Fluid mechanics of internal

combustion engines
a review
PRESENTED BY: JUAN CARLOS BLANCO
Introduction
 Empirical studies based on the cut-and-try procedure have been
remarkably effective in designing internal combustion engines. Changes in
the induction system and chamber geometry have been shown to affect
engine performance through their influence on the combustion process
The degree and the details of this influence were, and in some cases are
still, relatively unknown despite early recognition of the importance of in-
cylinder fluid mechanics.
 Experimental methods
 The measurement of the in-cylinder flow before and after ignition is best
achieved by laser Doppler anemometry (LDA). Hot wire anemometry still
provides useful information during induction but imitations associated with
rectification effects, calibration and survival of small-diameter wires implies that
the range of its applicability is likely to be considerably less than Q IMechE 1987
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September 18, 2016 FLUID MECHANICS OF lNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 59
that of LDA where fast-data processing coupled with heavy seeding can
provide cycle-resolved velocity information. In its various forms, LDA has been
applied to difficult flow situations such as valve exit flow, flow inside complex
bowl-piston configurations and combustion in both gasoline and diesel engines.
 FLOW PROCESSES

 The engine cycle consists of a number of sequential and interrelated

unsteady flow processes that deserve independent attention. This sequence
of processes starts with atmospheric air entering the induction system and
ends with the products of combustion exiting the engine cylinder through
the exhaust valve. The current state of knowledge of the engine fluid
mechanics is reviewed here, based on a relatively small number of
investigations performed in both production and model gasoline and diesel
engines. The conclusions are based on both experimental and theoretical
work and the analysis is supported by examples.
CONCLUDING REMARKS

 An engine research programme should involve parallel experimental and

theoretical investigations. The experimental programme frequently requires
use of various types of hardware including a steady flow rig to characterize
the flow though the inlet valve, an engine with good optical access to
quantify the in-cylinder flow during the whole engine cycle using laser
techniques and a constant or variable volume combustion bomb for
fundamental fuel/air mixing and flame propagation studies under
controlled conditions simulating the nearignition flow and thermodynamic
fields. The computational programme, on the other hand, requires zeroand
multi-dimensional calculations with associated access to supercomputers
for three-dimensional codes with flow, spray and combustion sub-models
REFERENCES

 1 Clerk, D. Cylinder actions in gas and gasoline engines. SAE J., 1921,8, 523.
 2 Ricardo, H. R. Combustion in diesel engines. Proc. Instn Auto. Engrs,
1930,24,645.
 3 Alcock, J. F. Air swirl in oil englnes. Proc. Instn Mech. Engrs, 1934, 123.
 4 Lee, D. W. A study of air flow in an engine cylinder. NACA report 653, 1939.
 5 Rothrack, A. M. and Spencer, R. C. 'The influence of directed air flow on
combustion in a spark ignition engine. NACA report 657,1939.
 6 Semenov, E. S. Studies of turbulent gas flow in piston engines. NASA technical
translation 597, 1963.
 7 Lancaster, D. R. Effects of engine variables on turbulence in a spark-ignition
engine. SAE paper 760159,1976.