Experimental thermal analysis of cylinder block and head of a bi-fuel turbocharged engine

Abstract

The beauty and application of thermal analysis concept leads researchers to one of the main steps for thermomechanical design during engine development. The durability and output potential of such engines is strongly linked to the operating temperature of certain key components. Thus, accurate temperature predictions are an essential pre-requisite to the continuing engine evolution. From material science point of view, temperature field in engine main components like cylinder head and block is required to evaluate component functionality under specific load and conditions. Moreover, need for more power and less weight is one of the most important targets in engine design, especially in the case of alternative fuel engines. In order to look at this issue, authors zero in on wide-ranging experimental and analytical study to investigate temperature fields in cylinder head and block of a recently developed turbocharged bi-fuel engine. A bi-fuel turbocharged engine (CNG and gasoline) were equipped with more than 40 sets of thermocouples and a comprehensive thermal survey was carried out on the fired engine in the various conditions. Thermocouples were installed on different positions of the cylinder block and head to measure material temperatures. Experiments were done both in natural gas and gasoline mode to compare the results. An analytical comparison was made between natural gas and gasoline modes to understand root and effect of heat transfer differences. The presented thermal analysis could be helpful to know material requirements to design and develop turbocharged natural gas engine which is a good candidate as an alternative fuel engine.