- Engine combustion research for effective use of liquid synthetic fuels and other carbon-neutral alternatives to petroleum: a necessity despite the rise of electric motors.
- Extensive research is being conducted, covering fundamental studies on fuels and combustion as well as practical investigations into engine performance.
- Conducting technical evaluations to identify fuels that not only ensure compatibility with gasoline and diesel fuel but also enhance engine performance, along with comprehensive Well-to-Wheel assessments from fuel production to combustion.
Strategically Addressed Research Topics
(Topics for which fundamental outcomes should be broadly disseminated to society, including national projects, etc.)
Research on technologies for the high-efficiency utilization of carbon-neutral liquid synthetic fuels
Effective Utilization of Renewable and Biomass-Derived Carbon-Neutral Fuels
Experimental Setup and Chmical Reaction Analysis
Research on the advancement of engine and vehicle models and on energy management technologies
- AIST's own 0D engine cycle simulation model and vehicle simulation model are developed using the open-source software OpenModelica.
- With the aim of achieving extreme energy and fuel efficiency in mobility, research on energy management technologies for the entire vehicle system, including electrification technology, is being undertaken using the engine and vehicle simulation model.
- To promote open innovation, the developed models are being distributed in Japan and research is being carried out in collaboration with companies, universities and research institutes while utilizing the models.
Evaluation of exhaust aftertreatment systems
Established Catalyst Activity Evaluation Method
Publicly Available Procedures
- We have established a laboratory-based evaluation method that enables the simplified estimation of catalyst performance at a small scale—approximately one ten-thousandth of actual engine operating conditions (Fig. 1).
- By comparing catalysts with unused (fresh) ones, the degree of degradation of in-use catalysts can be assessed. In addition, comparisons between single-stage and multi-stage catalysts allow the degradation mechanisms of catalyst systems composed of multiple combined catalyst types to be inferred.
- Furthermore, we have documented the established catalyst activity evaluation method together with accelerated aging methods for durability evaluation, and prepared standardized procedures that had not previously existed in Japan (Fig. 2).
These procedures have been publicly available since October 2022 in the Research Database of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency.https://www.erca.go.jp/suishinhi/seika/index.html Research Project Number: 5-1904 Research Project Title: Research on Durability Evaluation Methods and Functional Regeneration Methods for Diesel Vehicle Exhaust Aftertreatment Systems (2019–2021)