Implementation and Validation of the G-equation Model Coupled with Flamelet Libraries for Simulating Premixed Combustion in I.C. Engines

• Published in: SAE International journal of engines Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 674 - 690
• Main Authors: Toninel, Stefano, Forkel, Hendrik, Frank, Thomas, Durst, Bodo, Hasse, Christian, Linse, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Warrendale SAE International 2009; SAE International, a Pennsylvania Not-for Profit
• Subjects: CAD; Combustion; Computer aided design; Engines; Flame propagation; Flames; Ignition; Internal combustion engines; Libraries; Modeling; Simulations; Transport equations; Turbulence models; Turbulent flames
• ISSN: 1946-3936; 1946-3944; 1946-3944
• DOI: 10.4271/2009-01-0709

The G-equation model was implemented in the commercial code ANSYS CFX and validated against experimental data in order to successfully simulate turbulent premixed combustion in internal combustion engines. The model is based on the level-set approach. Two transport equations are solved respectively for the G-scalar mean value, representing the local distance function from the time-averaged mean flame front, and its variance, correlated to the turbulent flame brush thickness. The model closure for tracking the flame front is based on an algebraic expression for the turbulent burning velocity. The composition of the reacted mixture is evaluated by coupling the code with flamelet libraries generated with the ANSYS CFX-RIF package by means of a reaction progress variable computed as a function of the G-related quantities. An innovative technique for periodically re-initializing the G-scalar field, in order to enforce geometrical consistency and avoid numerical instabilities, was developed, consisting of a least-square-based interface reconstruction and a minimization of the distance from the discretized flame front. In order to make the code suitable for spark-ignition engine applications the combustion model was coupled with a spark kernel model that simulates the early stages of the ignition process at sub-grid scales. The robustness and accuracy of the level-set approach with moving structured and unstructured meshes were assessed and the parallel performance of the combustion model was optimized in order to deal with large meshes in industrial applications. Validation was carried out by comparing simulations against experimental data for three different test-cases: a steady flame in a slot-burner, a transient spark-ignited premixed combustion in a cylinder with fixed walls and optical access and a spark-ignition research engine with flat head and flat piston. The results show good numerical properties and other attractive features in terms of geometrical description of the flame front and coupling with sub-models for detailed chemistry and spark-ignition.