engineering, AUTOSAR - Automotive Industries

innovation
Stricter emission regulations around the world are testing
the capabilities and creativity of development engineers
and designers.
One of the leaders in design, simulation and testing is
German firm DIF - Die Ideenfabrik GmbH (the idea factory). The
company’s focus is on the design and development of combustion
engines, emission reduction and power-train systems.
It provides a range of engineering services, which
starts from developing the idea, taking it to the
concept phase, and then to prototyping and
handover into series production. DIF uses
Bernd Danckert, chairman and CEO
of DIF - Die Ideenfabrik GmbH
the latest simulation, engineering and testing
techniques.
The key activities are concept and product
development, analysis/simulation, 3D & 2D
design, quality management engineering, production
engineering, power train integration and field engineering.
Together with different partners, such as EMITEC (in the case of
the emission reduction systems), innovative turn-key solutions for
the future are delivered.
DIF was earlier known as Makon Engineering. In 2009,
the company changed its name to DIF. Makon had 30-years
of experience in developing assembly lines, special purpose
machinery, plant equipment, as well as automation systems in
South Germany. The company was taken over by Bernd Danckert
in mid-2007, and renamed DIF Die Ideenfabrik GmbH in 2009.
It is building a new test center in Friedrichshafen on the Lake of
Constance in Southern Germany.
The center will focus on power trains – engine and transmission
- and emission reduction solutions for industrial combustion
engines for ships, railway locomotives, trucks and special vehicles.
Starting with engine
design to meet emission
targets By: Lenny Case
DIF - Die Ideenfabrik (the idea factory) emission solutions
Once completed, it will have five fully equipped test benches up
to 2MW for complete power train systems. There are plans to
increase this number to 10 in the future.
Automotive Industries (AI) asked Bernd Danckert,
chairman and CEO of DIF to tell us about the after-treatment
or post-combustion devices the company is working on.
danckert: DIF is currently working with EMITEC on
SCR systems to reduce nitrogen oxides in the exhaust
gas of industrial diesel engines. These systems
are individually adapted to our customers’
needs, and have an optimum efficiency
for the individual installations. DIF is using
trend-setting SCR system components
from EMITEC (EMITEC NoNOx technology
in combination with EMITEC metal SCR
catalysts). We can adapt this technology at
a reasonable price to the cramped engine
room conditions of special vehicles such as
leisure yachts.
For applications where particle reduction is
needed, DIF supplies SCR systems in combination
with diesel particulate filter systems. For active
regeneration systems we normally prefer HC dosing units
together with oxidation catalysts – but also passive regenerated
partial flow filters (such as EMITEC PM-Metalit) can be excellently
integrated into SCR systems - it depends on the customer’s and
the legal requirements. For modern diesel engines with power
ratings above 560kW especially for off-highway applications SCR
technology is sufficient and preferred.
AI: You are integrating complete power trains as well?
danckert: DIF recommends the best layout for the engine
when a power train is being integrated into a vehicle. We normally
start with a complex product analysis, and select the optimum
overall system for the special application like engine, propulsion
and after treatment system for the vehicle. If needed, DIF will
optimize and re-engineer the power train. Today’s power trains run
with partially oversized engines. Therefore, one of the first jobs is
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