Aerodynamic In-Cylinder Flow Simulation in an Internal Combustion Engine with Torch Ignition System

Stringent automotive emissions and fuel economy regulations have been bringing challenges for the development of new engine technologies to achieve greater levels of efficiency and pollutants reduction. In this scenario the homogeneous charge pre-chamber jet ignition system (HCJI) enables lean operation due the jet combustion gases emerging from the small pre-chamber combustor as the ignition source for main chamber combustion in an internal combustion engine. The present computational work was carrying out to investigate the interaction between the pre-chamber and main chamber fluid dynamics events. This CFD research was performed and validated with a experimental data for a single cylinder of a 4-stroke indirect fuel injection engine under the motoring condition running at 4500 rpm with 50% wide open throttle condition. The analyses are focused to identify the influences in the fluid flow field in the terms of tumble ratio and the turbulence kinetic energy along the degree of crank angle during intake and compression stroke. The computational results can explain better the homogeneity with this new combustion system configuration.