Analysis on flow motion and combustion process in pre-chamber and main chamber for low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel engine

Low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel engines has been paid more attention due to the energy efficiency design index and Tier III emissions limitations issued by International Marine Organization. Although the dual-fuel engines have strong merits on emissions reduction, which can reach the IMO Tier III without aftertreatment, the power output is much lower than that of diesel engines. Therefore, the dual-fuel engine is also needed to improve continuously. However, the mixing and combustion processes in the engine have not been fully understood. In this study, a 3D-CFD model of the dual-fuel engine was established using CONVERGE to explore the mixing and combustion processes. Locally embedding fine grids are considered at scavenging ports, natural gas injection ports, pre-chamber. The model was validated by experimental in-cylinder pressure. Then, the flow motion, mixing of natural gas and air, flow in pre-chamber, torch and combustion in main-chamber were analyzed based on swirl variation, flow velocity distribution, equivalence ratio distribution and torch propagation.