Hydrogen-Fueled Rotary Engine

Prediction and analysis of nitric oxide emissions

Context

For the completion of my Master's degree at Université Catholique de Louvain, I had to choose a thesis topic. I selected a subject related to my future career interests in the automotive industry. The university had discontinued a previous project attempted by earlier students, which had been unable to get the engine to start on gasoline. I decided to revive this project on my own, even though it was originally intended for groups of 2 or 3 students.

The thesis was divided into two parts: the experimental work focused on restoring the engine to run on gasoline and starting the conversion to hydrogen fuel, while the theoretical work involved the prediction and analysis of nitric oxide in the exhaust gases.

Learning outcomes

Technical

In addition to gaining an understanding of the combustion properties, benefits, and drawbacks of alternative fuels in combustion engines, as well as the challenges of converting an engine to use a different fuel, this thesis also provided an opportunity to enhance my coding skills. I applied Python to simulate engine operation and chemical reactions in the combustion chamber, predicting and converting nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, the project introduced me to MoTeC ECU software, which deepened my understanding of engine tuning. To restore the engine, I received hands-on training in mechanical and electrical work from my team, who mentored me throughout the project.

Leadership and team work

Throughout this project, I had the opportunity to lead and coordinate a team of seven members, including mechanics, electro-mechanics, and electricians. As this project served as my final year thesis, I was responsible for managing the team and assigning tasks following our weekly meetings. This process allowed me to appreciate the complexities of leadership, ensuring that deadlines were met and everyone contributed effectively. The experience can be considered a success, as strong relationships were maintained among all team members throughout the project.

Work organisation

Originally intended for a group of two or three students, this project was ultimately assigned to me alone, requiring significant organizational effort to stay on track with both the experimental and theoretical work. To manage this, I used an organizational tool like TRELLO, which was essential for meeting my deadlines and allowed me to quickly adapt to any last-minute challenges.

Budget management

This project came with an allocated budget that I was expected to adhere to as closely as possible. The budget was initially determined through an early evaluation of the engine's condition, which helped estimate the remaining work and identify the parts that needed to be ordered. However, mistakes made in previous years by other students revealed that some parts were unsuitable for the engine, requiring additional funding. Initially, these overages weren’t a concern due to the safety margin built into the budget. However, as more hidden issues with the engine were uncovered, further financial support from the university's research department became necessary. This situation gave me the opportunity to present and justify the additional expenses to the committee.