Intake-Valve Temperature and the Factors Affecting It

Steady-state temperature measurements were made at two locations on the back surface of the intake valves of one of the cylinders of a Saturn 1.9-L DOHC engine. The temperature locations were such that in the upstream location the thermocouple is subjected to the impingement of the fuel spray during the injection process, whereas in the downstream location the thermocouple is out of the main fuel spray. The measured intake valve temperature at the upstream location was significantly lower than that at the downstream location, which was attributed to the spray cooling effect. The intake valve temperature was found to increase with increasing load, speed and coolant temperature. As the air-fuel ratio changes the valve temperature exhibits a maximum at near stoichiometric compositions, which is attributed to convective heat transfer from the backflow of combustion gases during the valve-overlap period. Intake valve temperature correlations were developed with excellent predictive capabilities. Coolant temperature was the single most important correlating variable of the intake valve temperature, followed by engine speed and air-fuel ratio.