| 1. |
- Wadekar, Sandip, 1989
(författare)
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Large-Eddy Simulation of Gasoline Fuel Spray Injection at Ultra-High Injection Pressures
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Gasoline direct injection is a state-of-the-art technique that reduces hydrocarbon and particulate emissions. However, further improvement is needed to meet current as well as future emission regulations. A prominent solution is to increase the fuel injection pressure which allows faster fuel droplet atomization, quick evaporation and improves fuel-air mixture formation under realistic engine conditions. In this work, the gasoline fuel injection process at ultra-high injection pressures ranging from 200 to 1500 bar was analyzed using numerical models. In particular, the Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) method, with the standard Smagorinsky turbulence model, was utilized using the Eulerian formulation for the continuous phase. The discrete droplet phase was treated using a Lagrangian formulation together with spray sub-models. In the first part of study, spray was injected into an initially quiescent constant volume chamber using two different nozzle hole shape geometries: divergent and convergent. The numerical results were calibrated by reproducing experimentally observed liquid penetration length and efforts were made to understand the influence of ultra-high injection pressures on spray development. The calibrated models were then used to investigate the impact of ultra-high injection pressures on mean droplet sizes, droplet size distribution, spray-induced large-scale eddies and entrainment rate. The results showed that, at ultra-high injection pressures, the mean droplet sizes were significantly reduced and the droplets achieving very high velocities. Integral length scales of spray-induced turbulence and air entrainment rate were better for the divergent-shaped injector, and considerably larger at higher injection pressures compared to lower ones. In the second part of the study, four consecutive full-cycle cold flow LES simulations were carried out to generate realistic turbulence inside the engine cylinder. The first three cycles were ignored, with the fourth cycle being used to model the injection of the fuel using the divergent-shaped injector only (which was found to be better in the previous part of this study) at different injection pressures. In addition to the continuous gas phase (Eulerian) and the dispersed liquid (Lagrangian), the liquid film feature (Finite-Area) was used to model the impingement of fuel spray on the engine walls and subsequent liquid film formation. The simulation results were used to evaluate spray-induced turbulence, fuel-air mixing efficiency and the amount of liquid mass deposited on the walls. The limitation of the high-pressure injection technique with respect to liquid film formation was optimized using a start of injection (SOI) sweep. Overall results showed that the mixing efficiency increased at high injection pressure and that SOI should occur between early injection and late injection to optimize the amount of mass being deposited on the engine walls.
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| 2. |
- Thulin, Oskar, 1987
(författare)
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On the Analysis of Energy Efficient Aircraft Engines
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aero engine performance analysis is highly multidimensional using various measures of component performance such as turbomachinery and mechanical efficiencies, and pressure loss coefficients. Using conventional performance analysis, relying on only the laws of thermodynamics, it is possible to understand how the performance parameters affect the component performance, but it is difficult to directly compare the magnitude of various loss sources. A comprehensive framework has been detailed to analyze aero engine loss sources in one common currency. As the common currency yields a measure of the lost work potential in every component, it is used to relate the component performance to the system performance. The theory includes a more detailed layout of all the terms that apply to a propulsion unit than presented before. The framework is here adopted to real gases to be used in state of the art performance codes. Additionally, the framework is further developed to enable detailed studies of two radical intercooling concepts that either rejects the core heat in the outer nacelle surfaces or uses the core heat for powering of a secondary cycle. The theory is also extended upon by presenting the installed rational efficiency, a true measure of the propulsion subsystem performance, including the installation effects of the propulsion subsystem as it adds weight and drag that needs to be compensated for in the performance assessment.
