PhD student to reduce fossil fuel use

To strengthen our technology development, Innovatum Science Park has hired PhD student Wellington Uczak de Goes, who will work to increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The initiative is part of Smart Industry Sweden, an entrepreneurial research school started by, among others, University West with a focus on smart industry. Development of our internal combustion engines is necessary because few fuel alternatives can compare with our fossil fuels in terms of energy content. Increased combustion efficiency in engines is therefore a prerequisite for reducing the amount of fossil fuels.

Wellington will develop coatings that improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines for both fossil and fossil-free fuels. Thermal barrier coatings are currently used in the gas turbine industry but have not yet been commercially applied in the automotive industry to increase the efficiency of vehicle internal combustion engines.

The initiative will also benefit the manufacturing industry and is linked to University West's ongoing research in the area.

- We see that Wellington's work can contribute to more efficient combustion engines, which is important from an environmental point of view, regardless of fuel," says Victor Blom, project manager at Innovatum Science Park, who will act as supervisor for Wellington. "Hiring Wellington will give us access to an expert in surface coatings that we can consult on other, similar issues. The investment also gives University West the opportunity to continue research in the area, which we see as very positive for our collaboration in industrial technology.