Intake Flow Effects on Combustion and Emissions in a Diesel Engine

Using modified versions of the KIVA-II and KIVA-3 CFD codes, intake, compression, and combustion of a Caterpillar diesel engine was modeled. Seven variations on intake and two injection schemes were explored so that a detailed understanding of the effects of intake on various flow properties and their subsequent influence on combustion and emissions could be obtained.

The results revealed that, in many cases, one of three factors: swirl ratio, temperature, and turbulence, was dominant in describing a combustion or emission behavior. In addition, stratification of fuel and oxygen was found to be a result of high swirl ratios. This had a profound impact on combustion and emissions, especially for split injection cases.