Jeremy Worm

An interdisciplinary program for education and outreach in hybrid & Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering at Michigan Technological University

The automotive industry is in a transformation towards powertrain electrification, requiring automotive engineers to develop and integrate technologies from multiple disciplines. Michigan Technological University is rolling out a new program in interdisciplinary master of engineering degree and graduate and undergraduate certificates in Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering. Distinctively we are focusing our education program at the vehicle level and the interconnection to the electric grid. The vehicle level aspects of the program include vehicle requirements, integration of propulsion technologies, safety, diagnostics, control and calibration. Michigan Tech and our industrial partners see these as critical limiting factors in the development and production of advanced electric transportation systems. Additionally, the effort leverages the existing distance learning program in electric power. The result are an interdisciplinary program that meets the needs of the transportation and power industries and provides students with a unique skill set that will accelerate the Introduction

The Effect of Spark Plug Electrode Geometry on Combustion Rates in a High Performance Automotive Engine

Spark plugs utilizing a J-wire electrode are standard in most automotive engines and have been for decades. However, innumerable alternative spark plug designs have been introduced. This paper examines the potential benefit of one particular alternative electrode geometry in a high-performance automotive engine. The alternative spark plug that is investigated is a commercially available aftermarket unit. The testing included detailed analysis of both brake and indicated parameters including MEP and burn rates. Testing was conducted under both steady state and transient conditions, and encompassed multiple induction systems and test fuels including E85. The test engine was a commercially available high performance aftermarket engine assembly intended for motorsports.This paper includes the optimal settings for ignition timing and lambda and the process by which those values were determined. The combustion analysis shows the alternative spark plug electrode resulted in an increased early burn rate, which in turn lead to an overall advancing of the combustion phasing. To better decouple combustion phasing effects from test to test variation on brake output parameters, an empirical model is developed and exercised. The model describes the expected change in brake output resulting from the shift in combustion phasing induced by the alternative spark plug geometry.Copyright

Recovery Act - An Interdisciplinary Program for Education and Outreach in Transportation Electrification

1) How the project adds to the education of engineering students in the area of vehicle electrification: This project created and implemented a significant interdisciplinary curriculum in HEV engineering that includes courses focused on the major components (engines, battery cells, e‐machines, and power electronics). The new curriculum, rather uniquely, features two new classes and two new labs that emphasize a vehicle level integration of a hybrid electric powertrain that parallels the vehicle development process used by the OEMs ‐ commercial grade software is used to design a hybrid electric vehicle, hardware‐in‐the‐loop testing is performed on each component until the entire powertrain is optimized, the calibration is flashed to a vehicle, ride‐and‐drives are executed including on board data acquisition. In addition, nine existing courses were modified by adding HEV material to the courses. 2) The educational effectiveness and economic feasibility of the new curriculum: The new courses are offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. They are listed across the college in mechanical, chemical, electrical, and materials science and engineering. They are offered both on campus and to distance learning students. Students across the college of engineering and at all degree levels are integrating these courses into their degree programs. Over the three year project the course enrollments on‐campus has totaled 1,249. The distance learning enrollments has totaled 315. With such robust enrollments we absolutely expect that these courses will be in the curriculum for the long run. 3) How the project is otherwise of benefit to the public: One outcome of the project is the construction of the Michigan Tech Mobile Lab. Two complete HEV dynamometer test cells, and four work stations are installed in the 16.2 meter Mobile Laboratory and hauled by a class 8 truck. The Mobile Lab is used to teach the university courses. It is also used to deliver short courses to industry, K‐12 outreach, and public education. In 2012 the Mobile Lab participated in 22 outreach events, locally, throughout Michigan, and including events in Washington DC, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The Mobile Lab is a hit wherever it goes. In 2013 we will partner with the US Army TARDEC and be featured in their Green Warrior Convoy, a ten city tour starting in Detroit and finishing in Washington DC.