An accelerated multi-zone model for engine cycle simulation of homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion

We have developed an accelerated multi-zone model for engine cycle simulation (AMECS) of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion. This model incorporates chemical kinetics and is intended for use in system-level simulation software. A novel methodology to capture thermal stratification in the multi-zone model is proposed. The methodology calculates thermal stratification inside the cylinder based on a single computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation for motored conditions. CFD results are used for tuning zone heat loss multipliers that characterize wall heat loss from each individual engine zone based on the assumption that these heat loss multipliers can then be used at operating conditions different from those used in the single CFD run because the functional form of thermal stratification is more dependent on engine geometry than on operating conditions. The model is benchmarked against detailed CFD calculations and fully coupled HCCI CFD chemical kinetics calculations. The results indicate that the heat loss multiplier approach accurately predicts thermal stratification during the compression stroke and (therefore) HCCI combustion. The AMECS model with the thermal stratification methodology and reduced gasoline chemical kinetics shows good agreement with boosted gasoline HCCI experiments over a range of operating conditions, in terms of in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate predictions. The computational advantage of this method derives from the need for only a single motoring CFD run for a given engine, which makes the method very well suited for rapid HCCI calculations in system-level codes such as GT-Power, where it is often desirable to evaluate consecutive engine cycles.