Title: CFD-guided development of a pre-chamber ignition system for internal combustion engines

Authors: Corbin Freeman; Jared Endres; James Robinson; Siva Parameswaran; Haiwen Ge; Peng Zhao

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA ' Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, UT Space Institute, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37388, USA

Abstract: In the present paper, the development of a non-fuelled pre-chamber ignition system is introduced. 3D combustion CFD has been employed to guide the design change. Based on the combustion performance of different pre-chamber designs, one design (B4) is identified as the best one among several designs. Design B4 is selected for detailed evaluations. The results of Design B4 are compared with the baseline SI engine. The fuel economy has been improved by using the pre-chamber ignition system. However, NOx emission is higher than the baseline engine, due to higher in-cylinder pressure and temperature. The combustion process in the pre-chamber is separated into three steps characterised with its heat release, temperature and pressure. Based on the pressure difference between the main chamber and pre-chamber, a four-stage mechanism is proposed to describe the gas exchange between them.

Keywords: turbulent jet ignition; TJI; pre-chamber; spark ignition; CFD; NOx emission.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPT.2021.114746

International Journal of Powertrains, 2021 Vol.10 No.1, pp.79 - 103

Received: 26 Nov 2019
Accepted: 31 Aug 2020
Published online: 04 May 2021 *

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