Vehicle drives

The Vehicle Drives Laboratory at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences is working on pioneering ideas in the field of vehicle drives. In the field of piston combustion engines, seven (partly fully dynamic) test benches with up to 700 kW braking power are available in the very well-equipped laboratory for vehicle drives. Research focuses on the analysis and synthesis of energy-saving and low-CO2/free system concepts.

The team at the Vehicle Drives Laboratory is breaking new ground here in order to achieve the goal of CO2-neutral energy use and a reduction in the required drive power. Research areas are cylinder pressure-based combustion control, alternative fuels and variability of valve and crank drive on combustion engines (especially for commercial vehicles and industrial engines).

In addition to the development of vehicle drives, the development of measurement and automation technology as well as designs in the field of drive technology are further focal points.

Main areas of activity

• 3 test benches for stationary engines
• 2 dynamic test benches for off-road and non-road engines
• Engine intensification possible on request
  Euro 4, 5, 6 for off-road engines
  Stage III A,B/ IV/ V for non-road engines
• Exhaust gas aftertreatment
• Engine applications
• Marine applications
• Engine endurance tests

Test field equipment

• Development test benches for combustion engines
• Stationary and dynamic load machines
• Automation and measurement data acquisition systems
• Exhaust gas measurement technology
• Flow measurement technology
• Temperature measurement technology
• Pressure measurement technology
• Measurement technology for rapid cylinder pressure indexing (TDC sensor)

Load machines

• Stationary development test benches for combustion engines up to 700 kW
• Highly dynamic test benches with 375 kW & 500 kW
• Training test bench diesel engine

• Services in the field of hybrid, petrol and diesel engines, including exhaust gas aftertreatment
• Training and consulting services in the field of CO2 balancing, hybrid drives, combustion engines and vehicle drives
• Endurance tests, certifications, testing of engine components
• Exhaust gas measurements and exhaust system optimizations, performance measurements, engine calibrations and validation of test equipment
• Development work and provision of (partly dynamic and largely fully automated) development test benches for combustion engines (passenger cars to commercial vehicles) with extensive measurement technology (indexing, exhaust gas measurement, pressure, temperature and mass flow determination, etc.)
• Development of test bench measurement and automation technology
• Special design in the field of drive technology