Expertise

Our research spans a range of TRL levels with applications in internal combustion engines, gas turbines, fuel cells, electric machines, battery systems and air handling. We undertake experimentally-led research that leads to innovations, enhanced system performance or improved product development methods. Specifically, these cover: - Combustion characterisation and modelling (1D and 3D) for hydrogen and ammonia fuels. - Air management and boosting for internal combustion engines and fuel cells, including turbomachinery and heat exchanger characterisation and design and air path emulation. - Thermal management systems concepts, control, modelling and prototyping for ICE, battery and electric machines. - Electric machine and power electronics design and multi-scale modelling including electro-mechanical and thermal considerations, with specialist expertise in superconducting machines. - Design, prototyping and demonstration of novel battery module and pack features including sensing, cooling/heating and control concepts. - Efficient and precise system characterisation and parameterisation techniques (e.g. advanced Design of Experiments, automated anomaly detection…) for component models (e.g. battery aging models, electric machine thermal models…). - Creation of new 0D/1D simulation for use in propulsion systems development (e.g. combustion chemistry models, air path matching tools)

Participation in EU Projects and International Activities

IAAPS has an annual research income of around €4M/annum. Over the past 10 years, we have been involved in 108 R&D projects with over 100 different research collaborators. Participation in European funded R&D projects: IAAPS has been involved in four (4) EU funded projects, one (1) under Horizon 2020 and three (3) under Horizon Europe. • Thomson (2016 – 2020): Work package leader for air path systems for 48V Hybrid vehicle systems. Our contribution was the design of a novel air bath characterisation facility, capable of isolating the differnet transient phenomenon of air handling equipment (pulsating flows, turbo lag and thermal transients). This was used for the evaluation of new air handling concepts, with a highlight technology being an inner-insulated turbine housing concept. IAAPS also delivered the modelling and characterisation for systems integration of the air path within the vehicle control strategy, demonstrating a potential 3.2% reduction in CO2. • EMTECH (2023 - 2026): IAAPS role was the design, prototyping and demonstration of an electro-mechanical switching device to allow reconfiguration of the windings of an electric machine on-the-fly. This concept was a key contributor to an increase in 86% of power density of the electrical machine and removes the need for a mechanical gear-box within the vehicle powertrain design. • ENERGETIC (2023 - 2026): IAAPS role as WP leader for sensing is the design and integration of ultrasound and temperature sensors into a battery pack and the creation of an associated processing algorythm for the direct measurement of state of charge and state of health, of an individual cell or combination of cells within a battery module. • TEMPEST (2023 - 2026): IAAPS contribution was the design and integration of novel heating and cooling systems for future semi-solid state and solid-state battery systems. These included a combination of AC internal heating and indirect liquid cooling approaches.

Participation in UK funded R&D projects (selected highlights) • Advanced propulsion Centre – TRIDENT (2021-2024): IAAPS was responsible for the creation of engineering tools for the design of air handling systems for Diesel, Natural Gas and Fuel cells systems for heavy duty truck applications in collaboration with Cummins. Research activities included detailed analysis of pulse flows in turbine systems and creation of dedicated fuel cell air path models, embedded into new engineering processes. • Advanced Propulsion Centre – HEIDI (2022-2025): IAAPS was responsible for the specification of fuel cell system for a bus application and for the creation of specialist fuel cell characterisation facilities. These included the design, build and operation of bespoke anode ejector test rig, air path test rig and stack test facility. • EPSRC - Prosperity Partnership (2021-2026): In collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover, this project targets dedicated hybrid combustion engines operating on sustainable fuels. IAAPS leads the single cylinder experimental work, investigating hydrogen combustion with different tumble, compression ratio and cooling strategies with a target of characterising heat transfer, knock and pre-ignition combustion and emissions formation. • ZeroShift 2 Speed Electric motorcycle (2023-2025): Integration of 2-speed transmissions with electric machines to improve overall powertrain efficiency. IAAPS was responsible for system modelling, controller development and system testing. • Innovate UK - PIC BATT (2024-2025): This project aimed to develop high performance, low-cost immersive cooling designs for battery modules. IAAPS led the concept generation, fluid simulation and experimental demonstration activity.