scholarly journals Prediction of Cyclic Variability and Knock-Limited Spark Advance in a Spark-Ignition Engine

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongyu Yue ◽  
K. Dean Edwards ◽  
C. Scott Sluders ◽  
Sibendu Som
Keyword(s):  
Computational Cost ◽  
Pressure Oscillation ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Si Engine ◽  
Cyclic Variability ◽  
Cycle Simulation ◽  
Oscillation Analysis ◽  
Engine Knock

Engine knock remains one of the major barriers to further improve the thermal efficiency of spark-ignition (SI) engines. SI engine is usually operated at knock-limited spark advance (KLSA) to achieve possibly maximum efficiency with given engine hardware and fuel properties. Co-optimization of fuels and engines is promising to improve engine efficiency, and predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models can be used to facilitate this process. However, cyclic variability of SI engine demands that multicycle results are required to capture the extreme conditions. In addition, Mach Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) number of 1 is desired to accurately predict the knock intensity (KI), resulting in unaffordable computational cost. In this study, a new approach to numerically predict KLSA using large Mach CFL of 50 with ten consecutive cycle simulation is proposed. This approach is validated against the experimental data for a boosted SI engine at multiple loads and spark timings with good agreements in terms of cylinder pressure, combustion phasing, and cyclic variation. Engine knock is predicted with early spark timing, indicated by significant pressure oscillation and end-gas heat release. Maximum amplitude of pressure oscillation analysis is performed to quantify the KI, and the slope change point in KI extrema is used to indicate the KLSA accurately. Using a smaller Mach CFL number of 5 also results in the same conclusions, thus demonstrating that this approach is insensitive to the Mach CFL number. The use of large Mach CFL number allows us to achieve fast turn-around time for multicycle engine CFD simulations.

scholarly journals Prediction of Cyclic Variability and Knock-Limited Spark Advance (KLSA) in Spark-Ignition (SI) Engine

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongyu Yue ◽  
K. Dean Edwards ◽  
C. Scott Sluder ◽  
Sibendu Som
Keyword(s):  
Octane Number ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Fuel Properties ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Ignition Timing ◽  
Si Engine ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Chemical Kinetic Model ◽  
Cyclic Variability ◽  
Engine Knock

Engine knock remains one of the major barriers to further improve thermal efficiency of Spark Ignition (SI) engines. Knock can be suppressed by lowering the compression ratio, or retarding the spark ignition timing, however, at an expense of efficiency penalty. SI engine is usually operated at knock-limited spark advance (KLSA) to achieve possibly maximum efficiency with given engine hardware and fuel properties, such as Research Octane Number (RON), Motor Octane Number (MON), and heat of vaporization, etc. Co-optimization of engine design and fuel properties is promising to improve the engine efficiency and predictive CFD models can be used to facilitate this optimization process. However, difficulties exist in predicting KLSA in CFD simulations. First, cyclic variability of SI engine demands that multi-cycle results are required to capture the extreme conditions. Secondly, Mach Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) number of 1 is desired to accurately predict the knock intensity (KI), resulting in unaffordable computational cost, especially for multi-cycle simulations. In this study, a new approach to numerically predict KLSA using large Mach CFL number of 50 is proposed. This approach is validated against experimental data for a boosted Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) engine at multiple loads and spark timings. G-equation combustion model coupled with well-mixed chemical kinetic model are used to predict the turbulent flame propagation and end-gas auto-ignition, respectively. Simulations run for 10 consecutive engine cycles at each condition. The results show good agreement between model predictions and experiments in terms of cylinder pressure, combustion phasing and cyclic variation. Engine knock is predicted with early spark ignition timing, indicated by significant pressure wave oscillation and end-gas heat release. Maximum Amplitude of Pressure Oscillation (MAPO) analysis is performed to quantify the KI, and the slope change point in KI extrema is used to indicate the KLSA accurately. Using a smaller Mach CFL number of 5 also results in the same conclusions thus demonstrating that this approach is insensitive to the Mach CFL number. The use of large Mach CFL number allows us to achieve fast turn-around time for multi-cycle engine CFD simulations.

