CFD Study of Lubrication Pump Starvation Due to Oil Pan Sloshing

Dynamic vehicle operation, such as acceleration, deceleration, and tilting, can cause severe oil sloshing in the engine oil pan. This can lead to oil starvation at the pickup tube, compromising lubrication pump performance, and potentially damaging engine components. This study presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) multiphase model of an engine oil pan and lubrication pump, simulated using Simerics-MP+. A series of numerical simulations were conducted at various pump speeds and extreme oil pan tilt angles. Time-dependent oil distributions were visualized, and real-time oil flow rates were monitored at the pickup tube to assess the impact of pump speed and pan position on oil starvation. This CFD model provides valuable insights into oil pan and pump behavior under extreme vehicle operation conditions, aiding in the design and optimization of lubrication systems to mitigate the risk of oil starvation and improve overall engine safety and performance.