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Energy Application Techniques
IFP’s Energy Application Techniques Division devotes the majority of its resources to the development of innovative technologies in the field of engines and fuels. Its work extends from fundamental research on combustion to industrial applications.
The division is supported by expertise and techniques recognized throughout Europe, essential to analyze, understand and solve the most complex problems facing car manufacturers, equipment suppliers and refiners.
Its research teams are specially put together to ensure they cover a broad scope of applications. In addition, the way the division is organized facilitates inter-disciplinary collaboration.
Work is carried out at IFP’s two sites in Rueil-Malmaison (near Paris) and in Solaize (near Lyon).
The Energy Application Techniques Division brings together 9 areas of expertise:
Combustion in engines
Combustion control, pollutant emissions and engine efficiency using diagnostic tools for the analysis of in-cylidner physical phenomena. Modeling and simulation of engine systems and vehicles
Development and use of physical models and CFD and simulation tools for the development of the combustion system and powertrain. Optimization of spark ignition and diesel engines
Quest for a better compromise between pollutant emissions, fuel consumption and performance. Design and production of engines and components
Design and production of engine prototypes and mechanical sub-assemblies. Development and fine-tuning of demonstrators
Production of prototype vehicles. Optimization of systems; after-treatment of exhaust gases
Formulation, support, implementation and electronic control of exhaust gas after-treatment systems. Fuels and engine-fuel compatibility, replacement fuels
Analysis of interactions between the formulation of different fuels and engine operation (performance, emissions, clogging, etc.). Lubrification
Development of analytical methods to quantify lubricant performance, tests on engine benches for the selection and grading of lubricants or their additives. Engine tests and associated instruments
Control and operation of specific testing methods, including more than 30 engine test benches at IFP’s two sites. |
Combustion in engines
The core business of the Energy Applications and Techniques Division is to develop and exploit our expertise aimed at the analysis and optimization of piston engine combustion systems. The work is based on gaining an in-depth understanding of physical phenomena. Skills development relies on the improvement of the physical understanding and the development of the conceptual models required to improve simulation tools and combustion system technology. This combustion analysis work is based on experimental studies that may be performed in a pressurized chamber, in a single-cylinder research engine, in a multicylinder engine or on a vehicle.
To carry out its work, the division uses and develops advanced analysis methods and diagnostic techniques enabling detailed investigations of combustion-related phenomena in piston engines. In particular, the Engine System Analysis Department has a high level of expertise in combustion optical diagnostics . The techniques and test facilities which are used enable detailed visual investigations of the mixture preparation, combustion and pollutant formation processes ocurring inside gasoline and Diesel combustion engines. The advanced diagnostic capabilities, combined with its engine expertise and knowledge of combustion science are the division’s main assets, ensuring that it is a key collaborative research player in Europe.
Observation of combustion in an optical access diesel engine. Comparison of the structure of the reaction zone in HCCI and conventional operation.
Observation by laser-induced fluorescence of fuel distribution in a gasoline engine operating in CAI (Controlled Auto-Ignition) mode.
Modeling and simulation of engine systems and vehicles
IFP has been renowned for many years for its expertise in the field of 3D engine modeling. The teams working in the Engine CFD and Simulation Department have made a significant contribution to the development of physical models of the phenomena related to combustion, models that have been introduced into its own Engine CFD code (IFP-C3D) and which can now also be found in industrial engine codes.
In parallel, teams within the Energy Applications Techniques Division are co-developing a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) code in collaboration with Cerfacs in Toulouse (AVBP). This will make it possible to obtain additional information concerning the operation of engines in the near future, with, for example, an understanding of cycle-to-cycle variations.
The development of 3D engine codes enables CFD teams to be very closely involved in engine design support studies, both within IFP and in partnership with European car manufacturers.
Since 2000, we have been witnessed the emergence of the use of system simulation in the field of engine development in general, and engine control in particular. This is making it possible to develop simulation tool libraries dedicated to the engine environment (IFP-DRIVE, IFP-ENGINE and IFP-EXHAUST), which are then integrated into the LMS Imagine.Lab environment and distributed by the company LMS.
LES simulation of admission and combustion in a gasoline SI engine
Diagram of a vehicle simulator fitted with a turbocharged direct-injection Diesel engine.
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Optimization of spark ignition and diesel engines
The optimization of SI (gasoline and natural gas) and diesel engines requires optimization of the combustion systems and sub-systems (injection, ignition, air loop, distribution laws, turbo-charging, EGR). The aim is to provide solutions to issues related to global warming (reduction in CO2 emissions) and the improvement of air quality (compliance with pollution standards).
In recent years, IFP has developed original approaches to respond to these challenges, both for light duty (LDV) and heavy duty (HDV) vehicles.
In the field of SI engines, IFP is well-known for its achievements in the field of engine downsizing (reduction of engine displacement combined with supercharging) making it possible to reduce fuel-consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 20%.
These two types of engines are also being optimized by IFP for applications dedicated to light duty hybrid vehicles.
Principle of scavenging combustion, an IFP concept for downsized gasoline engines.
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Design and production of engines and components
The implementation of the original approaches developed by the Energy Applications Techniques Division requires the production of prototype engines. The design section of the Engine Technology Department, which is equipped with specialized software and the latest CAO tools, designs the prototype parts and has them produced by its network of specialized subcontractors.
