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Computation of the three-dimensional flow in the intake ports and the cylinders of real engines, including moving valves and piston, has been carried out by solving the Navier-Stokes equations. No explicit turbulence models are used. An extended version of the SIMPLE and ICE method is employed to simulate density variations in engines, which are connected with compression rate, heat transfer, and compressibility. A third-order upwind scheme is combined with this method. Computational results show complex flow fields such as separated flows near the valve seat and small vortices of the order of the mesh size near the end of compression. These computational results are compared with the LDV measurements.

Numerical simulation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional air flow in automobile passenger compartments is described. The flow can be expressed by means of an incompressible Navier-Stokes equation for a narrow temperature range. The results were represented visually using animation and a color graphics system. The two-dimensional simulation showed that heat ansfer takes place chiefly by convection in vortices, and that the effects of heat transfer are minimal. In the three-dimensional analysis, shading was used to show the shape inside the compartment, and instantaneous stream lines and temperature distribution were depicted. The three-dimensional stream lines swirl upward at the front seat, and do not reach the back seat. The results gained from this study show that present theoretical flow analysis methods are close to being perfected. Further advances will require additional refinement of supercomputers and graphic engineering workstations.