Studying the Effect of the Flame Passage on the Convective Heat Transfer in a S.I. Engine

Engine optimization requires a good understanding of the in-cylinder heat transfer since it affects the power output, engine efficiency and emissions of the engine. However little is known about the convective heat transfer inside the combustion chamber due to its complexity. To aid the understanding of the heat transfer phenomena in a Spark Ignition (SI) engine, accurate measurements of the local instantaneous heat flux are wanted. An improved understanding will lead to better heat transfer modelling, which will improve the accuracy of current simulation software. In this research, prototype thin film gauge (TFG) heat flux sensors are used to capture the transient in-cylinder heat flux within a Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine. A two-zone temperature model is linked with the heat flux data. This allows the distinction between the convection coefficient in the unburned and burned zone. The experimental time-resolved convection coefficient is then calculated by deriving the moment of flame arrival. The convection coefficient contains all the information of the driving force of the convective heat transfer. The work focusses on the effect of the flame passage on the convective heat transfer.