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Third automotive, powertrain symposium announced by Birmingham City University

402SE0608TP 15th July 2008

The third Advanced Powertrain Control Symposium is to be held at the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), Millennium Point, by Birmingham City University’s Technology, Innovation and Development faculty, on 27th November this year.

The University’s automotive team is inviting industry specialists to present papers concerning advances in powertrain technology, to benefit the development of motor vehicles of every size and type. An audience comprising senior auto-industry technologists and academics will have the opportunity of hearing from leading powertrain experts.

With emissions and fuel costs challenging the industry, symposium convenor, Dr Manjit Srai, and his TIC team, collaborate regularly with a range of leading automotive companies in developing optimum methods of integrating powertrain technologies. Together they have developed significant themes for the 2008 event. These encompass engine control and simulation techniques in the context, not only of alternative fuels and the increasing popularity of hybridised power sources, but also of the significance they hold for associated powertrain technology. Conference sessions will consider approaches to integrating engine and powertrain methods holistically and focus, in the context of diesel technology, on the after-treatment of emissions, in order to reduce carbon particulates output significantly.

Event-partners are JCB, Ford, Jaguar-Land Rover, MIRA and NAC-MG. Other key collaborators include TIC’s US-based product design technology partner PTC, interface software developers ETAS and ATI, Japan-based test-equipment specialist A&D Instruments, and multinational automotive industry consulting group, Ricardo. The conference is actively supported by IMechE and regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM). It also features an exhibition of systems and equipment by a range of powertrain technology specialists, which already include Mathworks, CP Engineering Systems, Signal Group instruments division and Accurate Technologies.

Birmingham City University recently launched a Centre of Excellence for Heavy Diesel Emissions Engineering (HDEE), based on a major 3-year, £1.7m, research project. The facility, which received £638,000 worth of funding from AWM, enables the University to offer engine manufacturers a uniquely affordable, flexible, independent, European source of engine development and testing. This complements the University’s existing A&D-equipped engine cell which caters for hybrid-engine research, as well as the exploration of wide-ranging fuel types, from diesel and bio-fuels to petrol and aviation spirit.

The University’s Technology, Innovation and Development Faculty Associate Dean, Professor Peter Rayson says: “We have numerous research projects being developed at doctoral and masters’ levels, using the Centre of Excellence. We expect our postgraduates to play a major part in developing environmentally sustainable diesel power for the UK industry.” The Centre of Excellence’s 340 KW, transient dynamometer was supplied by Malvern-based CP Engineering Systems, and incorporates a particulate emissions measurement capability. This is augmented by gaseous-emissions analysis equipment supplied by the Surrey-based instruments division of the Signal Group. Both companies will be exhibiting and demonstrating their equipment.

Martyn Mangan, Automotive Cluster Manager at Advantage West Midlands, comments: “Access to advanced emissions research resources in the UK is very limited, particularly for diesel engines. In order to compete with European centres, we’re delighted to support Birmingham City University in this investment.”

Prof Rayson comments: “With several, major, dedicated engine plants, the UK remains strategically important to the global auto industry. Interest in TIC’s engine management skills is evidence of that.”

Anyone wishing to submit a paper for the 2008 Symposium should contact Verona Needham on 0121 331 5400 or email enquiries@tic.ac.uk.

For further information please contact Birmingham City University Media Relations Office on 0121 331 6738, email press@bcu.ac.uk or out of hours on 07967 271 532.

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