The Advanced Propulsion Technology Center at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been designated a DOE national user facility.
The center specializes in the detailed characterization of internal combustion engine emissions and efficiency. The center does work for the DOE Office of Transportation Technologies in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, other federal agencies and outside institutions upon DOE approval.
The facility's comprehensive capabilities include tabletop engine exhaust simulators, single and multicylinder engines, and full vehicles. The center boasts several special diagnostic and measurement tools. These tools are rarely found at other facilities around the country that aid in development and evaluation of engine and emission control technology.
Current research and development projects at the center include determining the effects of fuel sulfur on diesel emissions controls, ignition phenomena, diesel and gasoline engine particle emissions, advanced engine control strategies, and catalyst surface diagnostics.
The center is one of 17 user facilities available to researchers inside and outside ORNL. Researchers from corporations, universities and other institutions may conduct non-proprietary work at many of the user facilities free of charge. User facilities encourage collaborative efforts between ORNL, private industry and institutions. ORNL's Office of Science and Technology Partnerships coordinates these efforts.
Six cooperative and research agreements (CRADAs) currently exist between the Advanced Propulsion Technology Center and outside institutions.
More information about ORNL's user facilities is available by contacting the Office of Science and Technology Partnerships, 865-576-4221.
ORNL is a DOE multiprogram research facility managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation.