Three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics Research Articles

Multiscale CFD Simulation of Multiphase Erosion Process in a Connecting Pipe of Industrial Polycrystalline Silicon Unit

Severe erosion phenomena often occur in industrial polycrystalline silicon units, leading to hydrogen leakage accidents and affecting long-term operation. It is favorable to use a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation with the dense discrete phase model (DDPM) and the sub-grid energy-minimization multi-scale (EMMS) drag model to improve the prediction accuracy of complex multiphase erosion phenomena in a connecting pipe of an industrial polycrystalline silicon unit. Furthermore, the effect of droplet the specularity coefficient on boundary conditions is thoroughly considered. The predicted erosion behaviors are consistent with industrial data. The effects of operations parameters were discussed with three-dimensional CFD simulation, including droplet size and hydrogen volume fraction on erosion behaviors. The results indicated that the non-uniform multiphase erosion flow behavior near the wall can be simulated accurately with the EMMS drag model in a coarse mesh. A suitable droplet specularity coefficient such as 0.5 can also improve the accuracy of erosion position. Small liquid droplets, such as those of 30 μm size, will follow the gas phase better and have a lower erosion rate. The inertia effect of large droplets, such as those of 150 μm size, plays a dominant role, resulting in obvious erosion on the elbow walls. The erosion range and thinning rate enlarge with the increase in hydrogen volume fraction. A few silicon solid particles, such as 0.01% volume fraction, change local flow behaviors and probably cause the variation of local erosion positions. The process of erosion deformation first circumferentially extended and then accelerated at the local center position deeper.

Computational investigation of methanol pre-chamber combustion in a heavy-duty engine

This work explored the potential of methanol pre-chamber combustion (PCC) for heavy-duty engine applications. An optical engine experiment was conducted to visualize the jet flame development. The measured pressure traces and natural flame luminosity images were also used for the validation of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. It was demonstrated that the main chamber (MC) combustion was successfully established by the reactive jet issued from the pre-chamber. Compared to methane PCC in our previous study, the distributed reacting jets were significantly thinner, in particular at the learner condition. The active PCC mode, which comprises enrichment of the mixture in the pre-chamber (PC) by means of direct methane injection, was effective in improving the engine performance. However, excessive PC fueling ratio (PCFR) resulted in lower thermal efficiency due to the higher wall heat transfer and combustion losses. In addition, the effects of various PC and piston geometries on the methanol/methane PC combustion were evaluated. The combination of an optimized PC and a flat piston yielded the highest thermal efficiency owing to the relatively lower combustion and wall heat transfer losses. At engine loads higher than 12.5 bar indicated mean effective pressure, exhaust gas recirculation must be implemented to avoid end-gas autoignition and reduce nitric oxides (NOx) emissions. As expected, the increase in (CR) further promoted engine work because of the higher expansion ratio. With CR of 13 and 14, higher thermal efficiency and lower NOx emission were simultaneously achieved under both intermediate and high loads when the engine was operating at the pure methanol PC combustion mode.

Research on Internal Flow Field Characteristics of Straight-Groove Texture Using Three-Dimensional Modeling

Surface texture modification is a reasonable strategy for improving the tribological property of friction pairs. The internal flow behavior of the surface texture significantly impacts its performance. In this study, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is constructed to explore the internal flow behavior of the straight-groove texture in the thrust bearing. The influences of the Reynolds number, depth ratio, and area ratio of the straight-groove texture on the internal flow behavior are systematically investigated. Furthermore, the streamline and tribological performance parameters are checked to reveal the mechanism of the groove texture influencing the tribological properties. It is found that the vortex and cavitation significantly affect the tribological performance of textured surfaces under hydrodynamic lubrication. The cavitation and upstream vortex areas increase with the Reynolds number, while the downstream vortex area shows a reverse trend. The increase in depth ratio strengthens the upstream and downstream vortexes while reducing the cavitation area. Additionally, a method is proposed to determine the location of the cavitation within the groove texture. Certain operating conditions create the optimal texture depth ratio and area ratio, which could maximize the load-carrying capacity (LCC) of the oil film, and the friction coefficient is relatively small.