Development and fine-tuning of demonstrators
Engines are becoming increasingly complex in order to comply with multiple environmental standards. Numerous adjustment parameters, managed by the logic controller, are involved in their fine-tuning. In recent years, teams from the Engine Technology Department, working closely with teams in the Technology, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Division, have developed calibration methods on dedicated engine test benches, employing simulation and automation tools.
These teams and resources enable the fine-tuning of demonstrator vehicles, highlighting IFP’s innovative approaches and thus transforming advances on engine test benches into reality.
The value of gasoline engine downsizing
The recent PRIUS NGV vehicle developed by IFP has CO2 emissions that have been reduced well below the 80 g/km mark, i.e. a reduction of around 26% in comparison with the Prius commercial gasoline vehicle. It also meets current pollutant emission regulations and motorists’ expectations in terms of driving pleasure. IFP is continuing to work on the concept of hybrid NGV vehicles, focusing notably on an urban vehicle (Smart).
The Prius vehicle dedicated to natural gas that took part in the Bibendum 2006 Challenge
+ Press Release (04/07/2006) : Record fuel efficiency for the first all-natural-gas hybrid prototype developed by IFP and Gaz de France
+ Industrial development > Engines > Hybrid vehicles > Demonstrator vehicles
Optimization of systems; after-treatment of exhaust gases
The division’s fields of expertise concern:
- the definition and optimization of the exhaust gas after-treatment system (screening of formulations, definition of architecture, compatibility with fuels or lubricants, durability),
- the development of the engine control strategies required for efficient engine operation.
There is also a significant focus on the development of after-treatment models and their validation.
In line with compliance with the future Euro V and Euro VI standards, the technologies developed in this field concern, for diesel engines, the simultaneous reduction of NOx and particulate emissions. Current research concerns the optimization and control of the pairing between a particulate filter and a NOx after-treatment system (NOx or SCR). Seen as an ultimate solution to this combined treatment, significant development work is also being carried out on 4-way catalyst. which aims to integrate all the catalytic functions of NOx, CO and HC treatment on a single particulate filter support.
For gasoline engines equipped with a 3-way catalyst, work is focusing on improving performance at engine start-up (air injection in the exhaust, use of HC traps). For stratified combustion gasoline engines, the challenge is to develop poor-mixture NOx treatment systems.
Finally, new problems, such as ensuring the compatibility of after-treatment systems with biofuels or emissions control of hybrid vehicles are also being studied.
SCR and particulate filter combination system on an HGV engine |
Synthetic gas bench for the characterization and pre-selection of innovative formulations |
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Fuels and engine-fuel compatibility, replacement fuels
The expertise of the Energy Applications Techniques Division is reinforced by the presence of specialists in refining and physicochemical analyses at IFP. The activities concern analysis of interactions between the formulation of fuels, conventional or otherwise, and the behavior of engines (pollutant emissions, abnormal combustion, user enjoyment, clogging phenomena, etc.). For example, they make it possible to identify the impact of a new fuel formulation or additive on the operation of current or future engine technologies. In this respect, there is a major focus on engines relying on new combustion modes, such as homogeneous diesel combustion (HCCI). These will very likely lead to new fuel requirements.
Another essential component of the division’s activities concerns the validation and development of alternative options, with the priority being biofuels and natural gas. The skills and expertise within the division make it possible to identify and propose new fuel formulations to meet future requirements and to clearly identify and validate promising alternative options.
Work may also be conducted at the request of the public authorities to assist in the definition of new regulations concerning products or pollutant emissions. These activities led to the development, in collaboration with the Physics and Analysis Division, of fine pollutant analysis techniques, associated with implementation methodologies on engine test benches and vehicles. Finally, IFP and the Energy Applications Techniques Division are very frequently consulted to draft new specifications, such as those proposed in France for Super ethanol – E85.
Smart vehicle running on natural gas
Automobile pollutant analysis laboratory
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Lubrification
The Energy Applications Techniques Division works to develop analysis methods to quantify the hydraulic performances of a lubricant, by measuring its aeration rate, for example. It also carries out tests on engine benches using standard testing methods to select and grade lubricants and their additives.
Engine tests and associated instruments
The Energy Applications Techniques Division has testing resources adapted to the requirements of development projects in the field of engines, fuels and pollution control, in an increasingly complex technological context. Evolutions in assemblies and measurements guarantee IFP’s position in terms of its capacity to perform tests using methods or tools employing advanced technologies, often presenting very specific constraints.
In addition, control of the metrological aspects of the various types of instruments used is a crucial point, making it possible to guarantee the quality of the measurements made. These measurements serve as basic data for the analytical and exploratory work conducted by the research teams.
Test bench control desk |
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IC engine equipped with its instruments on the test bench |
The Facilities and Technical Support Department is responsible for operating and monitoring maintenance operations on all the facilities and equipments required to operate the two testing stations located at Rueil-Malmaison and Solaize. The entire perimeter represents a total of 3 vehicle benches and 36 test cells distributed between transient engine test benches, including a very high-dynamic one, laser-visualization optical benches and pre-combustion cells.
