Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


wright1347895074.pdf (5.11 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Computational Study on Micro-Pilot Flame Ignition Strategy for a Direct Injection Stratified Charge Rotary Engine

Votaw, Zachary Steven
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1347895074

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science in Engineering (MSEgr), Wright State University, Mechanical Engineering.
The Office of Security of Defense's Assured Fuels Initiative has recently been pressing for a single fuel battle space. This endeavor requires modifying many of the vehicle power plants currently in operation throughout the Armed Forces. The RQ-7 Shadow, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) utilized by the Marine Corp and Army for reconnaissance purposes, is powered by UEL's AR741 rotary engine and functions on aviation fuel. One effort underway has been focused on developing this rotary engine system to operate on heavy fuels using direct injection technology and charge stratification. Although the rotary engine has many advantages over standard reciprocating engines, providing a reliable ignition source for the stratified charge within the sweeping combustion chamber presents challenges. This work made effort to compensate for those challenges by utilizing a pilot flame ignition system. The system incorporated a micro-diesel injector and spark plug recessed within an ignition cavity along the housing of the rotary engine. The pilot flame ignition approach was thoroughly evaluated by conducting a parametric study using computational methods to simulate the combustion process. Gambit meshing software was used to build the 3D rotary engine mesh. ANSYS Fluent was used to formulate and apply the various numerical models describing the combustion phenomena. And lastly, JMP software was used to perform a response surface analysis in effort to determine the optimal parameter values for the ignition system. The goal of the parametric study was to maximize power output and likewise minimize specific fuel consumption. A total of thirty one cases were performed to complete the study. For the rotary engine operating at 6000rpm an optimal solution was successfully realized within the design space. The rotary engine model generated 5.313 horsepower (HP) for the complete cycle of one chamber. The overall equivalency ratio allocated in the combustion chamber for the simulations was 0.55. This resulted in a specific fuel consumption of 0.395 lb/hp-h. The study not only provided evidence to confirm the profitable use of a pilot flame ignition system applied to the direct injection stratified charge rotary engine (DISCRE), but also provided multiple insights on the design and operation of such a system.
Haibo Dong, PhD (Advisor)
Rory Roberts, PhD (Committee Member)
Greg Minkiewicz, PhD (Committee Member)
110 p.
Mechanical Engineering
CFD; Rotary Engine; Wankel Engine; Stratified Charge; Direct Injection; Pilot Flame Ignition; Multi-fuel; Parameter Optimization; Combustion Simulation; Computational Fluid Dynamics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Votaw, Z. S. (2012). Computational Study on Micro-Pilot Flame Ignition Strategy for a Direct Injection Stratified Charge Rotary Engine [Master's thesis, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1347895074

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Votaw, Zachary. Computational Study on Micro-Pilot Flame Ignition Strategy for a Direct Injection Stratified Charge Rotary Engine. 2012. Wright State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1347895074.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Votaw, Zachary. "Computational Study on Micro-Pilot Flame Ignition Strategy for a Direct Injection Stratified Charge Rotary Engine." Master's thesis, Wright State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1347895074

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

wright1347895074
1,923
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.