Analytical Engineering, Inc.

Altitude Testing
Super Cell simulates all of the conditions encountered on a mountain road in Colorado, with one major exception. Repeatable test cycles can be easily achieved in the test cell...Read More>

Cold Start Testing
Two of the twelve engine test cells at AEI are dedicated to Cold Start Engine Testing. Test cell temperature can be maintained down to -40°F. Continuous data acquisition includes... Read More>

Engine Dyno Testing
The AEI facility, which includes ten engine dynamometer test cells, is uniquely designed to provide a research and development environment in support of a breadth of diesel engine and/or vehicle development programs. Read More>

Rig Testing

Certain engine components can be more cost effectively and quickly tested utilizing a custom designed rig that simulates the engine operating environment to which that particular part is subjected. Temperatures, pressures, flowrates, and vibration conditions can be mimicked while simultaneously testing more than one part. While this does not provide exact engine conditions, the critical development parameters can be simulated in a test stand.

AEI has designed, built, and installed a variety of test stands for component development and evaluation. These testing rigs are operated and monitored according to test plans cooperatively developed with the customers. Generally, between 1000 to 2500 cycles per day can be achieved with a test stand, depending on the test criteria.

Thermostats

A thermostat is a good example of a component that may be cyclically tested without the need for installation in an engine. Many thermostats can be simultaneously tested with a custom designed test stand, at a cost significantly less than an equivalent engine test. AEI has designed and constructed a dedicated test rig for coolant thermostats. This test stand has be utilized several times to validate new suppliers or design changes by thermally cycling five thermostats through at least thirty thousand repetitions, while stopping the test to check for length of stroke at a pre-determined number of cycles throughout the validation process. In this instance, a cycle is defined as fully opening the thermostat with 220°F fluid, then decreasing the fluid temperature to 160°F to close the thermostat.

EGR Coolers

AEI designed and built a test stand that simultaneously tests four EGR coolers. These coolers were subjected to temperature extremes on the exhaust gas and coolant sides, simulating thermal expansion, contraction, and pressures. The coolant and gas flow rate could be modulated to achieve different heat transfer scenarios. This test stand has been utilized to test EGR coolers up to 50,000 thermal cycles. Temperature, pressure, and flow rate information was recorded at one hertz so that the performance could be tracked over time.