Modeling the Effect of Thermal Barrier Coatings on HCCI Engine Combustion Using CFD Simulations with Conjugate Heat Transfer

Thermal barrier coatings with low conductivity and low heat capacity have been shown to improve the performance of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines. These coatings improve the combustion process by reducing heat transfer during the hot portion of the engine cycle without the penalty thicker coatings typically have on volumetric efficiency. Computational fluid dynamic simulations with conjugate heat transfer between the in-cylinder fluid and solid piston of a single cylinder HCCI engine with exhaust valve rebreathing are carried out to further understand the impacts of these coatings on the combustion process. For the HCCI engine studied with exhaust valve rebreathing, it is shown that simulations needed to be run for multiple engine cycles for the results to converge given how sensitive the rebreathing process is to the residual gas state. The effect of thermal barrier coatings on the piston surface is explored using the properties of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) and Gadolinium Zirconate (GdZr) top coatings with two different thicknesses. Heat flux measurements from an experimental engine with an all metal piston and YSZ and GdZr thermal barrier coatings are compared to the simulation results and the simulation is found to under predict heat transfer. Reducing the conductivity of the coating advances combustion as does increasing the thickness of the coating.