NEWS
TECHNOLOGYSPOTLIGHT
Advances in technology across industry
Audi launches strategic partnership with Global Bioenergies
A
udi is launching a strategic partnership with Global Bioenergies. The carmaker will work with the French biotechnology company to promote the development of non-fossil fuels. In addition to the Audi e-gas and e-diesel projects, the research into e-gasoline is part of Audi’s persistent efforts to find alternative fuels. Reiner Mangold, Head of Sustainable Product Development at AUDI AG: “We’re taking another step closer to carbon-neutral mobility with our partners at Global Bioenergies. We are supporting an innovative technology here which can be
Surface Generation technologies for lightweight automotive components
used to produce renewable fuel. This process does not create competition with food production and farmland.” e-gasoline is part of the overall Audi e-fuels strategy. Audi is already operating a research facility for the production of e-ethanol and e-diesel with its partner Joule in Hobbs, New Mexico. The Audi e-gas plant in Werlte began feeding into the grid a few months ago. Synthetically produced gas is used here to store electric surplus energy. Visit: www.audi.de
Making rail tunnels safer
S
urface Generation, a provider of advanced composite processing technologies, has announced that WMG at the University of Warwick has adopted its advanced composite processing technologies to develop new manufacturing techniques for lightweight, carbon fibre reinforced vehicle body architectures. PtFS encompasses a range of active thermal management technologies that uniquely allow manufacturers to continuously adapt heating and cooling levels in real-time during part production. These are crucial parameters for successfully manufacturing of carbon fibre parts, assuring quality and maximising productivity. Geraint Williams, project manager at WMG, comments: “Surface Generation’s technologies deliver a real step change for automotive thermoplastic components. The PtFS process is quicker and more efficient than traditional approaches and unlocks a significant market opportunity for affordable, lightweight carbonfibre reinforced components for vehicles at the top end of the high volume automotive market.” Visit: www.surface-generation.com
20 Industry Europe
R
esearchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València in collaboration with EIGE – the Valencian Government’s Infrastructure Office – and a business consortium have developed an advanced emergency management system to act in case of fire in a railway tunnel and facilitate the evacuation of passengers and staff. The first subsystem developed detects the existence and location of fire throughout the length of the tunnel. Once detected, the system sends the corresponding commands to the anti-spread, ventilation and information subsystems to ensure a safe evacuation. The anti-propagation subsystem activates the unfolding of flameproof fabric on either side of the fire to prevent it from spreading, whilst leaving an opening in the top to allow a controlled expulsion of the smoke from the upper layers and avoid it mixing with the clean air from the lower layers. At this point, according to the researchers, the ventilation subsystem is essential in order to let out the smoke. “This system is designed to expel it as fast as possible so as to prevent it from cooling and mixing with clean air,” said Teresa Real, researcher at the Institute of Transport and Territory – Universitat Politècnica de València. Finally, the information subsystem consists of variable message signs that indicate the fastest and safest evacuation route. For further information, please contact comunicacion@ruvid.org