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| 3. |
- Edman, Jonas, 1973
(författare)
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Modeling Diesel spray combustion using a Detailed Chemistry Approach
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The rapid development of computer hardware during the past decade has contributed substantially to advances in almost all branches of science. Computer modeling is being applied to increasingly small physical scales and increasingly large domains, facilitating the generation of advanced phenomenological models and models based on first principles. These developments have been especially valuable in fields where highly complex micro-scale events are observed or modeled, such as combustion studies, allowing (for instance) the incorporation of complex chemical combustion kinetics into engine spray combustion models. The crude models and global curve fits that were previously used to represent combustion phenomena have now been largely replaced by models based on "first principles". These modeling developments have coincided fortuitously with a shift in the focus of combustion concepts, from mixing-oriented combustion modes like Diesel and stratified charge Otto combustion to the kinetically controlled combustion modes usually referred to as Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI). The driving forces behind the development of the HCCI concept are environmental considerations, manifested in the form of emission legislation. Theoretically, HCCI combustion (characterized by fuel lean mixtures and low peak temperatures) has the potential to reduce soot and NOx emissions to current emission legislation levels even without after-treatment systems. In practical production engine applications, due to current drawbacks such as poor high load capability, the capacity to switch to conventional mode at high load operation is required. For the above reasons, computer modeling that is capable of describing both old and new combustion modes is required. In the work underlying this thesis, CFD modeling was applied to the passenger car Dl Diesel engine operated in both HCCI and conventional Diesel combustion modes. The aim was to couple chemical combustion kinetics and turbulent mixing in order to capture relevant phenomena related to ignition and emission formation for both modes. The resulting, coupled model is referred to as the Partially Stirred Reactor model (PaSR), and is the main component in the Detailed Chemistry Approach currently utilized in combustion modeling at Chalmers University of Technology (CTH). Other essential components of the Detailed Chemistry Approach are the Reference Species Technique (used to determine the relevant chemical timescales) and the Diesel fuel surrogate model (constructed to facilitate realistic treatment of the fuel in both liquid and gaseous states). The gaseous kinetic treatment of the Diesel fuel surrogate model, represented by a blend of aliphatic and aromatic components, consists of a chemical kinetic mechanism considering -75 chemical species participating in -330 elementary or global reactions describing n-heptane and toluene oxidation. Although most of the modeling was done in the CFD code KIVA-3V rel2, the development and validation of the chemical kinetic combustion mechanism was done using the SENKIN code and the CHEMKIN package. The chemical kinetic modeling has provided a kinetic mechanism for Diesel combustion that is capable of reproducing experimental ignition delay characteristics of both n-heptane and toluene oxidation in both low and high pressure regimes. In addition, it reproduces the negative temperature coefficient behavior that is an important feature of commercial Diesel fuels. It has also been able to reproduce cool flame phenomena, which play important roles in HCCI combustion. Results from the constant volume spray modeling have shown that the spray development, liquid and gas penetration and ignition characteristics observed in high pressure Diesel spray experiments are properly reproduced. Furthermore, major combustion variables such as ignition timing, heat release and pressure traces generated in engine simulations have satisfactorily reproduced experimental data acquired in tests using a single cylinder engine at Chalmers University of Technology.
