Lab Facilities

Advanced Engine Control and Hydrogen Fuel Research

The lab focuses on developing advanced control strategies by combining machine learning with model predictive control to optimize internal combustion engine performance, particularly for hydrogen and biofuels. It features the MEECL Heavy Duty Test Cell, an off-campus facility equipped with a Taylor DM2055 engine dynamometer (700 hp) for testing diesel engines from 100-522 kW. The test cell includes high-precision fuel flow sensors for diesel and hydrogen, emission measurement systems like the MKS MG2030D FT-IR Spectrometer and Pegasor PPS-M Soot Measurement, and Kistler sensors for in-cylinder, intake, and exhaust pressure analysis. Data acquisition is supported by National Instruments' high-speed systems, ensuring real-time monitoring and optimization.

The Engine Lab in the Mechanical Engineering Building at the University of Alberta specializes in alternative fuel research, including hydrogen and biofuels. It houses single-cylinder engines, such as the CFR Waukesha for knock and preignition studies and the Ricardo engine for in-cycle control experiments. Various test engines, including GM 3.0 Natural Gas, GM 2.0 GDI (HCCI engine control), and Cummins 4.5 QSB Tier 3 (for hydrogen optimization), support research on improving efficiency while reducing emissions. Additional equipment includes a hot flow test rig for soot measurement, NOx test rig, and biojet coflow burner. The lab utilizes high-performance computing resources, including a 3 GPU workstations and Compute Canada, to support simulations and data processing for predictive engine control advancements.