Dynamics and performance evaluation of wind-induced vibration of a cuboid bluff body with two ornaments

The geometric design of the bluff body has a decisive effect on the wind-induced vibration energy harvesting performance. Aiming to enhance the properties of the wind-induced vibration energy harvester at the low-speed wind, we presented a wind-induced vibration energy harvester with two symmetrical additional ornaments, and the effects of installation location and size of ornaments on a cuboid bluff body are comprehensively studied. A distributed parameter model is developed based on the Euler-Lagrange equation. Corresponding numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests are implemented to evaluate the dynamics and performance of wind-induced vibration. The results show that the wind-induced vibration energy harvesters with various bluff bodies may exhibit galloping or vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) based on the position of ornaments and h/DB (h is the height of the ornament and DB is the diameter of the cuboid bluff body. For both Square-Front-h/DB (S–F-h/DB) and Square-Middle-h/DB (S-M-h/DB), the aeroelastic energy harvesting performance and the root-mean-square output voltage (Vrms) are improved in the low-speed wind. Compared with the cuboid bluff body, the critical wind speed (the smallest wind speed for triggering vibration) of S-M-0.25 is reduced by 18.18%, and the maximum voltage output reaches 10.89 V, which is increased by 105.72%. Afterwards, the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D-CFD) studies are conducted by Xflow to investigate the inherent physical mechanism of performance improvement. The results of vorticity vectors and vorticity contours verify the experimental results and reveal the insight mechanism of aerodynamic change. This work could provide a theoretical basis for optimizing wind-induced vibration energy harvesters and improving the performance of aeroelastic energy harvesting.

Modeling local interfacial area concentration for adiabatic and boiling bubbly flows

Bubbly flows appear in various heat and mass transfer systems, and interfacial area concentration (IAC) is a critical geometrical parameter for the flows. The fidelity of accurately computed IACs is essential for reliable three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics analyses of bubbly flows because the IACs directly affect the interfacial force and interfacial heat and mass transfer rates. This study targeted development of a simple and robust model for predicting the local IAC under steady-state bubbly flows with and without phase change. The dependent two-phase flow parameters of the IAC were derived by considering bubble coalescence and breakup rates. The IAC transport equation simplified under steady-state conditions was used for this purpose. A simplified turbulence model was introduced to formulate the energy dissipation rate per unit mass necessary for computing the bubble coalescence and breakup rates. The prediction accuracy of the local IAC model for bubbly flow conditions with area-average void fraction values less than 10 % was estimated to be 20 % based on 803 local data collected for adiabatic air–water bubbly flows in round tubes with diameters ranging from 9.0 to 200 mm. The model was also applied to predict the local IAC data of subcooled boiling flows in heated channels with hydraulic diameters ranging from 18.5 to 22.2 mm. The test conditions covered pressures from 0.1 to 1.46 MPa. The model prediction accuracy for bubbly flow conditions with area-average void fraction values less than 10 % was estimated to be 40 % based on 155 subcooled boiling flow data.

Acoustic behaviour of micro-perforated panel backed by shallow cavity under fully developed grazing flow

This paper presents numerical and experimental investigations into the acoustic behaviour of a micro-perforated panel (MPP) backed by a shallow cavity under a fully developed grazing flow. A three-dimensional time-domain computational fluid dynamics approach is applied alongside hybrid evaluation methods to accurately capture the acoustic behaviour variations of an MPP orifice, considering the interaction of flow dynamics and the acoustics in the orifice and cavity. Meanwhile, a hybrid Rayleigh's end correction model for T-shaped resonators is utilized to calculate the acoustic reactance of a very shallow cavity. The numerical results show that the vertical shear layer is observed alongside the hole and cavity and impinges the bottom of shallow cavity. Subsequently it alters acoustic and flow interaction significantly that leads to variation of acoustic behaviour of orifice. In this regard, an acoustic impedance model of an orifice backing with shallow cavity at grazing flow is established. The proposed acoustic impedance model of orifice has been validated by experimental study. The transmission loss predictions for a compact MPP absorber with single or double cavities agree well with the experimental results for the grazing flow condition. The practical significance of this study is that it elucidates the influence of cavities upon the acoustic behaviour of MPPs in the presence of grazing flow; furthermore, it proposes an impedance model that is more suitable for predicting the acoustic performance of booming compact meta-structures.

