Research activities @ the eProLab
During the 90', most of the research at the eProLab has been performed on internal combustion engines for automotive applications, with particular emphasys on modeling and control applications. The studies on these topics are still active, also thanks to advanced experimental facilities. In parallel, studies on energy systems have been performed. In last decade, a significant research effort is being spent on renewable resources, both for automotive applications and for stationary use.
The group has developed many cooperation with industry, as well as with other universities and reseach centres.
A description of the research topics is given below. The publications on these subjects can be found at the page of Staff, while the related projects and cooperations can be found at this link.
Research Fields
The main research fields at the eProLab are:
Automotive engines- Electronic control of spark ignition engines:
- Development of hierarchical models and computational codes for the optimal design of engine control strategies.
- Stochastic optimization of open-loop engine control systems.
- Real-Time Engine Variable Measurement from Cylinder Pressure Cycle
- Simulation and experimental analysis of dynamic processes. A/F ratio modeling and control.
- Application of Sequential Experimental Design and Neural Network with Active Learning to internal combustion engines.
- Identification of Gray-Box models for automotive engines.
- Modelling of Diesel engines
- Development of numerical models for the simulation of combustion in High Speed Direct Injection Common-Rail Multi-Jet Diesel engines. Use of Bio-Diesel.
- Emissions: Development of models for the simulation of pollutant emissions from SI and Diesel automotive engines.
- Diagnostics and maintenance: Numerical and experimental methods for On-Board-Diagnosis of automotive engine control system (OBD). Predictive maintenance of automotive vehicles.
- Modelling of hybrid propulsion systems and on-board energy flow management for hybrid electric vehicles.
- Application of fuel cells to ground transportation systems.
- Modeling, design, control and development of Hybrid Solar Vehicles.
- Modeling and experiments on PEM fuel cells for water and thermal management, dynamics of stacks and auxliaries, electronic control.
- Dynamic modeling of SOFC for thermal analysis and control.
- Application of fuel cells and hydrogen for propulsion systems and electric energy production.
- Development of model-based methodologies for efficient energy management, control and diagnosis of cooling systems in telephone central offices and data-centers.
- Emission modeling and monitoring in Gas Turbine Plants.
- Models and optimal design of steam power plants for power and co-generation.
- Integration of Wind Turbines with CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage).
- Study and design of waste incinerators.
- Modeling, optimization and control of energy systems.
- Modeling and optimal management in marine fishing systems and aquaculture.
____________________________________
The publications on these subjects can be found at the page of Staff, while the main projects and cooperations are listed at the page Projects and Cooperation