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| 4. |
- Capitao Patrao, Alexandre, 1988
(författare)
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On the Aerodynamic Design of the Boxprop
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Economic factors and environmental awareness are driving the evolution of aircraft engines towards increasingly lower fuel consumption and emissions. The Counter-Rotating Open Rotor (CROR) is actively being researched around the world, promising a significantly increased propulsion efficiency relative to existing turbofans by employing two, unducted, counter-rotating propeller blade rows, thereby increasing the bypass ratio of the engine and decreasing nacelle drag. Historically, these engines have been plagued by high noise levels, mainly due to the impingement of the front rotor tip vortices on the rear rotor. In modern designs, the noise levels have been decreased by clipping the rear, counter-rotating propeller. This comes at a cost of decreased efficiency. An alternative, potential solution lies with the Boxprop, which was invented by Richard Avellán and Anders Lundbladh. The Boxprop consists of blade pairs joined at the tip, and is conceptually similar to a box wing. This type of propeller could weaken or eliminate the tip vortex found in conventional blades, thereby reducing the acoustic signature. This thesis summarizes advances done in the research regarding the aerodynamics of the Boxprop. Aerodynamic optimization of the Boxprop has shown that it features higher propeller efficiency than conventional propellers with the same number of blades, but lower propeller efficiency than conventional propellers with twice as many blades. A key design feature of optimal Boxprop designs is the sweeping of the blade halves in opposite directions. This reduces the interference between the blades and allows the Boxprop to achieve aerodynamic loading where it is most efficient - close to the tip. A Wake Analysis Method (WAM) is presented in this work which provides a detailed breakdown and quantification of the aerodynamic losses in the flow. It also has the ability to distinguish and quantify the kinetic energy of the tip vortices and wakes. The Wake Analysis Method has been used to analyse both Boxprop blades and conventional propeller blades, and insights from it led to a geometric parametrization and an optimization effort which increased the Boxprop propeller efficiency by 7 percentage points. Early Boxprop blades did not feature a tip vortex since aerodynamic loading near the tip was relatively low. The optimized Boxprop blades have increased the aerodynamic loading near the tip and this has resulted in a vortex-like structure downstream of the Boxprop at cruise conditions. This vortex is significantly weaker and of different origin than the tip vortex of a conventional propeller. A CROR featuring the Boxprop as its front rotor (BPOR) has been designed and its performance at cruise is competitive with other published CRORs, paving the way for future work regarding take-off performance and acoustics.
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| 5. |
- Shetty, Sandeep
(författare)
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Optimization of Vehicle Structures under Uncertainties
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Advancements in simulation tools and computer power have made it possible to incorporate simulation-based structural optimization in the automotive product development process. However, deterministic optimization without considering uncertainties such as variations in material properties, geometry or loading conditions might result in unreliable optimum designs. In this thesis, the capability of some established approaches to perform design optimization under uncertainties is assessed, and new improved methods are developed. In particular, vehicle structural problems which involve computationally expensive Finite Element (FE) simulations, are addressed.The first paper focuses on the evaluation of robustness, given some variation in input parameters, the capabilities of three well-known metamodels are evaluated. In the second paper, a comparative study of deterministic, reliability-based and robust design optimization approaches is performed. It is found that the overall accuracy of the single-stage (global) metamodels, which are used in the above study, is acceptable for deterministic optimization. However, the accuracy of performance variation prediction (local sensitivity) must be improved. In the third paper, a decoupled reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) approach is presented. In this approach, metamodels are employed for the deterministic optimization only while the uncertainty analysis is performed using FE simulations in order to ensure its accuracy.In the fifth paper, two new sequential sampling strategies are introduced that aim to improve the accuracy of the metamodels efficiently in critical regions. The capabilities of the methods presented are illustrated using analytical examples and a vehicle structural application.It is important to accurately represent physical variations in material properties since these might exert a major influence on the results. In previous work these variations have been treated in a simplified manner and the consequences of these simplifications have been poorly understood. In the fourth paper, the accuracy of several simple methods in representing the real material variation has been studied. It is shown that a scaling of the nominal stress-strain curve based on the Rm scatter is the best choice of the evaluated choices, when limited material data is available.In this thesis work, new pragmatic methods for non-deterministic optimization of large scale vehicle structural problems have been developed. The RBDO methods developed are shown to be flexible, more efficient and reasonably accurate, which enables their implementation in the current automotive product development process.
