MEC comes up with AS and ICE laboratory
S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @infodeaofficial
Mahindra Ecole Centrale, a Hyderabad based engineering college was the talk of the town when a specialized automotive system and internal combustion engine (AIC) laboratory was opened on its premises on 16 October.
The objective behind inaugurating the lab is to familiarise undergraduate students with the working of various automobiles and their power train, the IC engine.
Dr. Yajulu Medury, director, MEC said their emphasis is to provide an enabling atmosphere to their students and provide an atmosphere where they can learn by doing as well as undertake research in relevant areas.
‘Our AIC laboratory is well equipped to handle cutting edge research initiatives and we hope that it will help our engineering students to immerse themselves in the latest equipment and technologies and come up with innovative solutions to current day auto issues.’
Starting from a ready-to-drive automobile, down to its various sub-systems and components, the laboratory will have the entire gamut of automotive and IC engine related equipment.
Cut-sections of the entire drive-train from the engine to the transmission and axles (including differential) will enable visualization of the various sub-systems and their internal components and devices.
These cut-sections are also motored to present the drive-train in operation. A vehicle inspection pit is also planned.
It is expected that live R and D projects jointly in handshaking mode with leading auto industries will also take place in the coming years here.
Performance testing of IC Engines will be the other major focus of this lab. Separate equipment for functional multi-cylinder Spark Ignition (SI) and Compression Ignition (CI) engines, with dynamometer loading, and essential add-ons for data acquisition, and fuel & emissions characterization are also planned.
Each of these engines will have its own testbed in a separate anechoic chamber that ensures safety and sound-proofing. These testbeds can be used to study engine performance in the form of torque and power curves, emissions and specific fuel consumption.
A single cylinder, variable compression ratio, the multi-fuel engine is also planned, which can be used to study the performance of both liquid and gaseous fuels, as well as bio-fuel blends.
The lab will have high-end equipment that would include ready-to-drive 25 tonnes Heavy Commercial Vehicle, six tonnes Light Commercial Vehicle chassis and engine aggregates such as Power Train (Chassis, Engine, Transmission, Axles, Tyres) with cut sections (and motorized for demo), Brakes, Cooling System, Steering, After Treatment Systems, with cut sections, 4 or 6 cylinder SI (gasoline) and CI (Diesel) engines with dynamometer, Single cylinder multi-fuel variable compression ratio research engine and Fuel Characterization and Emissions Measurement Facilities.
