TSU Substitutes Import Equipment for an AVTOVAZ Supplier

The rig, developed at TSU, is an automated system that simulates the operating conditions of a fuel tank when refueling a real vehicle, collecting statistics on all necessary parameters.

"Essentially, it's a mini-gas station that allows for safe and controlled refueling of a test tank with gasoline in a laboratory setting and a comprehensive study of its characteristics," explained Andrey Afanasyev, the project's author and engineer at the TSU Research and Educational Center for Energy-Efficient and Low-Emission Internal Combustion Engines and Thermal Installations. "The rig allows us to evaluate the fuel tank's performance under various vehicle operating conditions and also check the product's compliance with environmental safety requirements."

DIPO LLC is a manufacturer of fuel systems for Euro-6 emission standard vehicles and a supplier of fuel tanks for AVTOVAZ and AGR, as well as previously for Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Ford, and Hyundai in Russia. The company was founded in 2012 as a joint venture between France's Plastic Omnium and Russia's DSK.

In 2022, DIPO LLC ceased receiving support for testing its products in Europe and focused on extensive localization, including that critical for the effective development of its testing facilities.

Company representatives emphasized that this is the first and only testing facility in Russia, which will significantly improve the quality of products being developed, as well as reduce the time and cost of developing new products.

"We already have experience collaborating with Tomsk State University: they have excellent facilities and excellent specialists who have previously conducted research for our company. Furthermore, some of our employees are pursuing master's degrees at the university," notes Sergey Kolchugin, technical expert at DIPO LLC. "Now, thanks to our collaboration with Tomsk State University, we have a unique tool for quality control of our products. The new facility is a shining example of how science can effectively address the challenges of the real economy."

The work was carried out as part of the Priority 2030 program (the Youth and Children national project). This unique testing equipment will enable cutting-edge research in polymer materials and fuel systems, contributing to the development of the Russian automotive industry and ensuring the country's technological sovereignty.