Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

The proposal is to purchase a modern engine dynamometer to support research on future internal combustion engines and alternative fuels at the multi-cylinder engine level. The dynamometer is a key element in a testing facility for projects to: 1. perform testing on alternative fuels and fuel blends in real engines, 2. provide the capability to implement and test novel engine features such as variable valve timing, 3. provide the capability to test novel combustion methods such as Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI), 4. enable full-scale testing of unique sensor and actuator technologies, (such as micro-scale and nano-scale devices), developed by collaborating researchers at University of Alberta, 5. enhance research collaboration between the University of Alberta and researchers in other institutions as well as Canadian companies, and 6. stimulate graduate student interest in areas of novel combustion and alternative fuels, thus providing highly qualified Canadian graduates to further develop these concepts at the industrial level. The University of Alberta has a strong history in this area of research but equipment limitations currently limit most work to small, single-cylinder engines, typically used for fundamental research. A dynamometer facility suitable for testing multi-cylinder engines is required to extend this work to include the inherent effects of cylinder interactions and to allow testing and development at the level most beneficial to industry.