Course detail
Powertrains
FSI-ESM Acad. year: 2025/2026 Summer semester
This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of the theory and design of power units that convert energy from hydrocarbon fuels, alternative fuels, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and electricity.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
4
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
The student needs to have knowledge appropriate courses of theoretical basics of bachelor study programme at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Brno
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
To pass the course, active participation in tutorials, proper elaboration of assignments, and successful completion of any potential control tests are required. The exam verifies knowledge acquired both in lectures and tutorials. It is a written exam including an e-learning test and may include an oral part to verify knowledge after the written part. Attendance of tutorials is mandatory and is monitored by the teacher. The form of making up for missed tutorials due to serious reasons and in exceptional cases is handled individually with the course coordinator.
Aims
The aim is to provide knowledge for practical and experimental activities in the field of power units, particularly for motor vehicles and construction machinery.
Students acquire individual concepts from the theory of power units and familiarize themselves with their construction.
Study aids
Complete and up-to-date lecture notes, study materials, and exercise handouts are available for this course in the school's E-learning system.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-STR-P: Engineering, Bachelor's
specialization SSZ: Machine and Equipment Construction, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
39 hours, optionally
Syllabus
1. History of development and classification of power units.
2. Measurement of performance parameters of power units.
3. Characteristics, torque, power, efficiency.
4. Theory of thermodynamic cycles.
5. Fuels for internal combustion engines and emissions of internal combustion engines.
6. Electric drives, alternative drives, and batteries.
7. Fundamentals of electric motor design.
8. Fundamentals of internal combustion engine design and piston group components.
9. Cylinder head and valve train of piston internal combustion engines.
10. Fuel systems of spark ignition and compression ignition internal combustion engines.
11. Cooling of power units.
12. Lubrication of power units.
13. Fundamentals of power unit control, sensors, and actuators of electronic control systems.
Laboratory exercise
13 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
1. Testing of power units, types and standardization of tests.
2. Construction of test benches for power unit testing. Measurement techniques.
3. External speed characteristic of a vehicle engine.
4. Mechanical and volumetric efficiency of an internal combustion engine.
5. Measurement of emissions from an internal combustion engine.
6. Measurement of electric drives.
7. On board diagnostics of power units and vehicles.
8. Construction of electric motors.
9. Construction elements of piston internal combustion engines. Piston assembly, connecting rod, crankshaft.
10. Engine block, cylinder, cylinder head
11. Cooling and lubrication systems of power units.
12. Demonstration of the design of sensors and components of the fuel system of diesel and gasoline engines.
13. Turbocharging of diesel and gasoline engines.