Assessment of a zero‐dimensional model of tumble in four‐valve high performance engine

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess a phenomenological zero‐dimensional model (0‐D model) in order to evaluate both the in‐cylinder tumble motion and turbulence in high‐performance engine, focusing on the capability and sensitivity of the model.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was performed using a four‐valve pentroof engine, testing two different intake ports. The first one was a conventional port and the second one was design in such a way to promote tumble. CFD simulations for admission and compression strokes under different engine conditions were carried out. Then, the in‐cylinder entrance mass and mean velocities from CFD were imposed as boundary conditions in the 0‐D model.

Findings

Marked discrepancies between 0‐D model and CFD results were found. As expected, for the original port, CFD results displayed a poor tumble generation during the admission period. It was followed by a fast degradation of the tumble momentum along the compression stroke due to it was not dominant over the other two momentum components. 0‐D model overestimated the entrance‐tumble but underestimated the vortex degradation along the compression stroke, resulting in higher tumble predictions, thereby it is not recommended for low‐tumble engines. As for the modified port, 0‐D model assumptions were closer to the in‐cylinder flow field from CFD, but results underestimated the entrance‐tumble during the intake stroke and predicted excessive tumble at the end of the compression stroke. Summarizing, 0‐D model neither showed sensitivity to changes in the intake port because of the scarce information about the entrance‐flow field nor it was not suitable to evaluate the tumble degradation.

Originality/value

The limitations of the current model were highlighted, given possible guidelines in order to improve it.

Citation

Ramajo, D., Zanotti, A. and Nigro, N. (2007), "Assessment of a zero‐dimensional model of tumble in four‐valve high performance engine", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 17 No. 8, pp. 770-787. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615530710825765