| WARF: P06286US |  |
| Internal Combustion Engine Testing with Thermal Simulation of Additional Cylinders |
| INVENTORS | • | John Moskwa, Stephen Klick, Brian Krosschell, Marcus Marty |
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a device that simulates heat transfer of a multiple-cylinder engine on a single-cylinder test engine.
OVERVIEW
Single-cylinder test engines are used in the automotive industry to simulate the performance of a multiple-cylinder engine in research and development. However, multiple-cylinder engines perform differently than their single-cylinder counterparts, and these differences cause considerable difficulty in engine development. For this reason, single-cylinder engines are rarely used today in engine development, in spite of their many attributes. Accurately simulating the multi-cylinder transients on the single-cylinder engine would represent a major advance, and could shorten engine development time considerably.
THE INVENTION
UW-Madison researchers have developed an apparatus to simulate heat transfer of a multiple-cylinder engine on a single-cylinder test engine. Virtual cylinders are simulated by a processor, and “loads,” or energy inputs are applied to the single-cylinder test engine to more accurately reflect its performance in a multiple-cylinder engine. Flow passages allow fluid to flow in and around the single cylinder. The temperature of the fluid is controlled by a processor to replicate the presence of heat from virtual cylinders around the single-cylinder test engine.
APPLICATIONS
- Engine development in the automotive industry
KEY BENEFITS
- Important engine tests, such as the cold-start test, can be moved forward in the design process
- Effects of heat transfer within the engine can be studied and optimized for very low cost on the single-cylinder engine
- Discoveries using the single-cylinder engine can be more directly applied to the multi-cylinder engine with minimal modification, representing a significant cost saving
- Flow passages may be controlled independently, providing heat on some sides and coolant on others to study heat transfer effects on engine emissions
- Rapidly varies heat transfer for various studies, such as port fuel preparation
- Accurately replicates heat transfer effects
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For More Information About the Inventors
Intellectual Property Status
Tech Fields
Mechanical Engineering - Engines & automotive
CONTACT INFORMATION
For current licensing status, please contact our team at
licensing@warf.org
or phone 608.262.4924. (Clicking this link will open a contact form in a popup window. If you have problems viewing the form, try disabling your popup blocker software.)
Since its founding in 1925 as the patenting and licensing organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WARF has been working with business and industry to transform university research into products that benefit society. WARF intellectual property managers and licensing staff members are leaders in the field of university-based technology transfer. They are familiar with the intricacies of patenting, have worked with researchers in relevant disciplines, understand industries and markets, and have negotiated innovative licensing strategies to meet the individual needs of business clients.
