Audi Helps the Enviroment

Acer · #1 03-23-2008, 11:29 PM

AUDI AG satisfies the most stringent environmental directives with its new engine test centre: “The new building is equipped with a modern air conditioning system with integral heat recovery,” explains Bernd Martin, environment officer at Audi’s Neckarsulm plant. “No fuel has to be burned for heat that is recovered.” Recovered energy does not produce any combustion emissions and therefore helps to protect the environment.
Alongside heat recovery, the new engine test centre stands for another important environmental aspect that benefits the neighbouring residential area in particular: soundproofing of the new test rigs has been optimised, thus reducing noise impact considerably. Special sound absorbers for air supply and waste air systems as well as for the engines’ exhaust systems help to cut the amount of noise emitted considerably. In addition, the outer skin of the innovative building was designed specifically in accordance with soundproofing factors.
While the engine is being tested on the test rig under the toughest of conditions, it aids energy recovery in the process. “The combustion engines are braked during testing by asynchronous machines, thus generating energy,” says Bernd Martin, explaining the technical procedure, which he compares to the way a bicycle dynamo works. “A dynamo generates electrical energy through mechanical power, in much the same way as our engines do with the asynchronous machines.” The power generated in this way is fed back into the building’s power supply system where it is reused.
Safety also played an important role in the plans for the Neckarsulm engine test centre. Fuel, for example, is stored in double-walled, leakage-monitored underground tanks. The engines on the test rigs are generally operated with exhaust-gas treatment systems. In other words, petrol engines are fitted with catalytic converters, diesel engines with particulate filters.
The cooling water used to cool the engines and air-condition the building is also circulated in a closed system. Fresh water is only used to compensate for evaporation losses.
All the engine test centre’s air conditioning systems are controlled, regulated and monitored by a central control system. This enables demand-based system management and monitoring.

Beneddie1112 · #2 03-24-2008, 12:59 AM

In relation to this, Has anybody else noticed that whilst driving at a constant speed, the mileometer (the thing that tells you how many miles are left in the tank, sorry don't know the technichal name) actually goes up instead of down

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Try it and see if yours does too

, now thats economical

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hendricius · #3 03-24-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beneddie1112

In relation to this, Has anybody else noticed that whilst driving at a constant speed, the mileometer (the thing that tells you how many miles are left in the tank, sorry don't know the technichal name) actually goes up instead of down

.

Try it and see if yours does too

, now thats economical

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Yes. I have noticed the same in my A6. I have been in Italy around 2 weeks ago and even through the mountains it only used an average of 8.5 litres per /100 KM. Audis are indeed economical

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Beneddie1112 · #4 03-24-2008, 01:22 AM

We actually tried it on a track. Had a full track and did the straight at a constant 30mph (Give or take 1 mph) And the mile-o-meter went from 95-105

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hendricius · #5 03-24-2008, 01:27 AM

Wow. Now that is something good. I have been at the Audi factory and all the people looked on every detail so I am pretty sure they thought about a proper mile-o-meter.

But it could also have been that your car was not warm yet. The drainage per /100 usually sinks for around 30 minutes all the time till the engine is heated up correctly

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Beneddie1112 · #6 03-24-2008, 01:32 AM

Good point Hendricius, Wasn't done as a scientific test just as a sort of Sunday morning project

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Would love to go to the Audi factory, Been to the lotus one though as it is a ten minute drive from me

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hendricius · #7 03-24-2008, 01:49 AM

Ah. Allright. I know those projects :P. You end up with 150 mph on the streets :P.

Yes. The factory is awesome. I went there to get my 2005 A6 Avant. First they lead you through every part of the factory, not by foot - they have busses that drive you around :P. They had no aircondition in 2005 tough, but all different locations in the factories are impressive. Very impressive were the robots controling everything.

Did you know that the majority of the employees in the electronic deparment consists of women? Men have too large hands to build in the complex electronic parts.

Beneddie1112 · #8 03-24-2008, 01:52 AM

Really? I would of thought the electronics would be the part mainly done by robots?

The lotus factory doesn't quite have busses. It has shopping trollies tied together with string and the tour operator pulls you around

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