Full three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation and optimization of a swirling jet-induced cavitation reactor

Hydrodynamic cavitation is an efficient method in terms of energy consumption that can be used to intensify the pollutant degradation processes in wastewater treatment. Among various kinds of cavitation reactors, a swirling jet-induced cavitation reactor that has been less studied was investigated in detail for the first time in this work. Recently, researchers have focused more on investigating the parameters that affect the process and control its intensity. In the present work, the efficacy of the operating pressure on the performance of the cavitating device was investigated by calculating the cavitational efficacy ratio (CER) using full three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. Also, preliminary studies were carried out for the first time to optimize the curvature correction coefficient of the shear stress transport k–ω viscous model to sensitize it to streamline curvature to obtain convergence and stability of the simulations. The optimum operating pressure was found by solving the cavity dynamics equations and calculating the CER parameter. The Rayleigh–Plesset cavity dynamics equation was applied to the cavity trajectory obtained from solving the discrete phase model to track the cavity radius and inside pressure variations. Finally, the validation of the simulation and estimated optimum operating pressure were done by the experimental data reported in the literature that there was reasonable agreement between them.

Improving Thermal Performance of Rectangular Microchannel Heat Sinks using Porous Layer: CFD Simulation and Optimization

Microchannel heat sinks are very widely used due to their high heat transfer coefficients and low refrigerant requirements. Nevertheless, microchannel heat sinks still perform sub-optimally when it comes to thermal performance. Therefore, this paper investigates the individual and combined impacts of different characteristics of porous media on the thermal performance of microchannel. Four porosity values are considered: 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, and 0.95. The evaluation is based on three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations. Due to the large number of degrees of freedom in this study, Constructal Theory and Design of Experiments are employed. In this study, the response surface type is Genetic Aggregation, while the Latin Hypercube Sampling algorithm is used for data sampling and Genetic algorithm is used for optimization. Combining porous layers with microchannel heat sinks reduces maximum temperatures about 3K. It is also observed that a lower maximum surface temperature is achieved in the cases with less porosity. Furthermore, the optimal geometry and size of the microchannels with porous layers are determined.

Experimental and numerical modelling of scour at vertical wall abutment under combined wave-current flow in low KC regime

The present study investigates the scour at vertical-wall abutments under a strong current-dominated combined wave-current and current-only environment using experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. The CFD modelling is performed using an open-source three-phase numerical model (REEF3D), which solves Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations with k-ω turbulence closure. The CFD model is first validated using the experiments and then used for further investigation. The Exner equation was used to compute alterations in bed elevation, while the Level-Set method recorded the free surface and bed topography in a realistic manner. The experimental findings demonstrate that the initial phase of scour development is more rapid under combined wave-current flow, but the equilibrium scour depth is higher in current-only conditions. The increase in Keulegan Carpenter (KC) number increases the scour depth at vertical-wall abutments for a specific relative flow velocity (Ucw). In contrast, a mild increase in vertical-wall abutment scour depth is observed with an increase in Ucw. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first of a kind of experimental and three-dimensional CFD study that estimates abutment scour under strong current-dominated combined wave-current flow.

Predicting particle deposition using a simplified 8-path in silico human lung prototype

Understanding particle deposition in the human lung is crucial for the assessment of environmental pollutants and the design of new drug delivery systems. Traditionally, research has been carried out by experimental analysis, but this generally requires expensive equipment and exposure of volunteers to radiation, resulting in limited data. To overcome these drawbacks, there is an emphasis on the development of numerical models capable of accurate predictive analysis. The most advanced of these computer simulations are based on three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics. Solving the flow equations in a complete, fully resolved lung airway model is currently not feasible due to the computational resources required. In the present work, a simplified lung model is presented and validated for accurate prediction of particle deposition. Simulations are performed for an 8-path approximation to a full lung airway model. A novel boundary condition method is used to ensure accurate results in truncated flow branches. Simulations are performed at a steady inhalation flow rate of 18 l min−1, corresponding to a low activity breathing rate, while the effects of particle size and density are investigated. Comparison of the simulation results with available experimental data shows that reasonably accurate results can be obtained at a small fraction of the cost of a full airway model. The simulations clearly evaluate the effect of both particle size and particle density. Most importantly, the results show an improvement over a previously documented single-path model, both in terms of accuracy and the ability to obtain regional deposition rates. The present model represents an improvement over previously used simplified models, including single-path models. The multi-path reduced airway approach described can be used by researchers for general and patient-specific analyses of particle deposition and for the design of effective drug delivery systems.

