
Rolls-Royce Power Systems has invested €40m in its MTU facility for the development of next-generation combustion engines.
As part of this development, the first new test stands in MTU’s lead site and main R&D location, Friedrichshafen, officially went into service.
The test stands will see development efforts on new combustion processes, advanced technologies for electronic regulation and control and alternative fuels such as gas.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems CEO Dr Ulrich Dohle said: "This move is making space for new developments in every sense of the word.
"Technology on the combustion engine of the future is going to be even more complex than that of its predecessors, so we have to make absolutely sure that we have the capacity to carry out tests and trials on our new products reliably and intensively."
The new test stands, which feature chilling machines, heat exchangers, steam generators and various fuel formulations, support the stimulation of a whole spectrum of engine operation scenarios.

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By GlobalDataThe measuring and analysis systems support test stand technicians and development engineers to monitor results and replicate and document them.
Features of the test will support the development of exhaust aftertreatment systems.
Dohle added: "Exhaust aftertreatment is one of our technologies for MTU engines.
"We are making a major research effort in this area because we want to develop diesel particulate filter and SCR technologies as far as we can ourselves."
Rolls-Royce established the first three test stands for testing 2,500kW engines in the first phase and constructing a gas supply network for gas engine research, which is expected to start service in mid-2016.
Image: The new facilities will support Rolls-Royce to develop next-generation combustion engines. Photo: courtesy of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG.