYMETHSHIP FINAL STAKEHOLDER EVENT

Around 100 participants took the opportunity to get to know the results of the HyMethShip project. The event was announced by the project partners to their business contacts and was conducted online.
Registrations came from 18 countries and 4 continents, which shows how far the project has spread.

The business sector from which the audience came was also broad: The majority were researchers, with shipping companies, builders and operators accounting for the next largest share. Engine manufacturers and other industries were also well represented, as were consultants and engineering firms, classification societies and administrations.

Four expert presentations gave authentic and detailed information about all involved technologies, how these are working in combination to ensure an efficient propulsion system and driving the carbon capture and storage components with the waste heat of the engine (Dr. Nicole Wermuth, LEC). The HyMethShip concept was evaluated to be particularly suitable for Passenger and cruise ships on travels up to 600 nautical miles and for bigger ships (tankers and Ro-Ro cargo ships on high sea voyages (Dr. Joannes Ellis, SSPA). Promising are also the results of the environmental and the cost assessments by means of a LCA- and a LCC-study (Dr. Selma Brynolf, CTH) as well as the safety assessment (Dr. Alex Pedgrift, Dr. Abhijit Aul, Lloyds Register).

The tenor of the discussion was that the HyMethShip system could prove its feasibility and represents an attractive way to achieve far-reaching decarbonization of the shipping sector. The elegance of the system is especially reflected in the closing of the carbon cycle which is achieved by incorporating a pre-combustion carbon capture process.

The interest of the participants was high, and was also demonstrated by the fact that all stayed until the end of the event.

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Mehr erfahren

Save the Date! International Symposium for Sustainability in Mobility, Transport and Power Generation, Sept 23-24

A comprehensive program with the pioneers and visionaries of the global Mobility, Transport and Power Generation ecosystem will focus on sustainable solutions in these fields. Excellent networking opportunities with an estimated 300 experts, opinion leaders and policymakers from all over the world will round up the two-day programme. As always, a separate section will be devoted to the topic of large engines, focusing on:

Efficiency Improvement, Emission Reduction and Overall System Optimization
Future Fuels and Decarbonization
Intelligent Engine Components and Digitization

The scope of the symposium is to underline the necessity and importance of sustainable solutions in the areas of Mobility, Transport and Power Generation and to network relevant stakeholders towards an emission-free future.

To register visit: www.ivt.tugraz.at/en/conference/registration

The program can be downloaded in PDF format and it is available on the following link: www.ivt.tugraz.at/en/conference/program

Program download