Effects of High Rotational Speed on Leakage and Windage Heating of Staggered Labyrinth Seals With Smooth and Honeycomb Lands

Abstract Being an important component of aero-engines, the labyrinth seal has always been the focus of research for leakage characteristics. Rotation is usually neglected or taken for minimal effect on seal leakage in previous studies. However, the effect of high rotational speed is inevitable to understand the leakage characteristics of labyrinth seal accurately. Meanwhile, due to high rotational speed, viscous heat is generated massively to result in the rapid temperature rise of leakage flow. Also, the influence of rotational speed on windage heating inside the seal clearance has not been indicated completely. Therefore, the leakage and windage heating of staggered labyrinth seals with smooth and honeycomb lands were experimentally and numerically studied. The large-scale and multifunctional sealing test rig were employed to carry out the experiments with rotational speed 12,000 rpm and pressure ratio range 1.1–2.2. The simulation data obtained by three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics methodology show great agreement with experimental results. Notably, the leakage coefficient is not monotonically decreasing with increased rotational speed, but exists a maximum peak at RPM = 8000. The variation of axial kinetic energy in seal clearance entrances provides a clear explanation of the phenomenon. Rotational speed plays an important role in windage heating, and honeycomb cell size is of secondary importance. Based on simulation data, the calculating formula of windage heating is fitted and shows great performance. This study can provide theory and data support for the follow-up structural optimum design of the labyrinth seal.

Effect of ventilation strategy on performance of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system in a learning environment

Upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system is recently in the limelight as a potentially effective method to mitigate the risk of airborne virus infection in indoor environments. However, few studies quantitatively evaluated the relationship between ventilation effectiveness and virus disinfection performance of a UVGI system. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of ventilation strategy on detailed airflow distributions and UVGI disinfection performance in an occupied classroom. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed for representative cooling, heating, and ventilation scenarios. The results show that when the ventilation rate is 1.1 h−1 (the minimum ventilation rate based on ASHRAE 62.1), enhancing indoor air circulation with the mixing fan notably improves the UVGI disinfection performance, especially for cooling with displacement ventilation and all-air-heating conditions. However, increasing indoor air mixing yields negligible effect on the disinfection performance for forced-convection cooling condition. The results also reveal that regardless of indoor thermal condition, disinfection effectiveness of a UVGI system increases as ventilation effectiveness is close to unity. Moreover, when the room average air speed is >0.1 m/s, upper-room UVGI system could yield about 90% disinfection effect for the aerosol size of 1 μm–10 μm. The findings of this study imply that upper-room UVGI systems in indoor environments (i.e., classrooms, hospitals) should be designed considering ventilation strategy and occupancy conditions, especially for occupied buildings with insufficient air mixing throughout the space.

A novel thermal management system design based on variable contact area to maintain uniform temperature in Li-ion battery module

A battery thermal management system (BTMS) aims to control battery temperature and maintain thermal uniformity in a battery module to avoid thermal degradation of the battery and thermal runaway. Hence, it is indispensable for an electric vehicle's safe and efficient operation. The present study proposes a novel variable contact area relationship for designing a liquid-cooled BTMS. The contact area between the battery and the coolant is increased along the flow direction to ensure almost identical heat removal from each battery to maintain a uniform temperature across the battery module at extreme operating conditions. A battery module containing twenty-four 18650 Lithium-ion batteries is considered. The heat generated in the batteries is removed using the coolant (water). A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the battery module is developed and validated. Multiple geometric iterations are performed using the proposed relationship to obtain the contact area between each battery and aluminum block. The ensuing variable contact area geometry achieves significant reductions of 73.9 % and 72.5 % in the maximum temperature difference ∆Tmax of the battery module compared to the constant contact area geometries. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the maximum temperature (Tmax) within the battery module is also observed. The variable contact area geometry is 57.2 % lighter than the maximum constant contact area geometry and performs significantly better. The influence of the coolant flow rate, the contact angle between the battery and aluminum block, and the heat generation rate of the battery on Tmax and ∆Tmax are also explored.

Numerical Simulation of Hole Cleaning of a Horizontal Wellbore Model with Breakout Enlargement Section

Horizontal wells are more likely than vertical wells to have enlarged wellbore sections due to borehole instability. However, there is scarce research on borehole cleaning of horizontal wells with enlarged wellbore sections. In this paper, we establish a horizontal wellbore model with a breakout enlargement section using field borehole diameter data. We used the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method and the Realizable k-ε turbulence model with the Euler–Euler approach to simulate the effects of the drilling fluid circulation return speed and the spinning speed of the drill pipe on the cutting movement of conventional horizontal wells and horizontal wells with a breakout enlargement section. The simulation results demonstrate that increasing the drilling fluid circulation return speed and the spinning speed of the drill pipe does not significantly improve the hole cleaning impact for horizontal wells with a breakout enlargement section. We analyzed the effects of the enlargement ratio, ellipticity, and principal axis orientation on the borehole cleaning effect of horizontal wells with a breakout enlargement section. The results show that the cleaning impact is better when the enlargement ratio is lower; moreover, the ellipticity is larger and the principal axis orientation is perpendicular to the gravity direction. This paper fills a gap in the existing theory of hole cleaning in horizontal wells and provides a theoretical basis for improving the hole cleaning effect in actual drilling processes.

Validation of a biomass conversion mechanism by Eulerian modelling of a fixed-bed system under low primary air conditions

This work presents a three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics study of a small-scale biomass combustion system operating with low primary air ratios. The Eulerian Biomass Thermal Conversion Model (EBiTCoM) was adapted to incorporate a pyrolysis mechanism based on the detailed Ranzi-Anca-Couce (RAC) scheme. Two scenarios were simulated using woodchips with 8% and 30% moisture content, and the results were validated against experimental data, including in-flame and bed measurements. The model accurately predicted bed temperature profiles and the influence of fuel moisture content on the pyrolysis and drying fronts, as well as on the distribution of volatiles and temperatures above the solid fuel bed. For the 8% moisture content case, the average gas temperature above the bed is approximately 700 °C, while for the 30% case, it drops to around 400 °C. The lower temperatures hinder the tar cracking reaction, resulting in a 25% higher tar content in the producer gas for the 30% moisture content fuel. The lower part of the bed consists of a thick layer of char undergoing reduction reactions, similar to that of an updraft gasifier. The developed model can accurately simulate biomass combustion systems with solid fuel beds consisting of numerous particles, while maintaining low computational requirements.

Raptorial appendages of the Cambrian apex predator Anomalocaris canadensis are built for soft prey and speed.

The stem-group euarthropod Anomalocaris canadensis is one of the largest Cambrian animals and is often considered the quintessential apex predator of its time. This radiodont is commonly interpreted as a demersal hunter, responsible for inflicting injuries seen in benthic trilobites. However, controversy surrounds the ability of A. canadensis to use its spinose frontal appendages to masticate or even manipulate biomineralized prey. Here, we apply a new integrative computational approach, combining three-dimensional digital modelling, kinematics, finite-element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to rigorously analyse an A. canadensis feeding appendage and test its morphofunctional limits. These models corroborate a raptorial function, but expose inconsistencies with a capacity for durophagy. In particular, FEA results show that certain parts of the appendage would have experienced high degrees of plastic deformation, especially at the endites, the points of impact with prey. The CFD results demonstrate that outstretched appendages produced low drag and hence represented the optimal orientation for speed, permitting acceleration bursts to capture prey. These data, when combined with evidence regarding the functional morphology of its oral cone, eyes, body flaps and tail fan, suggest that A. canadensis was an agile nektonic predator that fed on soft-bodied animals swimming in a well-lit water column above the benthos. The lifestyle of A. canadensis and that of other radiodonts, including plausible durophages, suggests that niche partitioning across this clade influenced the dynamics of Cambrian food webs, impacting on a diverse array of organisms at different sizes, tiers and trophic levels.

Enhanced energy extraction in small-scale wind turbines through slot-based passive blowing

The increasing demand for sustainable energy has spurred research and development of wind turbines. In this study, a passive flow-control technique using a non-uniform curved slot is proposed. The slot is engraved on the mid-chord region of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Phase VI wind turbine blade, between the quarter-span and tip radial stations. The impact of slot-induced flow control is investigated using three-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling across a range of wind speeds, including pre-stall and deep-stall conditions. Aerodynamic analyses are performed to ascertain the influence of slot-flow on the complex three-dimensional flow dynamics around the blade. The slotted blade demonstrates significant improvements in low-speed shaft torque and power compared to the baseline blade. Additionally, the slotted blade experiences increment in the inherent thrust and flapwise bending moments. Detailed wake flow field and surface flow visualization indicate that the slot promotes a more streamlined attached flow across the blade span, delaying flow transition and suppressing turbulence on the blade surface and downstream wake. The slot-flow also reduces radial flow and tip-vorticity anomalies along the blade. Overall, flow control enhancement achieved by the slotted blade significantly boosts the annual energy production of the wind turbine.

