The new Future Engines and Fuels Laboratory at the University of Birmingham’s Department of Mechanical Engineering was opened on 18 January 2007 by Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Transfer), Professor Mike Cruise. Before the launch Dr Mike Richardson, Manager of Jaguar Research at Jaguar Land Rover presented a lecture on “Sustainable Mobility”.
The new laboratory was refurbished with funding from the University of over £800,000 and is supported by industrial partners Jaguar, Land Rover, Ford, Johnson Matthey and Shell. The facilities comprise 7 test beds, 2 single cylinder research engines, 1 Ford optical engine with laser diagnostics, 2 multi-cylinder Jaguar and Land Rover prototype engines, 1 Formula Student racing engine and 1 teaching engine, along with a unique fuel test cell equipped with 2 GC mass-spectrometers. One more Jaguar/Ford engine test bed is under construction and an additional dedicated Biofuel engine test bed is being prepared.
Click for larger images below.
Opening ceremony
HCCI Supercharged V6 Room
Single Cylinder Optical HCCI Engine - Combustion Bomb Room
Jaguar V-6 Lion Room
Single Cylinder Diesel Room
Single Cylinder Optical Diesel Engine
Puma Engine Room
Medusa Engine Room
Mass Spectrometry Room
Fuel Properties Lab