The chief technology officer discusses the need for more stringent testing of plastic and lightweight components found in engines
What are the current trends in powertrain development?
The need for clean and efficient combustion is increasing. This is mainly achieved by raising the pressure of the injection system, which places high demands on the components used. We have seen this in the development of diesel engines, which are being additionally fueled by gasoline and mixtures of bio-fuels.
What challenges does this present?
This means that vehicle developers need to consider the impact of gasoline and bio-fuels on the components and systems that are made of metal or plastic, where the pressure and therefore the heat is on the rise. They must also ensure that the compressive strength and temperature stability is sufficient under oscillating and continuous stress, and that the gas tightness is assured even after thousands of utilization cycles. We believe that in future we will see a strong need to test plastic and lightweight components under pressure. More automated quality approval is also a focus for the industry.
How is P+P developing its technology to meet these challenges?
P+P can offer a full range of high pressure testing technology for gasoline applications. We have also developed test stands for diesel systems and pumps that achieve up to 6,000 bar impulses at up to 30Hz, for example. Meanwhile, our current machine for gasoline injection systems tests with up to 2,000 bar at a frequency of up to 2Hz and 10Hz.
Poppe + Potthoff Maschinenbau will be at stand 1104 at Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2016, which takes place on May 31-June 2, at Messe Stuttgart, Germany.
