History
The Laboratory of Thermodynamics & Thermal Engines (LTTE) belongs to the Energy, Industrial Processes and Pollution Abatements Sector of the Mechanical Engineering Department. It was founded in 1995. The Lab took its current form in the year 2000. Since then, it is headed by prof. Tassos Stamatelos.
Mission of the Laboratory
The mission of the Lab is to educate engineers in a research, development and engineering services environment, in the following areas:

• Applied Thermodynamics
• Internal Combustion Engines
• Thermal Turbomachines
• Industrial Refrigeration
• Building Energy Systems
• Energy Efficiency of Buildings

Research & Development activities are carried out in close collaboration between post – and undergraduate students and experienced research engineers. Modeling and analysis are matched with experiments and tests, aiming at system design optimization. Specialized knowhow exists in automotive engine and combustion exhaust aftertreatment, as well as in the design, analysis and modeling of a variety of thermal systems, including building energy systems.

Research funding originates either directly from industrial partners (automotive industry, exhaust system and catalytic converter manufacturers etc), or from domestic or European Commission funding programs. An important aspect of our activities is related to the supply of consulting services as well as in-situ measurements and energy auditing services in industrial installations.

In the period 2005-2014, the Laboratory officially acted as a consultant to the University management in technical matters, especially as regards the study and supervision of construction and operation of building energy systems and installations, in collaboration with the University Technical Services Department. Special emphasis is given to energy conservation.

In the period 2005-2015, the laboratory conducted environmental monitoring in the city of Volos, by means of a network of PM10 monitoring stations established in University buildings dispersed in the city of Volos.

Division: Energy, Processes and Pollution Abatement Technologies
Laboratory Director:
Anastasios Stamatellos
Special Laboratory Techical Assistance Staff:
Olympia Zogou

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

The research activities conducted in the Laboratory maybe characterized as applied research activities with a high degree of specialization associated with the production and transfer of knowhow, software and training to industrial partners who form the main funding bodies of the Lab. Industrial R&D activities as such, are usually covered by confidentiality or secrecy agreements.

Since 1999, the Laboratory personnel participated in a number of R&D projects in the domestic and mainly in the European or International Area, with special emphasis to the direct industrial partnerships. The following are examples of projects carried out in the Lab:

1. HERCULES-2 GA-634135 H2020-MG-2014-15 (subcontractor to NTUA/LME). 2-D CFD modeling of the scavenging process of a MAN B&W S60 2-stroke engine for interfacing with filling and emptying type model  (2015-2018)
2. A system for smoke emissions reduction during startup of Diesel powered high speed passenger car ferries (Collaboration with NTUA Laboratory of Marine Engineering, AEGEAN SPEED LINES, Environmental Protection Technology) 2012-14, GSR
3. Design and implementation of a network of PM10 monitoring stations in Volos-Larissa (2010-2014). Funding: Research Committee, University of Thessaly, Targeted Research Activities.
4. Production of Biofuels in Thessaly: Laboratory testing of biodiesel blends on the DW10 ATED high speed DI automotive Diesel engine. Effects on combustion, emissions and durability. 2007-08, GSRT Regional Innovation Pole of Thessaly
5. Development of Diesel Filter modeling software in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. Funding: DaimlerChrysler AG. 2002-03
6.  Software development and validation for 1D and 3D Modeling of Diesel Filters. Funding: IBIDEN Co. Ltd (Japan), 2001-2002
7. The Modeling of Automotive Catalytic Converters for Gasoline and Diesel – fueled Vehicles. Funding: Degussa –Huels AG,  1.1.2000 – 31.12.2002
8. Exergo-economic optimization of a Heat Pump system for heating – cooling. Funding: GSRT, PENED ’95).
9. Development and experimental validation of computational tools for exhaust after-treatment systems design optimization (SI, GDI and Diesel Engines). Funding: PSA Peugeot Citroen. 1999 – 2003. This is a bundle of projects, which included the following parts: 3-WAY CATALYST MODELING, PHASE I-II, DIESEL CATALYST MODELING, PHASE I-II, MODELISATION CATALISEUR, ETUDE NOX STORAGE CATALYST MODELING, ETUDE DIESEL PARTICULATE MODELING, NOX STORAGE CATALYST MODELING II, CALCUL FILTRE A PARTICULES  – UTH, CALCUL FILTRE A PARTICULES  – UTH-II, MEASUREMENTS FILTRE A PARTICULES, MECANISME ENCRASSEMENT FILTRE A PARTICULES
10. Application of basic quality assurance procedures in the reform of under-graduate curriculum of the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Thessaly. Funding: Ministry of Education. Budget: 340,400 EUR, 2003 – 2008. Scientific Responsible: Prof. A.M. Stamatelos. The curriculae reform was designed along the following lines, which reflects a strategy towards the development of a quality culture: (i) Reinforcement of the laboratory skills of the students and integration of case studies in all courses. (ii) Training in the use of modern computational tools, introduction of new subjects and teaching modes. (iii) Development of an inclusive diploma study plan (course credits – weekly student load – interdependence of courses – integration in course cycles). (iv) Support of all courses via the development of functional web pages, including course material, a variety of references, books, foreign language bibliography, software, technical rules, professional regulations and directives. (v) Establishment of a quality assurance office (QAO), to coordinate and support the continuing development of teaching, research and service quality standards, indices and self-evaluation processes and also to develop and maintain a network for regular contacts and feedback reception by the alumni.

