History and Fields of Investigations

History sketch

Combustion Engines Laboratory is a part of Institute of Combustion Engines and Powertrains. The history dates back to 1956 when Chair Of Motorization of Agriculture was formed and managed by Bolesław Orgelbrand. In 1959/1960 it was reformed into Chair of Combustion Engines and Agricultural Tractors and in 1965 the Chair was divided into Tractors and Traction Combustion Engines. In 1970 the Chair was dissolved and Institute of Compression Ignition Marine and Railway Engines was formed. In 1974 the institute was renamed to Institute of Thermal Engineering and Combustion Engines and, in 1993, Institute of Combustion Engines and Basics of Machine Design. The position of head of the institute was held by: Kazimierz Niewiarowski (to 1973 ), Edmund Tuliszka (to 1980), Włodzimierz Gąsowski (to 1993 ) and Jerzy Merkisz (1993 to date).

Initially the institute comprised four divisions: Division of Combustion Engines, Division of Rail Vehicles, Division of Basics of Machine Design and Division of
Thermal Engineering. In 1993 the last one turned into a separate chair of Thermal Engineering. In the beginning of 2001 a Division of Methods of Machine Design was formed and the institute changed its name to Institute of Combustion Engines and Transport. In 2020, the name was changed - now the institute is called Institute of Combustion Engines and Powertrains. Since 2024 the name of institute is Institute of Powertrains and Aviation.


At present the institute comprises:

  • Division of Powertrains (includes Combustion Engines Laboratory - CEL)
  • Division of Aviation

 

Fields of investigation

Investigations on environment protection

  • works on evaluation of the influence of new solutions in combustion engines and their operating conditions on natural environment
  • on-board emission tests with the use of portable analyzers, on-board diagnostic information systems and GPS systems
  • emission-related optimization of engine operating parameters
  • research on catalytic converters and regenerative particulate traps
  • research on unconventional drivetrains

 

Investigations on thermal engine processes

  • fuel injection, mixture formation and combustion (unconventional solutions in particular) and charge behavior in the combustion chamber
  • optimization of the charging process with video-assisted techniques applied in the combustion chamber
  • application of direct injection in spark ignition engines, and multiple injection in diesel engines

 

Investigations on bearings and lubrication

  • research on the problems of slide bearings as a part of the crank-piston assembly of combustion engines
  • development of computer software enabling a comprehensive analysis of slide bearing operation particularly with respect to the issues of durability and reliability

 

Investigations on engine dynamics and diagnostics

  • research on problems of operation of the most damage-prone piston assembly in combustion engines
  • analysis of mating phenomena of piston rings and lubricated cylinder surface