CFD modeling of the in-cylinder flow in direct-injection Diesel engines

Abstract

Three-dimensional flow calculations of the intake and compression stroke of a four-valve direct-injection Diesel engine have been carried out with different combustion chambers. A limited number of validation calculations of the compression stroke were first performed in order to explore the limits of CFD representation of the in-cylinder flow. The calculated flow field in three different combustion chambers was compared with laser Doppler velocimetry measurements; the comparison shows that the three-dimensional model is reasonably accurate for crank-angles around top dead center (TDC). In general, it performs better for low swirl combustion chambers while turbulence velocities are under-predicted when squish effects are important. In the main study, the flow characteristics inside the engine cylinder equipped with different piston configurations were compared. For this, complete calculations of the intake and compression strokes were performed under realistic operating conditions and the ensemble-averaged velocity and turbulence flow fields obtained in each combustion chamber analyzed in detail. The results confirmed that the piston geometry had little influence on the in-cylinder flow during the intake stroke and the first part of the compression stroke. However, the bowl shape plays a significant role near TDC and in the early stage of the expansion stroke by controlling both the ensemble-averaged mean and the turbulence velocity fields.