Selective Laser Melting for Engines (SLaME)

The SLaME (Selective Laser Manufacture for Engines) project is designed to exploit the 3-D design freedoms enabled by Selective Laser Melting, a metal powder bed fusion version of Additive Manufacture, in developing SLM components for new lightweight, ultra efficient engines for vehicles, with the aim of contributing to step-change reductions in CO2 emissions. The outputs will include microturbines with SLM components for range extenders for electric vehicles and for Exhaust Energy Recovery engines to convert high temperature e waste exhaust heat from the vehicle's main internal combustion engine to electrical or extra shaft power; a "scroll" engine with SLM components, based on mass produced scroll compressor technology, to act as an Exhaust Energy Recovery Engine for lower temperature exhaust heat up to 400C; and SLM components for internal combustion engines designed to improved cooling and air flow, leading to higher efficiencies.