The need for cleaner vehicles, industrial machinery, marine ships, etc. when it comes to exhaust emissions, especially CO2, draws a distorted image for the future of ICE-based propulsion systems. Fuels such as natural gas, biofuels, alcohol fuels, hydrogen, and e-fuels are – depending on their application – promising alternatives for reducing emission and greenhouse gases. However, the increased variety of fuel options for ICE-based propulsion systems makes development and testing even more challenging, due to a significant increase in the complexity of the test facility installation. We have the right test system solutions available, which address the extended requirements for supply, measurement, and testing technology in combination with enhanced safety aspects.
As part of the 2015 Paris Agreement, 196 countries committed to substantially reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. In 2021, the international community agreed to explicitly mention the burning of fossil fuels as the primary cause of climate change at the COP26 in Glasgow for the first time. Sustainable and near-zero carbon alternative fuels will be necessary to halve greenhouse gas emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, such as shipping, aviation, and trucking by 2050.
Alternative fuels are gaseous or liquid fuels for internal combustion engines that are created by turning renewable electricity into chemically bound energy carriers. Examples include hydrogen, methane, methanol, oxymethylenether (OME), dimethylether (DME), or Fischer-Tropsch fuels. Using these e-fuels can potentially help convert today’s internal combustion engines to effective carbon-neutral propulsion systems with zero-impact emissions.
Fuel Supply Infrastructure
To run engines on testbeds with alternative fuels, a suitably designed and sized, and correctly located storage and supply infrastructure is key. AVL headquarters in Graz has housed such an infrastructure for many years to support in-house test factory operation. Visitors are welcome to see how this infrastructure was successfully installed in a critical environment.
Upgrade / Transformation of Test Facilities
Having engines operated with new, alternative fuels on the testbed means that an extensive number of modifications and extensions need to be considered. Fuel consumption measurement, emission measurement instrumentation, combustion air, etc., and additional test cell safety measures are typical examples that need to be taken into account. We can help you upgrade these, and help you transform existing test cells for operation with new, alternative fuels.
No matter which alternative fuel will be used to operate internal combustion engines on testbeds, we have the right testing solution. Based on our advanced product portfolio, comprehensive skills in designing, installing, and commissioning test facilities, and supporting customers during operation, we are the perfect partner for the successful implementation of your planned test facility extension.
We strongly believe in the importance of alternative fuels and their contribution to a sustainable environment for present and future generations.”
-- Johannes Kregar and Maria Santos, MTA Advanced Applications
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To make your future propulsion system ready for this wide range of alternative fuels, we offer a portfolio of certified emission measurement equipment, software, and calibration tools. Easily adaptable and certified for alternative fuels, they help you test, optimize, and approve various fuel types to get the best out of your propulsion system. Our engineering experts are also on hand to support you with independent studies and recommendations on strategies regarding future energy, fuels, and mobility. In addition, we ensure utmost efficiency by adding simulation to all development tasks. This enables highly accurate analyses and proficient optimization of the combustion system, giving you a better idea of the impact on both combustion efficiency and pollutant formation. Which helps you optimize the entire combustion system more efficiently.
TARGET APPLICATION
For conditioning the temperature and pressure as well as measuring the flow of gaseous or liquid ammonia supplied to a consumer. AVL AzanTron is ideal for applications such as single or multi-cylinder engines, solid oxide fuel cells and industrial processes.
SAFETY
Guaranteed leak-tight connections and safety integrity components prevent the uncontrolled release of ammonia. The system includes automatic fill and drain, flush and shutdown routines.
RELIABLE CONSUMPTION MEASUREMENT
AVL AzanTron™ is the integrated solution for the safe supply and precise measurement of both gaseous and liquid ammonia consumption.
With advanced media conditioning, NH3-compliant high-quality instrumentation and robust flow measurement, it ensures highly reproducible fuel measurement results, even during transient testing. Sensor fusion technology provides an extensive turndown ratio without the need for manual switching, while continuous monitoring and conditioning of operating parameters maintains the required thermodynamic state of ammonia.
AVL’s comprehensive worldwide network of experts allows best customer vicinity, ensuring consistent and connecting testing fields globally. Wherever your R&D challenges take you, we are always close at hand, ready to provide the service you need.
10
affiliates with expertise in alternative fuels facility engineering
4
available test cells with alternative fuel testing capabilities at AVL Graz
> 10
design and development teams with H2 ICE experience
> 20
years of successful projects involving gas and biofuels
WEBINAR - Hydrogen has the potential to be used to facilitate the shift towards zero CO2 and zero impact pollutant emissions in transport, marine, and industrial internal combustion engine (ICE) applications.
As we have been celebrating 75 years of Reimagining Motion throughout this year, we are thrilled to release our new brand movie, commemorating this remarkable milestone of technology excellence and innovation.
AVL RACETECH, the motorsport department of AVL, presents the prototype of an innovative H2 internal combustion engine. The power unit is a compact, hydrogen-powered 2-liter turbo engine, with intelligent water injection, which achieves a totally new performance level. The first racing engine that AVL RACETECH is developing and building in-house.