 
In parallel with R&D projects on a contract basis, the Laboratory personnel supplies on a regular basis, consulting and support services to the local and regional industrial units, in the form of in-situ measurements and energy audits, (EXALCO, ALFA-WOOD, EPILEKTOS textile, AGET/ Lafarge etc), as well as to the local society (e.g. PM10 monitoring stations’ network in Volos – Larissa). 

International Collaborations

o   Industrial firms

§  PSA Peugeot Citroen

§  dmc division of OMG

§  Daimler Chrysler AG

§  Toyota Central R&D Labs

§  IBIDEN Co. Ltd.

§  S&C Thermofluids

§  J. Eberspaecher Co.GmbH

§  Degussa Autoabgaskatalysatoren

o   Univerisities

§  Politecnico do Torino

§  Imperial College

§  TU Eindhoven

§  University of Bath

§  University of Alberta

Undergraduate Courses: currently, taught by Laboratory staff:

• ΕΝ0900 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
• ΕΝ1600 HVAC ENGINEERING
• ΕΝ2400 INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGY
• ΕΝ1200 THERMAL PROCESS EQUIPMENT (MS1)
• ΓΕ0106 ELECTRIC MACHINES

In addition, the Laboratory staff has taught the following courses:

• EN0101 THERMODYNAMICS II
• ΕΝ0112 THERMODYNAMICS II II
• ΕΝ0600 TURBOMACHINERY
• ΜΥ1400 AUTOMATIC CONTROL
• ΕΝ0301 HEAT TRANSFERΣ
• MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES IN ENERGY ENGINEERING

The Laboratory personnel has also taught the following Graduate Courses:

• THERMODYNAMICS AND GAS DYNAMICS OF THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
• THERMAL SYSTEMS DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION
• ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDINGS
• Energy Management: Buildings and Industry 
• Measurement Techniques in Thermal Sciences 

• Engine test cell with 150 kW eddy current dynamometer, with direct digital control system (transient testing capabilities). The controller is linked to a . Electronic throttle actuator.
• Exhaust gas testing bench with two sets of exhaust gas analyzers (CO, CO2, HC, NO)
• DW10 ATED, 2 l. HDI diesel engine (rated power 80kW at 4,000 rpm), employed in full-scale investigations with diesel exhaust after-treatment devices, as well as in engine combustion and emission studies

• Alfa Romeo 1.6 l. Twin Spark SI engine on a DC engine – inverter test bed (under construction)
• Ruggerini Brio 91 single cylinder Diesel engine
• J-65  turbojer engine for educational purpose
•  Small gas turbine AMT Olympus HP ES (with thrust: 23.5 kg-230 N)

• 35,000 kcal/h air furnace with test rig for infrared thermography investigations
• 40,000 kcal/h boiler
• Boiler efficiency measurement test rig
• Boiler Exhaust Gas Analyzer ‎MRU Spectra 1600Q
• Refrigeration system/ vacuum pump
• A variety of gas, air, liquid and fuel flow meters
• A variety of pressure sensors for the ranges from 1 mbar up to 1000 bar
• Fully equipped engine maintenance workshop
• A variety of catalytic converter and diesel filter systems for testing and assessment purposes
• Specially designed test rig for detailed flow distribution measurements in catalytic converters and filters, HVAC duct outlets etc.
• Laboratory oven (1000^oC) for aging and regeneration of full-sized converters and diesel filters
• ThermaCAM SC 3000 FLIR Systems
• Three-Phase Power Logger: Fluke 1735
• Energy monitor: Wattson Classic
• Lux meter
• Differential Thermometer
• Infrared Thermometer
• Sound Level Meter (Decibel Meter)
• CO₂, CO, Indoor Air Quality measurement
• Humidity meter
• Differential Manometer
• Nuclear Radiation meter (Geiger Counter)

Hardware

• NI Data Acquisition card 6229 (250 kSamples/s)
• Several NI Data Acquisition and control cards, signal conditioners SCXI 1100, SCXI 1113
• ETAS MAC 2 / ETK hardware for interfacing with engine control unit (ECU)
• Fast acquisition quartz sensors and charge amplifier for high and low pressure indicator diagrams on diesel and SI engines
• A variety of thermocouples, cement-on thermocouples ultra fast response thermocouples
• Pressure Transmitters WIKA Type A-10
• Several high performance PC’s, supported with peripherals, including an A0-sized plotter

Software

• NI LabVIEW v11.0 software
• INCA v3.2 software for interfacing with engine control unit (ECU), engine calibration and diagnostics
• In-house software for the performance computation of nearly all main types of exhaust after-treatment devices, integrated in the form of an automotive exhaust after-treatment systems CAE toolkit
• In house software for gas and steam turbine performance prediction and diagnostics
• TRNSYS 16 software for energy systems simulation (solar energy systems, building energy systems)
• Access to industrial software: MATLAB Simulink, ProE, SolidWorks, ASPEN
• CFD software: ANSYS 13 (CFX, FLUENT, CFD-POST)
• GasTurb 9 for simulation of gas turbine configurations used for propulsion or for power generation
• EES (Equation Engineering Software): software package used for solution of simultaneous non-linear equations for the solution of thermodynamics and heat transfer problems
• Programming tools: (Fortran 70/90/95, C++)

PhD Thesis

MsC Thesis

Diploma Thesis

Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engines (LTTE)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Thessaly

Leoforos Athinon, Pedion Areos,
38334 Volos, Greece

Tel:+30 24210 74097, +30 24210 74013

Professor Stamatelos Tassos

Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Thermal Engines (LTTE)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Thessaly

Leoforos Athinon, Pedion Areos,
38334 Volos, Greece

Tel:+30 24210 74067

E-mail: stam (AT)uth.gr