Numerical Study of the Local Scouring Process and Influencing Factors of Semi-Exposed Submarine Cables

Local scouring might result in the spanning of submarine cables, endangering their mechanical and electrical properties. In this contribution, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation model is developed using FLOW-3D, and the scouring process of semi-exposed submarine cables is investigated. The effects of the sediment critical Shields number, sediment density, and ocean current velocity on local scouring are discussed, and variation rules for the submarine cables’ spanning time are provided. The results indicate that three scouring holes are formed around the submarine cables. The location of the bottom of the holes corresponds to that of the maximum shear velocity. The continuous development of scouring holes at the wake position leads to the spanning of the submarine cables. The increase in the sediment’s critical Shields number and sediment density, as well as the decrease in the ocean current velocity, will extend the time for maintaining the stability of the upstream scouring hole and retard the development velocity of the wake position and downstream scouring holes. The spanning time has a cubic relationship with the sediment’s critical Shields number, a linear relationship with the sediment density, and an exponential relationship with the ocean current velocity. In this paper, the local scouring process of semi-exposed submarine cables is studied, which provides a theoretical basis for the operation and maintenance of submarine cables.

Effects of injection pressure and timing on low load low temperature gasoline combustion using LES

Low Temperature Gasoline Combustion is a novel combustion strategy that employs the use of a fuel like gasoline whose autoignition characteristics are sensitive to varying concentrations of fuel. It has the potential to dramatically reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and soot emissions relative to conventional combustion modes with similar thermal efficiency and has the added production benefit of using a widely available fuel. To address efficiency at low loads, a single direct injection (S-DI) is used that stratifies the fuel enough to get sufficient combustion performance. But with the increased fuel stratification, there is the potential to create undesirable fuel distributions that could increase harmful NOx emissions. This work uses three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D-CFD) to investigate the effects of injection parameters including injection pressure, start of injection timing, and intake valve closing temperature on this S-DI strategy using a medium-duty engine at two low load conditions. A computational model was developed and validated to experimental data collected on this engine using Large Eddy Simulations turbulence modeling to resolve the complex flow phenomena and turbulent mixing prevalent in this combustion strategy.Injection pressure was increased in six increments from 120 bar to 342 bar at constant start of injection (SOI) of 45 crank angle degrees before top dead center and the effects on performance and emissions are analyzed at two load operating conditions of 2 and 3 bar. Then, at each injection pressure, the start of injection timing was delayed to analyze its impact on combustion performance. The tradeoffs for performance and emissions with these injection parameters are explored along with suggestions for further investigations to improve this S-DI injection process.

Co-optimization of operating parameters, fuel composition, and piston bowl geometry of gasoline compression ignition (GCI) engine at high loads

Focusing on the gasoline compression ignition (GCI) combustion mode, the operating parameters, fuel composition, and piston bowl geometry were collaboratively optimized at high loads to improve engine performance. A meliorative genetic algorithm coupled with a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program was adopted as the optimization tool. The optimal GCI combustion strategy is summarized based on the optimization results, and the key parameters affecting engine performance at high loads are further analyzed. The results show that the employment of the open-type piston bowl, high-reactivity fuel, and late start of injection (SOI) is desirable for GCI engines at high loads. Under this strategy, fuel burns in multiple stages, which can reduce the heat release rate and advance the combustion phase. The width of the piston bowl is the geometric parameter with the most notable impact on GCI combustion. Due to the weaker turbulent kinetic energy and the smaller surface area, the larger piston bowl width is conducive to diminishing the heat transfer losses of the engine and promoting the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. Relative to the optimal case, the strategy with the open-type piston bowl, high-reactivity fuel, and early SOI can reduce fuel consumption but results in a higher in-cylinder pressure rise rate and increased ringing intensity (RI). On the contrary, the re-entrant type piston bowl, low-reactivity fuel, and late SOI can significantly reduce the pressure rise rate and RI while deteriorating thermal efficiency.