REPORT - Inauguration of MRP Diesel Engine R & D Test Facility

Inauguration of MRP Diesel Engine  R & D Test Facility
Renault Nissan Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Christ University
22 November 2014

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INTRODUCTION
Under the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Christ University , Bangalore and RNAIPL (Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd.), Oragadam , Chennai , a four cylinder 65 HP class diesel engine hardware (Fig. 1)  has been provided for research.  A MRP ( Major Research Project )-1302 has been sanctioned during NOV 2013  at the cost of about fifty lakhs and three years duration. The aim and objective is to ; 1) Create a state—of-the-art test facility 2) Evaluate the base line engine design characteristics  by extensive testing  and 3) engine mod by going in for a LHR ( Low Heat Rejection Engine) with the idea of providing value added inputs the existing engine in terms of better SFC (Specific Fuel Consumption) and reduced pollutants. The modification LHR engine is envisaged to be realized by coating the piston crown with zirconium oxide and exhaust manifold. Specimen coating trials are in progress towards the goal of realizing mod engine. About a dozen thrust areas are identified. Over nine faculty and fifty students from various departments- Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Mathematics are participating in  R & D and organization chart is given in Fig. 2. The spin -off potential includes a) Faculty pursuing Ph. D program and  2) students performing research after prescribed academic hours and  turning out projects of this work.

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WELCOME ADDRESS
The inaugural function was held in open air auditorium and Fig. 3 shows Dr. Iven Jose welcoming  the gathering- Chief Guest and other dignitaries.

LECTURE BY RENAULT NISSAN EXECUTIVES
 It was held in open air auditorium and an expert talk was delivered on Challenges in Design, Development, Manufacture, Production , Test and Supply of Quality  driven passenger cars. Best practices of both Renault and Nissan that have been put in place were highlighted in the lecture. . Fig. 4 shows Mr. Viswanathan , Vice President delivering the lecture and Fig. 5 shows Mr. Jayasamraj ,  Production Manager  delivering a lecture  on quality practices.

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DIESEL ENGINE R & D TEST FACILITY
The facility comprises of a 100 HP dynamometer coupled to the engine , dyno control and twelve channel instrumentation and associated PC (Personal Computer) based data acquisition system with a  data acquisition software. The facility is shown in Fig. 6 & 7.

 

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THE FACILITY INAUGURATION
The festive look is depicted in Fig. 8 and the inauguration by cutting ribbon and starting engine is shown in Fig. 9. Thus , a major milestone has been achieved in  he MRP R & D on diesel engines . The facility was completed during Sep 2014 and the inaugural function has been held on Nov 22, 14, the Chief Guest being Mr. Viswanathan, Vice President , RNAIPL accompanied by Mr. Jayamasamraj, Production Manager, RNABL.  Fr. Benny Thomas, Director Engineering, Prof. D.N.S Kumar, Associate Director, Research,  Dr. Iven Jose, Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering ,  Dr. Hebbar, Mechanical Co-ordinator and  Dr. Shankar. V,Professor & Principal Investigator and departmental professors, research faculty  and students were in attendance.

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 VOTE OF THANKS
While delivering the vote of thanks, Fig. 10,  Dr. Shankar, Professor and Principal Investigator  placed on records the contribution of quite a few towards the R & D Program . He thanked the Chief Guest Mr. Viswanathan, Vice President , RNAIPL and Mr. Jayasamaraj, Production Manager for visiting CUFE, delivering the lecture on RNAIPL practices and inaugurating the facility.  The university support starting right from Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew, Vice Chancellor through Dr Fr Varghese K J, CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER, Prof. D.N.S. Kumar,Prof. of Finance & Associate  Director, Centre  for Research, Projects, Fr. Benny Thomas, Director, Engineering, Dr. Iven, Jose, Associate Dean , Dr. Hebbar, Mechanical Co-ordinator and faculty and colleagues from Electrical, Electronics and Mathematics Departments , students , research faculty,  and non- teaching support staff to Tech ED, Bangalore was appreciated .

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