LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
Advanced Propulsion Lab
Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL)
The Advanced Propulsion Lab (APL) represents a unique facility that combines world-class research into advanced vehicles and mobility systems, innovative laboratory teaching, outreach and commercial enterprise. The APL (now based at the UCL Bloomsbury Campus) will in the future use the QEOP and East London as an environmental laboratory for new vehicle technologies to engage with the local community and develop the mobility technologies of the future.
UCL has an international reputation for work on advanced propulsion comprising excellent electrochemical power systems and advanced combustion technologies. Our expertise is multi- and crossdisciplinary and brings together chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry and materials, conducting engine research and developing highperformance materials for batteries and fuel cells. This is supported by outstanding research from both a policy and technological storage perspective within the UCL Energy Institute.
The Advanced Propulsion Laboratory is a unique offering. No other university research facility in the world develops combustion engine technology alongside electrochemical technologies at this scale, integrates them, and applies these new innovations to a wide range of mobility and transport modes. As well as providing a leading hub for research and development, the APL will blur the lines between teaching, research, commercial innovation and outreach. Our philosophy is centred on the provision of: • A crucible for collaboration • Research-based teaching • Enterprise and innovation • Outreach and public engagement all set within London’s Global University.
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UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
Management Committee
Prof. Dan Brett E: d.brett@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)207 679 3310
Dr. Paul Shearing E: p.shearing@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)207 679 3783
Prof. Jawwad Darr E: j.a.darr@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)207 679 4345
Dr. Ramanarayanan Balachandran E: r.balachandran@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)207 629 7668
Dr. Jason Millichamp E: j.millichamp@ucl.ac.uk T: +44 (0)207 679 3651
Research Research in the APL spans fundamental investigation through to whole system design and modelling. Our research includes materials discovery and engineering, fuel cells, batteries, electrolysers, supercapacitors, hybrid vehicles, engines and fuels, power trains and more. The research portfolio sits within four themed areas.
Electrochemical Energy Storage The APL has a multidisciplinary battery research group, from material discovery to development to safety and structural analyses, for Lithium-ion, Sodium-ion, Li-S batteries, and supercapacitors. The APL’s aim is to improve advanced energy storage technologies to assist the growing automotive hybrid and electric evolution, enabling widespread use of renewable, electrochemical energy. UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
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Fuel Cells & Hydrogen
Power Trains & Hybrids
Fuel cells are essentially a hybrid between batteries and internal combustion engines offering low carbon transport solutions with fast refuelling and without range anxiety. In spite significant progress towards commercialisation, durability and cost issues are still a barrier to widespread use. These durability issues involve a variety of components and span multiple length scales, from thermomechanical aspects at interfaces to internal microstructure and localised heat and water management in bulk materials.
At the APL particular emphasis is placed on integrating battery, fuel cell, hybrid and green combustion technologies into functional green automotive and other moving devices. Current projects include:
Work in the APL focuses on a range of fuel cell technologies, including polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AAEMFC). In addition, work is also conducted on PEM electrolysers, which are electrically driven hydrogen-producing devices.
• Fuel cell electric vehicle • Mobility scooters • Fuel cell powered drones For more information on the APL’s research activities, and to view case studies showcasing the lab’s expertise in the different areas, visit our website: www.ucl.ac.uk/apl
Engines & Fuels At the Combustion, Fuels and Engines Laboratory in the APL, the focus is on the development of ‘green’ combustion technologies and use of sustainable future fuels for practical combustion systems. Particular attention is placed on comprehensively understanding the fundamental combustion behaviour of fuels relevant to important problems that hamper low emission engine development such as fuel flexibility, cycle-to-cycle variability, thermo-acoustic instabilities and combustion noise. State-ofthe-art facilities with advanced optical diagnostic techniques and thermodynamic tools are used.
