Measurement and Simulation of Intake Port and In-Cylinder Air Flow of Diesel and Gasoline Engines

Detailed knowledge of in-cylinder flow and directed air charge motion is particularly important for the development and optimization of combustion chamber and intake port design.

This knowledge can be obtained through flow measurement and three-dimensional CFD analysis. Both methods are applied at the Institute for Measurement Technology and Reciprocating Machines at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. A unique flow test bench delivers results from three-dimensional flow measurement. The widely used software tool AVL FIRE^® is employed for 3D CFD analysis.

This publication presents the results of research projects that employ both methods. The first project is investigating intake valve masking in a gasoline engine with port fuel injection. Attention is focused on the effect of intake valve masking on short-circuit scavenging and the cylinder wall film.

The second project is dealing with the influence of intake port manufacturing tolerances on the in-cylinder flows of a diesel engine and a gasoline engine with direct injection. The primary focus is the directed air charge motion essential for these combustion systems.

Finally, the limitations of and prospects for flow measurement and CFD analysis are summarized.