Engine Design with Computational Fluid Dynamics

At Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), engineers have extensive experience in applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to improve and optimize engine designs for clients. Using an array of state-of-the-art SwRI-developed and commercial CFD software, engineers solve problems such as:

• Engine combustion chamber simulation
• Engine combustion and emission modeling
• Fuel injection and mixing
• Intake and exhaust port design
• Engine cooling system design

Work Approach

At SwRI, improvement of engine designs is the paramount goal. CFD is one tool among many interacting processes used in achieving this goal. The unique environment at SwRI encourages close interaction among engineers performing CFD analysis and those designing and testing engines. This interaction enables the detailed fluid dynamic information provided by CFD to be rapidly assimilated in the design and validated by testing. CFD thereby enhances and augments the tools available to designers by providing a physical understanding of flows in engines not attainable by any other means.

Predicted pressure distribution for the lower deck coolant passage of an engine cylinder head

Flame propagation simulation from prechamber to main chamber: 3D perspective view

Flame propagation simulation from prechamber to main chamber: 2D cutting plane view

Capabilities

SwRI has a range of in-house and commercial CFD codes suitable for almost all types of engine design problems. Salient features of CFD codes include:

• Brick, tetrahedron, wedge, or hybrid elements
• Structured multiblock mesh or unstructured mesh
• Fast automatic mesh generation
• Moving and sliding mesh suitable for engine simulation with moving pistons and valves
• Wide range of turbulence, combustion, and spray physical models
• Coupled to software in other fields such as structural, thermal, and cycle analyses

Fluid mixing in a direct-injected, spark-ignited engine

CFD has been used to evaluate and improve designs of many engine components such as:

• Main combustion chamber and prechamber
• Engine block and cylinder head cooling passage design
• Combustion and emission simulation
• Intake and exhaust port design
• Scavenging, swirl, and tumble simulation
• Fuel injection and mixing process

This flyer was published in January 1997. For more information about engine design with computational fluid dynamics, contact Mark Tussing, Department of Engine Design, Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510, Phone (210) 522-2628, Fax (210) 522-4673.

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