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UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
Engineering at UCL East Engineering is at the heart of UCL EAST, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the planned new specialised, academic space. This will be a collection of state-of-the-art facilities to enable experiential learning and hands-on research around making, imaging and manufacturing. It evolves UCL’s philosophy of making, experimentation and group work as the centre of a research-based engineering and technology curriculum. It will include new centres for research, education, innovation and public engagement in robotics and autonomous systems, imaging, manufacturing and advanced propulsion. Dynamic spaces will include an Experiential Learning and Research Hub, comprising the Centre for Engineering Education and the Institute of Making Big; the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL); and research centres in imaging, robotics and autonomous systems.
Activities at the APL Combining research, demonstration, teaching and outreach projects, activities at the APL will include:
• ‘Olympic lab’ projects: using the QEOP site to test road, marine, unassisted aerial vehicle (UAV) and mobility technologies.
• Collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in translating research into battery and fuel cell safety into new international safety and quality standards.
• Rapid prototyping and manufacture for next generation electrochemical power trains.
• World-leading translational diagnostics for batteries and fuel cells from lab to vehicle.
• Hydrogen engine and alternative fuel research and development.
• Metrology and forensics: embedding ‘research grade’ instrumentation in the design and quality control process, and enabling unique post-mortem analysis to enable safety improvement.
• A ‘hydrogen hub’ refuelling station and outreach centre.
• Emissions monitoring and analysis for air quality standards.
• Tailored materials discovery, development and manufacture at scale.
• Working with UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, research to develop new modes of transport at the most human level: powered exoskeletons for people with limited or no mobility.
• Large-scale marine engine research and development for the shipping industry.
UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
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Education at the APL UCL’s developing engineering education strategy and the APL’s activities will align to integrate research and education, underpinning an inspirational student experience. Research-led teaching is at the heart of the APL. Working closely with the UCL Centre for Engineering Education, the APL will ensure the best possible and most exciting learning experience for students. This will be a comprehensive offering, including: • Development of practical skills: hands-on labs, making, building, testing. • First-hand experience of cutting-edge technologies and next-generation vehicles. • Relevance: Advanced Propulsion is a ‘here-and-now challenge’ with a growing UK jobs market and international need. • Rigour: proficiency in the science and engineering of propulsion technologies requires substantial academic rigour, while still offering a breadth of disciplines and scope for a broad range of learning experiences. The new research facilities will be routinely used by undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of their research projects, design projects, and to support existing and new lecture-based course material. Our goal is that the best and brightest graduates, following their research-ledlearning experience in the APL, will pursue further study, research or employment in the field, to help to fill engineering skills gaps in this critical area.
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UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
Impact The APL and UCL’s engineering education offer will combine to create: • A world-leading hub for technology-led research into alternative propulsion systems, including battery, fuel cell and combustion technologies, at a scale which translates lab activities to the real world. • New solutions to the pressing national and global challenges of air quality and decarbonisation, establishing the UK as a leader in the international development of electric vehicles. • More detailed assessments of the sustainability of electrochemical devices, including the sourcing of raw materials, processes for effective operation, second life and disposal, with the objective of creating quality standards and bestpractice towards a circular life-cycle in a rapidly growing industry. • An exemplar of research-led teaching: the APL will train the next generation of propulsion scientists and engineers internationally, providing a pipeline of talented PhD applicants. • New programmes will create innovative entry routes, including Foundation programmes (supporting ambitions to genuinely widen participation) and a range of relevant Master’s courses.
UCL ADVANCED PROPULSION LAB
• A crucial component of the UK’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy and long-term regeneration. As well as a hydrogen hub, the APL will provide a base for public outreach and engagement and student demonstration programmes (including UCell, Solar Fox and Formula Student) that will allow expansion of activity with a particular focus on schools and public engagement. • A pipeline of translational activities with commercial partners and an incubator environment to support the unique UCL ‘spirit of enterprise’ expanding the Innovation Lab concept which has been highly successful in Bloomsbury. This provides a focal point for development of new IP as well as for industry engagement with the APL activity. • An international hub for multidisciplinary research collaboration, partnering with leading international laboratories (including NASA, JCESR, KIER, Dalian) and engaging labs in developing economies (building on existing partnerships in Kazakhstan, India and with Hydrogen South Africa) and supporting the growth of academic research programmes in developing economies.
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