Studying the effects of hydrogen addition on the second-law balance of a biogas-fuelled spark ignition engine by use of a quasi-dimensional multi-zone combustion model

2008 ◽  
Vol 222 (11) ◽  
pp. 2249-2268 ◽  
Author(s):  
C D Rakopoulos ◽  
C N Michos ◽  
E G Giakoumis
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Process ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Second Law ◽  
Si Engine ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Hydrogen Addition ◽  
Cycle Simulation ◽  
Hydrogen Enrichment

Although a first-law analysis can show the improvement that hydrogen addition impacts on the performance of a biogas-fuelled spark-ignition (SI) engine, additional benefits can be revealed when the second law of thermodynamics is brought into perspective. It is theoretically expected that hydrogen enrichment in biogas can increase the second-law efficiency of engine operation by reducing the combustion-generated irreversibilities, because of the fundamental differences in the mechanism of entropy generation between hydrogen and traditional hydrocarbon combustion. In this study, an experimentally validated closed-cycle simulation code, incorporating a quasi-dimensional multi-zone combustion model that is based on the combination of turbulent entrainment theory and flame stretch concepts for the prediction of burning rates, is further extended to include second-law analysis for the purpose of quantifying the respective improvements. The analysis is applied for a single-cylinder homogeneous charge SI engine, fuelled with biogas—hydrogen blends, with up to 15 vol% hydrogen in the fuel mixture, when operated at 1500r/min, wide-open throttle, fuel-to-air equivalence ratio of 0.9, and ignition timing of 20° crank angle before top dead centre. Among the major findings derived from the second-law balance during the closed part of the engine cycle is the increase in the second-law efficiency from 40.85 per cent to 42.41 per cent with hydrogen addition, accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in the combustion irreversibilities from 18.25 per cent to 17.18 per cent of the total availability of the charge at inlet valve closing. It is also illustrated how both the increase in the combustion temperatures and the decrease in the combustion duration with increasing hydrogen content result in a reduction in the combustion irreversibilities. The degree of thermodynamic perfection of the combustion process from the second-law point of view is quantified by using two (differently defined) combustion exergetic efficiencies, whose maximum values during the combustion process increase with hydrogen enrichment from 49.70 per cent to 53.45 per cent and from 86.01 per cent to 87.33 per cent, respectively.

Flow characteristics of misfired gas in the exhaust manifold of a spark ignition engine

2000 ◽  
Vol 214 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Chung ◽  
H Kim ◽  
S Choi ◽  
C Bae
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Model ◽  
Oxygen Concentration ◽  
Oxygen Sensor ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Exhaust Manifold ◽  
Cycle Simulation ◽  
Twin Peaks ◽  
Wide Range

Misfiring in spark ignition engines should be avoided, otherwise unburned fuel and oxygen are brought into the catalyst, and subsequent combustion greatly increases the temperature, possibly resulting in immediate damage to the catalyst. As a new concept of misfire detection method, the signal fluctuation of a wide-range oxygen sensor has been introduced to monitor the fluctuation of the oxygen concentration at the exhaust manifold confluence point. The current research aims to develop a tool that is capable of predicting the variation in oxygen concentration at the exhaust manifold confluence point, and to investigate the flow characteristics of the misfired gas in the exhaust manifold under misfiring conditions in a cylinder. The oxygen concentration at the confluence point could be predicted by comparing the gas flowrate from the misfiring cylinder with the total exhaust gas flowrate. The gas flowrates from each of the cylinders were calculated using a one-dimensional engine cycle simulation including a gas dynamic model of the intake and exhaust systems. The variation in oxygen concentration was also determined experimentally using a fast-response hydrocarbon analyser. The trend of the oxygen concentration fluctuation calculated by the analytical model was compared with the experimental results. The analytical model could duplicate the measured trend of the fluctuation of oxygen concentration at the confluence point, which was characterized by twin peaks for one misfiring. The twin peaks are mainly caused by the mixing of the misfired gas with the burned gas from normally operating cylinders. The effects of engine load and speed on the characteristics of the variation in oxygen concentration were also investigated analytically and experimentally.

Investigating the Effects of Engine Operating Conditions on the Cyclic Variability of a Commercial Flex-Fuel Engine

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazal Um Min Allah ◽  
Caio Henrique Rufino ◽  
Waldyr Luiz Ribeiro Gallo ◽  
Clayton Barcelos Zabeu
Keyword(s):  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Cylinder Pressure ◽  
Cyclic Variability ◽  
Indicated Mean Effective Pressure ◽  
Mass Fractions ◽  
Cyclic Variations ◽  
Flex Fuel ◽  
Hydrous Ethanol

Abstract The flex-fuel engines are quite capable of running on gasohol and hydrous ethanol. However, the in-cylinder cyclic variations, which are inherently present in spark-ignition (SI) engines, affect the performance of these engines. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis is required to evaluate the effects of in-cylinder cyclic variations of a flex-fuel engine. The experiments were carried out by using Brazilian commercial Gasohol E27 (mixture of 27% anhydrous ethanol in gasoline) and hydrous ethanol E95h (5% water by volume in ethanol) as fuels for a commercial flex-fuel spark ignition engine. A comparison between the cyclic variations of gasohol and hydrous ethanol is presented in this paper. Moreover, the effects of engine operating parameters (i.e., engine speed, engine load and relative air fuel ratio) on cyclic variations are also investigated. The acquired data of in-cylinder pressure and combustion durations are evaluated by carrying out a statistical analysis. The coefficient of variation for indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) did not exceed the limit of 5% for all tested conditions. Higher cyclic variability of maximum in-cylinder pressure is observed for gasohol fuel and higher engine speeds. The variability of in-cylinder combustion is also evaluated with the help of different combustion stages, which are characterized by corresponding crank positions of 10%, 50% and 90% mass fractions burned.

