Simulation of Sloshing in Fuel Tanks and Parametric Study on Noise Reduction by Decreasing Impact Pressure

Noise from automotive fuel tanks is generated by sloshing flow of fuel. Flow inside fuel tanks is incompressible, turbulent and free surface problem which is analyzed by Marker and Cell (MAC) algorithm. The simulation result of gross sloshing flow pattern is compared and verified by experiments with transparent fuel tanks. Characteristics of impact pressure on the tank wall are analyzed to find noise source on the wall. It is influenced by both the inertia of fuel mass and the dynamic motion of sloshing flow. In addition, a parametric study has been done to decrease impact pressure by changing its dimensions and shape.