In-cylinder flow evolution in the horizontal plane of a motoring compression ignition engine

Abstract

This study used the two-dimensional particle image velocimetry technique to quantify the in-cylinder horizontal plane velocity field evolution in a swirl-supported light-duty single-cylinder diesel engine. The data were acquired at a constant engine speed of 1600 revolutions per minute. For each case, the distance of the laser sheet from the fire deck was varied (z = 5, 10, and 20 mm) to investigate the axial variations in the flow field during the flow evolution in the compression stroke. A vortex identification algorithm was used to detect the swirl center and its deviation from the rigid body rotation. A Bessel fit was obtained using the experimental data. The result revealed that the in-cylinder flow was not axisymmetric. The swirl center approached the geometrical center as the piston approached the top dead center. The flow evolved at the farthest plane from the fire deck. The axial diffusion of angular momentum resulted in the formation of the swirl flow structure in the plane closer to the fire deck. Angular momentum analysis of a simplified geometry has been presented to explain the swirl amplification. The estimated results were compared with the experimental results to show the momentum stratification in the engine cylinder later in the compression stroke.