Airflow Optimization w/ Distinct Intake Valves Designs by Numerical and Experimental Study in a 4-Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine

This paper deals with the study of different design configurations for intake valves and valve seats on a current production cylinder head and their effect on airflow behavior and optimization, under steady flow condition.

The analysis was performed trough a Design for Six-Sigma methodology (DFSS). The cases were simulated through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and a prototype considering the best configuration was built and tested at flow bench.

Correlation between simulation and experimental data was performed in order to validate the results for current, as well as, for future studies. The goal is to determine how geometric design variations on intake valve profiles and valve seats affect airflow on the particular cylinder head.