An Application of the Coherent Flamelet Model to Diesel Engine Combustion

A turbulent combustion model based on the coherent flamelet model was developed in this study and applied to diesel engines. The combustion was modeled in three distinct but overlapping phases: low temperature ignition kinetics using the Shell ignition model, high temperature premixed burn using a single step Arrhenius equation, and the flamelet based diffusion burn. Two criteria for transitions based on temperature, heat release rate, and the local Damköhler number were developed for the progression of combustion between each of these phases. The model was implemented into the computational computer code KIVA-II. Previous experiments on a Caterpillar model E 300, # 1Y0540 engine, a Tacom LABECO research engine, and a single cylinder version of a Cummins N14 production engine were used to validate the cylinder averaged predictions of the model. The characteristics of the modeling approach were also addressed by examining the spatial resolution of the model results inside the engine cylinder. The location and magnitude of model heat releases, flame areas, and spray distributions were examined. The results of this approach to the modeling of diesel engine combustion could be used to enhance the modeling of engine emissions.