The CFD Model of the Combustion Process in a Radial Engine 2014-01-2578

The article presents the simulation results of the combustion process made based on a 3D-CFD mathematical model of the aircraft radial engine. The object of research was the 9-cylinder aircraft engine ASZ-62IR. The model comprised of the internal geometry of the cylinder and pipes in the cylinder head together with the inlet pipe. The model has been verified on the base of the pressure characteristics in the inlet pipe obtained from the experiment. In order to reproduce the same process of mixture formation as in the real engine, the model involved the process of induction, compression and combustion. The conducted research was aimed at verifying the influence of switching off one of the spark plugs on the combustion process. The simulation was done for three versions of ignition, for two spark plugs at the same time, only the front spark plug, only the rear spark plug. The research has been conducted in the conditions of maximum constant power of engine that is 686 kW.

As a result of the conducted research, the reaction progress variables in the combustion chamber representing the spread of flame and rate of heat release have been obtained. A distinct influence of the number of operating spark plugs on the combustion process has been revealed. In fact, in the case of lack of ignition in one of the spark plugs the, combustion occurs, but the process prolongs in time. In order to optimize the process of combustion, research for various angles of ignition will be conducted in the future.