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Improving engine performance and efficiency by minimisation of knock probability (MINKNOCK)

Objective

Objectives and problems to be solved:
To date, the optimisation of existing engines and the development of new engine concepts like DGI, down-sizing, turbo charging or CAI is still a challenge for engine developers considering high loads over the entire speed range. This is mostly due to the knocking phenomenon, which is still not sufficiently understood. Engine knock is the limiting factor for increasing engine efficiency and is also responsible for increased emissions at high loads over the entire speed range. Describing and even predicting knocking is a tedious task, requiring detailed knowledge of all the processes occurring in the combustion chamber. The objective of the proposed project is to provide a better understanding of how engine knock is initiated and influenced by fuel and engine parameters. The results of the project complement current databases, instrumentation and simulation tools and empower development engineers to further improve engine performance and efficiency, to reduce engine pollutant and GHG emissions simultaneously and to reduce time and costs in the development process.
Description of the work:
Understanding the engine knock phenomenon is a mandatory but also tedious task as knock occurs locally in the cylinder and depends on many features such as engine geometry, flame propagation, wall temperatures and ignition timing. However, insight into the knock phenomenon can be obtained by means of CFD simulation and detailed experiments. Therefore, advanced and very promising measurement techniques are being employed and new simulation tools are being developed and validated in this project. Major technical objectives are to perform advanced experiments in both fired research and fired production engines of gasoline type with only minor modifications in order to assess the dependency of knock initiation on fuel and engine parameters. Furthermore, new CFD sub-models for knock prediction by means of 3D simulation are being developed and validated, based on experimental data coming out of this project. These sub-models comply with accuracy and stability specifications and are sufficiently fast to be used for engine development on a regular basis to predict engine knock with high accuracy. The sub-models are being integrated into existing CFD engine codes which are used in the design and optimisation of modern engines in order to comply with current and future efficiency requirements and pollutant regulations. For basic validation of the simulation models, fundamental experiments in simplified geometries are being performed. Based on the results of this project, a consolidated database for the assessment of experiments and simulation results is being created.
Expected Results and Exploitation Plans:
The environmental performance of automotive engines has become the major prerequisite for world-wide competitiveness of the European car industry, particularly in competition with the USA and Japan manufacturers. This project aims to create knowledge and to develop experimental techniques and simulation tools that will enable better design of automotive engines that can meet the future increasingly stringent environmental standards and that will compete successfully with non-European manufacturers. Furthermore, it will greatly reduce the time and cost for the design and development of new engines. All of this should thus contribute to the preservation of employment in Europe, in the European automotive industry, which is one of Europe's most important industry sectors.

Call for proposal

Data not available

Coordinator

DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
EU contribution
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Address
Mercedesstrasse 137
70327 Stuttgart
Germany

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Total cost
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Participants (6)