Florian Gutzeit receives the Johann Andreas Schubert Prize 2024 for his diploma thesis on “Cold start and cold running tests on methanol-powered gasoline engines” at the Chair of Combustion Engineering and Drive Technology.

As a synthetic fuel, methanol holds great potential for the development of climate-friendly drive technologies. One challenge when using methanol as an e-fuel is that, due to its boiling point of around 65°C, mixture formation and therefore engine starting and warming up at low temperatures is very demanding.

In his diploma thesis on “Cold starting with e-fuel methanol”, Florian Gutzeit investigated the problematic cold starting behavior of methanol engines with the help of a specially developed engine sequence control and application. As a result, it was possible to realize repeatable engine starts at temperatures as low as -20°C despite completely dispensing with energy-intensive heating measures.

The research work is part of a cooperation with OBRIST Powertrain GmbH with the aim of developing a production-ready methanol hybrid drive for Tesla vehicles. The aim here is to save both costs and weight compared to purely electric vehicles by reducing the battery capacity and utilizing the high energy density of liquid methanol.

Florian Gutzeit sees great potential in the use of e-fuels:

I find the topic of e-fuels extremely exciting and am [...] convinced that they will play a decisive role in climate-neutral mobility and energy trading in the future.

Florian Gutzeit

Mr. Gutzeit was awarded the Johann Andreas Schubert Prize in the “Best Master's and Diploma Theses” category for his research work. The award ceremony took place on August 5, 2024 at Scherdel GmbH in Marienberg in the presence of the Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and employer president Dr. Jörg Brückner.

Johann Andreas Schubert Prize

Every two years, the Johann Andreas Schubert Foundation and SACHSENMETALL jointly award the Johann Andreas Schubert Prize for outstanding academic theses with a high degree of practical relevance. Graduates from Saxon universities in the fields of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering/process and energy technology, materials science/materials technology and transport sciences are eligible to apply.

The Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences “Friedrich List” would like to congratulate Florian Gutzeit on his award and wishes him all the best for the future.

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E-Fuels

E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are produced from water and carbon dioxide (CO2) using electrical energy. Using the so-called “Power-to-X” process, e-gasoline, e-diesel or e-kerosene can be produced from electricity. With the help of renewable energy and the extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere, e-fuels can theoretically be used in conventional combustion engines in a climate-neutral way.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Frank Atzler
Holder of the Chair of Combustion Engineering and Drive Technology

Tel.: +49 351 463-37618
frank.atzler@tu-dresden.de

Chair of Combustion Engineering and Drive Technology