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This paper compares bulk impulse-torque and 2D planar PIV steady flow-field measurements created by an engine cylinder head and intake system model using a steady-flow bench and evaluates operational aspects of the steady-flow test system. The model included a full-sized intake manifold and cylinder head section from a Chrysler 2.4L PFI four-valve per cylinder engine mounted to an optical cylinder. Two test system operational aspects were evaluated: (1) upstream versus downstream engine location relative to the flowbench (operational modes corresponding to flow bench pulling or pushing through the system), (2) PIV seeding particulate choice. Several dry and oil fog particulates were assessed however, of the options tested, only laboratory grade glass and consumer grade talc allowed long enough operation for practical data acquisition. Tests were performed over lift-over-diameter (L/D) ratios spanning from 0.1 to 0.3.

Today's engine and combustion process development is closely related to the intake port layout. Combustion, performance and emissions are coupled to the intensity of turbulence, the quality of mixture formation and the distribution of residual gas, all of which depend on the in-cylinder charge motion, which is mainly determined by the intake port and cylinder head design. Additionally, an increasing level of volumetric efficiency is demanded for a high power output. Most optimization efforts on typical homogeneous charge spark ignition (HCSI) engines have been at low loads because that is all that is required for a vehicle to make it through the FTP cycle. However, due to pumping losses, this is where such engines are least efficient, so it would be good to find strategies to allow the engine to operate at higher loads.

An investigation was performed to try to quantify the relative importance of large-scale mixing and turbulence in a multi-valve spark-ignited automotive engine converted to use natural gas fuel. The role of mixing was examined by comparing single-point versus multi-point combustion performance at several operating conditions. The fuel-air mixture passed through a static mixer prior to entering the intake manifold in the single point case. This configuration was assumed to produce a well-mixed charge entering the combustion chamber. The fuel was delivered just upstream of the intake port in the multi-point configuration. The charge was assumed to be stratified in this case. The results showed a significant degradation in combustion stability and maximum power but little difference in ignition delay and fully-developed burn duration using multi-point injection. The relative role of turbulence was examined by altering the intake-flow configuration to create three levels of inlet swirl.