Large Eddy Simulations of Turbulent Flows in IC Engines

A new computational methodology is developed and tested for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows in internal combustion (IC) engines. In this methodology, the filtered compressible Navier-Stokes equations in curvilinear coordinate systems are solved via a generalized, high-order, multi-block, compact differencing scheme and various subgrid-scale (SGS) stress closures. Both reacting and nonreacting flows with and without spray are considered. The LES models have been applied to a piston-cylinder assembly with a stationary open valve and harmonically moving flat piston. The flow in a direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) engine is also considered. It is observed that during the intake stroke of the engine operation, large-scale unsteady turbulent flow motions are developed behind the intake valves. The physical features of these turbulent motions and the ability of LES to capture them are studied and tested by simulating the flow in a simple configuration involving a stationary valve. The flow statistics predicted by LES are shown to compare well with the available experimental data. The DISI configuration includes all the complexities involved in a realistic single-cylinder IC engine, such as the complex geometry, moving valves, moving piston, spray and combustion. The spray combustion is simulated with the recently developed two-phase filtered mass density (FMDF) model.