Validation of Species-Based Extended Coherent Flamelet Model in a Large Eddy Simulation of a Homogeneous Charge Spark Ignition Engine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. See ◽  
M. Wang ◽  
J. Bohbot ◽  
O. Colin
Keyword(s):  
Large Eddy Simulation ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Cylinder Pressure ◽  
Flamelet Model ◽  
Progress Variable ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Homogeneous Charge

Abstract The Species-Based Extended Coherent Flamelet Model (SB-ECFM) was developed and previously validated for 3D Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) modeling of a spark-ignited gasoline direct injection engine. In this work, we seek to extend the SB-ECFM model to the large eddy simulation (LES) framework and validate the model in a homogeneous charge spark-ignited engine. In the SB-ECFM, which is a recently developed improvement of the ECFM, the progress variable is defined as a function of real species instead of tracer species. This adjustment alleviates discrepancies that may arise when the numerical treatment of real species is different than that of the tracer species. Furthermore, the species-based formulation also allows for the use of second-order numeric, which can be necessary in LES cases. The transparent combustion chamber (TCC) engine is the configuration used here for validating the SB-ECFM. It has been extensively characterized with detailed experimental measurements and the data are widely available for model benchmarking. Moreover, several of the boundary conditions leading to the engine are also measured experimentally. These measurements are used in the corresponding computational setup of LES calculations with SB-ECFM. Since the engine is spark ignited, the Imposed Stretch Spark Ignition Model (ISSIM) is utilized to model this physical process. The mesh for the current study is based on a configuration that has been validated in a previous LES study of the corresponding motored setup of the TCC engine. However, this mesh was constructed without considering the additional cells needed to sufficiently resolve the flame for the fired case. Thus, it is enhanced with value-based Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) on the progress variable to better capture the flame front in the fired case. As one facet of model validation, the ensemble average of the measured cylinder pressure is compared against the LES/SB-ECFM prediction. Secondly, the predicted cycle-to-cycle variation by LES is compared with the variation measured in the experimental setup. To this end, the LES computation is required to span a sufficient number of engine cycles to provide statistical convergence to evaluate the coefficient of variation (COV) in peak cylinder pressure. Due to the higher computational cost of LES, the runtime required to compute a sufficient number of engine cycles sequentially can be intractable. The concurrent perturbation method (CPM) is deployed in this study to obtain the required number of cycles in a reasonable time frame. Lastly, previous numerical and experimental analyses of the TCC engine have shown that the flow dynamics at the time of ignition is correlated with the cycle-to-cycle variability. Hence, similar analysis is performed on the current simulation results to determine if this correlation effect is well-captured by the current modeling approach.

The Lean Mixture Operational Limits of a Spark Ignition Engine When Operated on Fuel Mixtures

2008 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailin Li ◽  
Ghazi A. Karim ◽  
A. Sohrabi
Keyword(s):  
Engine Performance ◽  
Spark Ignition ◽  
Spark Ignition Engine ◽  
Si Engine ◽  
Lean Mixture ◽  
Si Engines ◽  
Unstable Combustion ◽  
Fuel Mixtures ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Combustion Processes

The operation of spark ignition (SI) engines on lean mixtures is attractive, in principle, since it can provide improved fuel economy, reduced tendency to knock, and extremely low NOx emissions. However, the associated flame propagation rates become degraded significantly and drop sharply as the operating mixture is made increasingly leaner. Consequently, there exist distinct operational lean mixture limits beyond which satisfactory engine performance cannot be maintained due to the resulting prolonged and unstable combustion processes. This paper presents experimental data obtained in a single cylinder, variable compression ratio, SI engine when operated in turn on methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, gasoline, iso-octane, and some of their binary mixtures. A quantitative approach for determining the operational limits of SI engines is proposed. The lean limits thus derived are compared and validated against the corresponding experimental results obtained using more traditional approaches. On this basis, the dependence of the values of the lean mixture operational limits on the composition of the fuel mixtures is investigated and discussed. The operational limit for throttled operation with methane as the fuel is also established.

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