Components heat transfer studies in a low heat rejection DI diesel engine using a hybrid thermostructural finite element model

Abstract The development of a hybrid three-dimensional finite element thermostructural model is presented in this work, which is used to study the behaviour of various combustion chamber insulation configurations of a four-stroke, direct injection (DI), diesel engine on its performance, components temperatures, and heat fluxes under various steady operating conditions. The model incorporates a comprehensive thermodynamic engine cycle simulation model in combination with a detailed structural analysis model. Separate representation of the various subregions of each component, effected by the hybrid model, makes it possible for the quantitative estimation of the effect of contact resistances and included air gaps on the amount of heat rejected to the combustion chamber walls. Connection between the resulting finite element submodels at the interface of any two subregions is accomplished through appropriate use of the heat balance method. For this purpose, an iterative procedure is developed, which is capable of overcoming numerical instabilities occuring during convergence even for the most difficult case of the three-dimensional finite element analysis. The model is applied for two of the most commonly used engine insulation configurations, i.e. plasma sprayed zirconia and silicon nitride monolithic designs. The complex heat flow paths through the various combustion chamber components are analysed and the corresponding temperature distributions are presented. A satisfactory degree of agreement is found between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements for the uninsulated engine, thus confirming the model's validity. Furthermore, the uninsulated engine data case (baseline configuration) forms a sound basis against which the corresponding performance of the two engine insulation cases can be compared and assessed.

[1]  D. N. Assanis.  Effect of combustion chamber insulation on the performance of a low heat rejection diesel engine with exhaust heat recovery , 1989 .

[2]  R. T. Fenner.  Finite Element Methods For Engineers , 1975 .

[3]  Dimitrios T. Hountalas,et al.  Thermodynamic analysis of indirect injection diesel engines by two-zone modeling of combustion , 1990 .

[4]  John B. Heywood,et al.  Internal combustion engine fundamentals , 1988 .

[5]  N. D. Whitehouse,et al.  Investigation into Some Aspects of the Computation of Diesel Engine Combustion , 1976 .

[6]  C. D. Rakopoulos,et al.  Influence of ambient temperature and humidity on the performance and emissions of nitric oxide and smoke of high speed diesel engines in the Athens/Greece region , 1991 .

[7]  Dimitrios T. Hountalas,et al.  The influence of the exhaust system unsteady gas flow and insulation on the performance of a turbocharged diesel engine , 1995 .

[8]  Dimitrios T. Hountalas,et al.  Prechamber and main chamber insulation effects on the performance of an IDI diesel engine coupled to power turbine , 1992 .

[9]  W. J. D. Annand,et al.  Heat Transfer in the Cylinders of Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines , 1963 .

[10]  Constantine D. Rakopoulos,et al.  Study of the steady and transient temperature field and heat flow in the combustion chamber components of a medium speed diesel engine using finite element analyses , 1996 .

[11]  Walter Bryzik,et al.  TACOM/CUMMINS ADIABATIC ENGINE PROGRAM , 1983 .

[12]  N. K. Samria,et al.  A generalized solution for transient temperature distribution in an internally/ externally insulated cylindrical shell , 1990 .

[13]  Y. Miyairi.  Computer Simulation of an LHR DI Diesel Engine , 1988 .

[14]  J. D. Jones,et al.  Evaluation of the Fuel Economy Potential of the Low-Heat-Rejection Diesel Engine for Passenger-Car Application , 1987 .

[15]  O. Zienkiewicz.  The Finite Element Method In Engineering Science , 1971 .

[16]  Walter Bryzik,et al.  Cummins/TACOM Adiabatic Englue Program , 1985 .

[17]  E. Obert.  Internal combustion engines and air pollution , 1973 .

[18]  C. D. Rakopoulos,et al.  Analysis of combustion chamber insulation effects on the performance and exhaust emissions of a DI diesel engine using a multi-zone model , 1995 .

[19]  D. H. C. Taylor,et al.  Spatial Variation of Heat Transfer to Pistons and Liners of Some Medium Speed Diesel Engines , 1970 .

[20]  Dimitrios T. Hountalas,et al.  Analysis of combustion and pollutants formation in a direct injection diesel engine using a multi-zone model , 1995 .

[21]  Thomas Morel,et al.  Heat Transfer Experiments in an Insulated Diesel , 1988 .

[22]  N. D. Whitehouse.  Heat Transfer in Compression-Ignition Engines: First Paper: Heat Transfer in a Quiescent Chamber Diesel Engine , 1970 .

[23]  C. C. J. French,et al.  CERAMICS IN RECIPROCATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES , 1984 .

[24]  A. Alkidas,et al.  Experiments with an Uncooled Single-Cylinder Open-Chamber Diesel , 1987 .

[25]  N. D. Whitehouse,et al.  Rate of Heat Release in Diesel Engines and Its Correlation with Fuel Injection Data , 1969 .

[26]  F. J. Wallace,et al.  Thermally Insulated Diesel Engines , 1984 .

[27]  Walter Bryzik,et al.  Cummins/TACOM Advanced Adiabatic Engine , 1984 .

[28]  J. Welty.  Engineering Heat Transfer , 1974 .

[29]  G. Woschni,et al.  Heat Transfer With Insulated Combustion Chamber Walls and Its Influence on the Performance of Diesel Engines , 1988 .

[30]  György Sitkei.  Heat transfer and thermal loading in internal combustion engines , 1974 .

[31]  Dimitrios T. Hountalas,et al.  An Integrated Transient Analysis Simulation Model Applied in Thermal Loading Calculations of an Air-Cooled Diesel Engine Under Variable Speed and Load Conditions , 1997 .

[32]  Rifat Keribar,et al.  Thermal Shock Calculations in I.C. Engines , 1987 .

[33]  G. E. Myers,et al.  Analytical Methods in Conduction Heat Transfer , 1998 .