Fuel Science Center – FSC
Since the beginning of 2012, the Fuel Science Center (FSC) is located in Schinkelstraße 8 in Aachen, which is the core area of RWTH Aachen University. The improvement of the institutional structures of the Cluster of Excellence “TThe Fuel Science Center“ as well as the requirement to create a sustainable, jointly used research center was essential for the founding of FSC. With its structure and orientation, the FSC can be assigned to the profile areas “Mobility & Transport Engineering“ (MTE), “Energy, Chemical & Process Engineering" (ECPE) and “Molecular Science & Engineering“ (MSE).
The FSC offers more than 1000 m2 of laboratory area, among others facilities for detailed investigations of novel fuels under real combustion conditions. In addition to the expansion of the already existing chemistry laboratory, for example a high pressure chamber to visualize injection processes, two single cylinder research engines for thermodynamical examinations and to optical engines were installed.
The “Rapid Compression Machine“ (RCM) and the shock tube are operated by the junior research group “Physico-Chemical Fundamentals Of Combustion“ (PCFC) under direction of Professor Alexander Heufer. In addition to the employees of PCFC, the research group “Model-Based Fuel Design“ (MBFD) of Junior Professor Kai Leonhard is located at FSC, as it offers more than 600 m2 of office area. The FSC does not only house these two junior professorships founded by the Cluster of Excellence: the Cluster office and the speaker of the Cluster are also located at the FSC.
Furthermore, the program coordinators of “Power-to-fuel“ (P2F) and the “Center for Automotive Catalytic Systems Aachen“ (ACA) work at FSC. Both project houses are closely related to the topics of the Cluster of Excellence.
Hence, the FSC offers facilities for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work groups as well as guest scientists. Therefore, it essentially contributes to a continuation of the Cluster of Excellence “Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources“ as well as to a structural development of RWTH Aachen University.
Acknowledgement
The Fuel Science Center (FSC) is funded by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat, WR) and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft ( DFG).