TICEL researchers have developed the TEVeS model that enables predicting energy consumption of electric vehicles at various driving conditions. A methodology and performance indicators are developed to assess energy and environmental impacts of advanced transportation systems based on electric vehicles and compare them with the conventional motor-vehicle based systems
A lot of efforts are made by TICEL team to improve the air quality in Israel and reduce the mostly dangerous particle emissions by heavy-duty diesel engines, as well as to reduce vehicle users’ exposure to particle air pollution. Following these activities, Israeli Government has decided on carrying out a large-scale fleet test aimed at massive retrofitting of heavy-duty in-use diesel vehicles with advanced emission reduction systems and published official recommendations on reduction of public exposure to in-vehicle particle air pollution. The Technion’s Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory is widely acknowledged as a national knowledge center in the field of vehicle emissions mitigation. TICEL researchers initiated and developed for the first time in Israel the national database of road vehicle emission factors, which is widely used by Israeli governmental organizations and private entities for assessment of emissions by road vehicles in Israel.
Combustion of various alternative fuels is studied using a closed-vessel experimental rig, high-speed photography and Schlieren imaging technique. The recent research efforts are focused on investigation of burning velocity and flame cellularity of alcohol reforming products.
Research efforts of the TICEL scientists and engineers in this field are focused mainly on developing and refining piston and rotary engines for UAV applications. We concentrate our activities on thermodynamic and heat-transfer analyses, improving engine performance at high altitudes, development of SI engines capable of operating with heavy fuels, fuel atomization and combustion optimization. TICEL researchers have developed a model that allows simulating Wankel engine performance by using the GT-SUITE software through the virtual piston engine approach.
The TICEL research group focuses its research efforts on thermo-chemical recuperation (TCR) of the engine’s waste heat. We work on developing an advanced hybrid propulsion system based on ICE with TCR and fed by the renewable fuels, such as ethanol or methanol. The suggested approach allows substantial improvement of energy efficiency (up to 15%) together with zero-impact pollutant emissions and resolves the problems associated with the system’s work at cold-start and transient operating modes. TICEL research group proposed and is developing a concept of the direct-injection SI engine with high-pressure TCR. Our researchers gained a rich experience in ICE modeling and analysis using the GT-SUITE software. They have developed for the first time a fully-functional model of ICE with TCR that allows simulation and analysis of joint operation of the engine and the reactor, where endothermic chemical reactions of alcohol reforming take place.
