Program: Collaborative Research for Common Regional Issues (CRC)
Field: Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Srithar Rajoo
Sending University: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Japanese Co-Investigator: Prof. Dr. Masayuki OCHIAI
Japanese University: Tokai University
Year: 2014
Abstract:
The project aims to design and make a micro gas turbine which can operate on bio-diesel, consequently test the practical viability of using it as range extender in a hybrid-electric vehicle (e-REV). One of the major concerns among drivers of hybrid-to-electric vehicles is the drivability range or commonly known as Range Anxiety. One solution to Range Anxiety is the popular range extended electric vehicles (e-REV) or sometimes referred to as series hybrid. Micro gas turbine is proposed as range extender in an e-REV due to some of its crucial benefits against an internal combustion engine, such as higher power-to-weight ratio, smaller number of moving components, direct coupling without transmission system and most importantly multi-fuel flexibility. The overall application of micro gas turbine as range extender possess multi-dimensional complexities, which makes this project more interesting and if executed successfully will fruit valuable knowledge and technology for ASEAN automotive industry. I have gained strong network with NTU Singapore and Tokai University Japan. This research project has enable my group to gain deeper knowledge on the design and make of micro gas turbine, including the overall vehicle level understanding on energy distribution. 1. This project has trained an engineer at Masters degree with strong knowledge on the design and make of micro gas turbine.
2. A functional micro gas turbine range extender has been built and tested. This can be taken up by industry for further development towards market deployment.