Facilities: Ford Emissions Test Cell

The Ford Australia node of ACART is located at the Ford Proving Ground in Lara, Victoria. It includes two major facilities for vehicle testing: an Emissions Test Cell and an Environmental Wind Tunnel.

Both facilities are certified to ISO 9000 and ISO 14000. The Emissions Lab is accredited by NATA to ISO 17025.

The group currently consists of around 50 people, including engineers, technicians and students. The research capabilities of the Ford node are in testing and reduction of vehicle fuel consumption and exhaust emissions as well as testing of vehicle Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) and vehicle cooling systems and heat loadings.

The Emissions Test Cell is located in the existing Emissions Lab. This laboratory has a long track record in emissions testing and development, both for internal Ford customers as well as for external customers from Australia and overseas.

The Ford Emission Lab was first established in 1972, helping Ford development engineers achieve low exhaust & evaporative emissions, maximise vehicle fuel economy and optimise performance & drivability at the lowest possible costs.

Including the new ACART facilities, the equipment in the laboratory is available for collaborative projects and includes:

1. ACART Diesel & Petrol Emissions Test Cell 2

• AVL Zoellner 48" 300kW Four Wheel Drive Dynamometer (150kW on each axle):
  • Wheelbase between 2.1m and 4.7m
  • Maximum vehicles size 2.6m tall and 2.7m wide
  • Max. load per axle is 4500kg
  • Inertia between 400kg and 5400kg
  • Including motorcycles
• Horiba EURO IV-capable emissions benches and CVS
• Horiba Particulate Dilution Tunnel & sampling unit
• Particulate weighting room with micro balance
• FEV FEVER fast Fourier Transformation Infra Red (FTIR) analyzer for 30 different emission components
• AVL 483 Micro soot sensor
• Combustion analyzer / pressure indicating system with:
  • Combustion sound prediction
  • Real time Knock analysis
  • Rotational- and torsional vibration analysis
  • Cold start functionality
• Security controlled access

2. Climatic Petrol Emissions Test Cell 3

• Temperature range between -30°C and +55°C
• AVL Zoellner 48" 300kW Four Wheel Drive Dynamometer (as above)
• Horiba EURO IV-capable emissions benches and CVS

3. Variable Temperature Chamber for Sealed Housing Emission Determination (SHED)

• Enclosure Dimensions 3m (H) x 7m (L) x 3.45m (W)
• Enclosure Volume 72.45m3
• Temperature Range 5° - 35°C

4. Support facilities

• ATI Vision data recording and powertrain calibration tool
• DiagRa MCD for On Board Diagnose and powertrain calibration
• Fuel fill , -drain and -storage facilities
• Various hoists & workshop space
• Calibration lab

5. Performance Team

• Datron DLS & Correvit sensors
• Access to Constant Speed Track

Contact
For further information on using the Ford Emission Lab node please contact:

Mr Bob Tilbury
Test Operations Manager
Product Development
Ford Australia
T: +61 3 5279 5598
M: +61 413 382 156
E: btilbury@ford.com