69492 - EXPERIMENTATION AND CALIBRATION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES M

Learning outcomes

The main objective of the Course is to introduce and discuss the main aspects related to an internal combustion engine test cell, in order to allow the students to become familiar with such environment and its applications.

Students spend around 30 hours in the test cell, conducting different types of tests (starting from standard power curves to calibration-oriented tests, or tests focused on combustion analysis, ...). The rest of the time (30 hours) is spent in the classroom/computer room, introducing the experimental activity and analyzing the data that have been acquired, with a calibration-oriented approach.

Course contents

Engine and dynamometer installation. The main types of dynamometers and the corresponding criteria for choosing the right one.

Sensors and instrumentation to be used in a test cell environment. Exhaust gas emissions measurement and control.

Signal acquisition systems and signal post-processing systems. Data analysis and interpretation.

The class lectures will offer an introduction to several experimental test sessions that will be carried out in the engine test cell. During such experimental activity, both nominal and faulty conditions will be tested on the engine, in order to analyze both the engine control system, as well as the main diagnostic functions implemented in the Engine Control Unit.

Readings/Bibliography

• "Introduction to Modeling and Control of Internal Combustion Engine Systems", L. Guzzella, C.H. Onder, Springer, 2004.
• “Engine Testing", M. Plynt, A. Martyr, Ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007.
• "Appunti di Sperimentazione sui Motori a Combustione Interna", G.L. Berta, A. Vacca, Atti del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale - Università degli Studi di Parma, 2001.

Teaching methods

The theoretical aspects of engine testing are introduced during class lectures, while the experimental activity in the test cell should provide hands-on applications of engine-brake control and measurement systems.

Assessment methods

Oral examination at the end of the Course. The student should also produce a report about the analysis of experimental data acquired during test cell activity.

This test is intended to verify the student knowledge about the main subjects of the course. The final vote takes into account the ability, as demonstrated during the examination, to address issues related to testing of internal combustion engines, in particular in the field of engine test bench. An assessment of the correct approach to engine testing, both from the point of view mechanical measurements and , as well as verifying the acquired knowledge of signal processing and acquisition techniques, with examples in the field of engine calibration and diagnosis.

Teaching tools

Besides the sessions in the test cell, a personal computer will be used to show some PowerPoint presentations, and to introduce data acquisition and data post-processing systems. The students will individually use Matlab for data post-processing.

Office hours

See the website of Nicolò Cavina