Analysis of In-Cylinder Flow for Hybrid Gasoline Engine using High-Speed Particle Image Velocimetry

To increase the thermal efficiency of a hybrid inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine, combustion promotion was carried out by enhancing the in-cylinder flow. The intake port and piston top shape were optimized using CFD. In-cylinder flow analysis in steady flow showed that the mean steady flow tumble ratio with the in-cylinder flow enhancement specification increased to 1.7 compared to 1.0 with the previous model and 1.4 with the early development specification. The limit engine speed, which is the engine speed at when the mean flow coefficient decreases due to the choke, and the mean steady flow tumble ratio with the in-cylinder flow enhancement specification were positioned on the trade-off line between the NA and the TC engine. In-cylinder flow analysis on the single-cylinder optical engine showed that the in-cylinder flow entering the cylinder smoothly flowed to the exhaust side, and the in-cylinder flow descending on the exhaust side was smoothly converted to the upward flow by the piston top. Thus, the tumble ratio with the in-cylinder flow enhancement specification in the latter half of the compression stroke increased from 1.0 to 1.7 compared to the early development specification. Turbulent analysis was performed by applying the time filter method, a turbulence decomposition method proposed by the authors, to the in-cylinder flow field. The turbulent kinetic energy with the in-cylinder flow enhancement specification in the latter half of the compression stroke increased by 21.9%. The flame structure was located in the corrugated flamelets region on the turbulent premixed diagram, and the combustion promotion effect by in-cylinder flow enhancement was expected. Evaluation of combustion characteristics on the metal engine showed that the initial combustion duration with the in-cylinder flow enhancement specification decreased by 2.3 deg., the main combustion duration decreased by 4.4 deg., and the time loss decreased by approximately 2%. Therefore, the indicated thermal efficiency increased from 41.9% to 42.2%, proving the concept of combustion promotion by in-cylinder flow enhancement.