Large-Eddy Simulation Analysis of Flow and Combustion in a Pre-Chamber Ignited Gasoline Engine

Abstract

ABSTRACT Multi-cycle large eddy simulations were conducted to resolve the turbulent flow field spatially and temporally in a pre-chamber ignited gasoline engine. The numerical models were validated by comparing with both the passive and active pre-chamber experimental data. Correlation analysis results of the two pressure peaks during combustion inside the pre-chamber showed that the combustion inside the pre-chamber directly influences the timing and strength of the turbulent jets, which would ignite the mixture inside the main chamber. Then, the flow field evolution and fuel/air mixture formation inside both the main chamber and pre-chamber during intake and compression strokes were investigated numerically. Results of the passive pre-chamber showed that mixture distribution near the orifices during the compression stroke affects the averaged lambda of the gas inside the pre-chamber. By using the orifices with a tilted orientation, the fuel inside the pre-chamber could be stratified. When the mixture near electrodes is rich, the development of ignition kernel and the consequent flame propagation would benefit. In the case of active pre-chamber, although the lambda distribution patterns of mixture before the spark plug ignition are similar between different cycles, the magnitude of velocity would affect the early flame propagation inside the pre-chamber.