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Aéro-thermo-mécanique (ATM)

Faculty of Applied Sciences | Discipline: Electromechanical systems and fluid processes

Faculty of Applied Sciences | Societal impact: Energy

Faculty of Applied Sciences | Societal impact: Environment

Faculty of Applied Sciences | Societal impact: Transport

(Code: ULB824)



Skills of the unit :


 Hybrid rocket engine bench 
The department has developed and built a test bench for small hybrid rocket engine, this bench allows to test different types of fuels and their influence on engine performances.
 Engine benches 
The ATM service has two engine benches. The first is a 5kW engine bench for a single-cylinder engine that allows fuel testing different fuels. The second is a new 300kW bench with electric drive, it is also equipped with a programmable control (petrol and diesel) as well as a Horiba FTIR analysis bay allowing the measurement of 29 polluting species in the exhaust. Tests on any type of engine are possible.
 Computational Fluid dynamics expertise 
The department has a strong expertise in digital simulation of reactive flows. It is mainly based on the Ansys Fluent and OpenFoam codes, allowing simulations with a commercial code but also the development of specific modules for OpenFoam.
 Fuel cell test 
The service is equipped with two benches - low and high power - for testing fuel cells. The bench can be modified to best meet the needs of research projects
 Test benches for lubrication and oil usage in aero-engines
The ATM department has 3 test benches for aeronautical engine lubrication systems (gas turbine). These benches make it possible to study specific parts of the engine oil circuit (bearings, seals, pumps, de-aeration) as well as the complete circuit and the aging of the engine oil. These benches were developed with the collaboration of SAFRAN.
 HPC Cluster 
The ATM department is equipped with an internal cluster of 2000 Xeon E5-2630v3 cores and v4 interconnected via OmniPath 100 Gb to perform numerical simulations. This cluster is developed mainly for numerical flow simulation - reagents or not -.
 Mechanical workshop. 
The ATM department has a mechanical workshop equipped with a 4-axis digital lathe and milling machine, a metrology system, 3-D printers and expertise in electronics. This versatile workshop allows the design and production of prototype parts for testing on the department's test benches but also at industrial partners.
 Test bench conception and realisation 
In recent years, the ATM department has developed expertise in the development and design of test benches for complex electromechanical systems, burners and energy production systems. These benches include complete control via LabView, motors (thermal or electrical), measurement systems, from simple temperature sensors to measurement of pollutants or reactive flow via lasers. This expertise allows meeting the needs of industry in terms of research, especially for SAFRAN, ArecelorMittal or other large groups. ATM service is capable of manufacturing custom parts internally and develop electronic and electrical interfaces for bench control, providing great flexibility
 Laser measurement of size, number and distribution of liquid droplets in a gaz stream. 
The service is equipped with a laser system for measuring the size, distribution and number of liquid droplets in a gas. This equipment is mainly used to measure droplets of oils in air flow.
 Polluants measurements 
The department has different pollutant analyzers for gaseous emissions: - a FITR HORIBA MEXA-ONE FT (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) coupled with an MPA for oxygen. This device allows the measurement of 29 species: O2, CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, H2O, NH3, SO2, HCHO, HCOOH, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, C3H8, 1,3-C4H6, iso-C4H6 , n-C4H10, iso-C4H10, C6H6, C7H8, CH3CHO, CH3COCH3, CH3OH, H3OCH3, C2H5OH, (CH3) 3COCH3, CH3COOH. - Testo 5 gas analyzer (portable) - NOx analyzer - ABB.
 Temperature measurement in burners
The department has different temperature measurement systems for reactive flows: thermocouples, pyrometer and laser thermometry.
 High frequency PIV, LIF, LII  measurement system. 
The department is equipped with a system for performing PIV - image particle velocimetry-, LIF (OH) - OH laser induced fluorescence- and LII - laser induced fluorescence - measurements at high frequency (5-10kHz). The system also allows simultaneous measurement LII-LIF, PIV-LIF or PIV-LII.
 LIF low frequency laser measuring. 
The department is equipped with a low frequency LIF (laser induced fluorescence) system allowing to measure different species: NO, CH2, C2. This system can also realize spontaneous emission measurements of these components.
 Semi industrial 150kW burner 
The ATM department is equipped with a multi head 150kW flameless burner. Coupled with a gas mixer system and providing optical access for spontaneous or laser emissions measurements, it allows to test new combustion modes and new energy carrier in "quasi" industrial configurations.
 Drones development 
The service has acquired a strong expertise in the design and construction of small size and different types of drones: fixed or rotary wing and airships. This expertise included, the realization of the hardware of the drone but also all the development of the control software and stabilization of the device.
 30 kW MILD burner 
The department is equipped with a flameless burner of 30kW, with a gas mixer (CO2, H2, N2, CO, CH4, NH3, natural gas and liquid additive). This burner allows to test the combustion of different types of gaseous fuel, with liquid additivation. It is equipped with optical access for spontaneous laser or emission measurements.