Thermal and Systems Efficiency to be focus of new APC 'spokes'
Mon 02 November 2015
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The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has announced that it will create two new APC 'spokes' for internal combustion engine technology, which it says will pull together highly-focused communities combining business and academia to support the development of the UK’s low carbon propulsion capability and help to strengthen the automotive supply chain in key technology areas.
As an APC spoke focussing on systems efficiency, the University of Bath will form a centre of excellence bringing specific functional, technological and regional capability to the APC network. It will also represent the APC regionally. Based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) will form the core of the ‘Spoke for Internal Combustion Engines – Systems Efficiency’. The PVRC conducts instrumental research focused on improving the efficiency and emissions of diesel and petrol engines, as well as electric and hybrid systems.
In October 2015, its £2.4m EPSRC-funded automotive research facility, the Centre for Low Emission Vehicle Research (CLEVeR) was unveiled.
In response to the University of Brighton's choice by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to forge partnerships as the ‘spoke’ for internal combustion engine thermal efficiency, Professor Morgan Heikal at the University's School of Computing, Engineering & Mathematics said: "We are delighted to have been selected and we very much look forward to forging even closer ties with industry and researchers. "The APC ICE Thermal Efficiency Spoke is all about collaboration and co-operation and we at the University of Brighton have always enjoyed working in partnership and collaborating with many universities and industrial organisations.
In a media release the APC said the APC spokes were selected following an assessment process undertaken by independent industry experts. The APC spokes seek to provide open access to expertise in specialist technologies, signposting and promoting UK capabilities whilst providing consortia building opportunities.
Together with the APC each spoke will develop a collaborative environment, to benefit all interested parties including the running of seminars and events around the core technologies.
Chief Executive of the APC, Ian Constance, said: “The APC has already invested in programmes worth more than £174 million which will secure or create at least 4,500 UK jobs across business and academia from the first three rounds of competition funding. The APC spoke network connects the communities of expertise with the opportunities available over the next decade for the development and production of low carbon propulsion technology.”
Business Minister Anna Soubry called the announcement “great news” for the universities of Brighton and Bath, labelling the move: “another step forward for the Advanced Propulsion Centre.“ She said: “The automotive sector and its supply chain are a vital part of the UK economy and these new spokes will bring together the communities to ensure we have the skills we need for the future.“
The two new APC spokes join the three existing spokes covering Digital Engineering and Test coordinated by Loughborough University in London, Electrical Energy Storage coordinated by Warwick University and Power Electronics coordinated by the University of Nottingham.
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