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| 6. |
- Fruth, Florian, 1981-
(författare)
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Reduction of Aerodynamic Forcing inTransonic Turbomachinery : Numerical Studies on Forcing Reduction Techniques
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Due to more and more aggressive designs in turbomachinery, assuring the structural integrity of its components has become challenging. Also influenced by this trend is blade design, where lighter and slimmer blades, in combination with higher loading, lead to an increased risk of failure, e.g. in the form of blade vibration. Methods have been proposed to reduce vibration amplitudes for subsonic engines, but cannot directly be applied to transonic regimes due to the additional physical phenomena involved. Therefore the present work investigates numerically the influence of two methods for reducing blade vibration amplitudes in transonic turbomachines, namely varying the blade count ratio and clocking. As it is known that clocking affects the efficiency, the concurrent effects on vibration amplitudes and efficiency are analyzed and discussed in detail.For the computational investigations, the proprietary Fortran-based non-linear, viscous 3D-CFD solver VolSol is applied on two transonic compressor cases and one transonic turbine case. In order to reduce calculation time and to generate the different blade count ratios a scaling technique is applied.The first and main part of this work focuses on the influence of the reduction techniques on aerodynamic forcing. Both the change in blade count ratio and clocking position are found to have significant potential for reducing aerodynamic force amplitudes. Manipulation of the phasing of excitation sources is found herein to be a major contributor to the amplitude variation. The lowest stimulus results are achieved for de-phased excitation sources and results in multiple blade force peaks per blade passing. In the case of blade count ratio variation it was found that blockage for high blade count ratios and the change in potential field size have significant impacts on the blade forcing. For the clocking investigation, three additional operating points and blade count ratios are analyzed and prove to have an impact on the force reduction achievable by clocking.The second part of the work evaluates the influence of clocking on the efficiency of a transonic compressor. It is found that the efficiency can be increased, but the magnitude of the change and the optimal wake impingement location depend on the operating point. Moreover it is shown that optimal efficiency and aerodynamic forcing settings are not directly related. In order to approximate the range of changes of both parameters, an ellipse approximation is suggested.
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| 7. |
- Raja, Visakha, 1985
(författare)
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On the Design of Functionally Integrated Aero-engine Structures: Modeling and Evaluation Methods for Architecture and Complexity
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The drive for airplanes with radically reduced fuel consumption and emissions motivates engine manufacturers to explore innovative engine designs. The novelty of such engines results in changed operating conditions, such as newly introduced constraints, increased loads or rearranged interfaces. To be competitive, component developers and manufacturers must understand and predict the consequences of such changes on their sub-systems. Presently, such assessments are based on detailed geometrical models (CAD or finite element) and consume significant amounts of time. The preparation of such models is resource intensive unless parametrization is employed. Even with parametrization, alternative geometrical layouts for designs are difficult to achieve. In contrast to geometrical model-based estimations, a component architecture representation and evaluation scheme can quickly identify the functional implications for a system-level change and likely consequences on the component. The schemes can, in turn, point to the type and location of needed evaluations with detailed geometry. This will benefit the development of new engine designs and facilitate improvements upon existing designs. The availability of architecture representation schemes for functionally integrated (all functions being satisfied by one monolithic structure) aero-engine structural components is limited. The research in this thesis focuses on supporting the design of aero-engine structural components by representing their architecture as well as by developing means for the quantitative evaluation and comparison of different component designs. The research has been conducted in collaboration with GKN Aerospace Sweden AB, and the components are aero-engine structures developed and manufactured at GKN. Architectural information is generated and described based on concepts from set theory, graph theory and enhanced function–means trees. In addition, the complexities of the components are evaluated using a new complexity metric. Specifically, the developed modeling and evaluation methods facilitate the following activities: · identification and representation of function–means information for the component · representation and evaluation of component architecture · product complexity evaluation · early selection of load path architecture · impact assessment for the component’s functioning in the system By means of the methods developed in this thesis, the design rationale for a component is made explicit, and the storing, communicating and retrieving of information about the component in the future is enabled. Through their application to real-life engine structures, the usability of the methods in identifying early load carrying configurations and selecting a manufacturing segmenting option is demonstrated. Together, the methods provide development engineers the ability to compare alternative architectures. Further research could focus on exploring the system (engine) effects of changes in component architecture and improvements to the complexity metric by incorporating manufacturing information.
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| 8. |
- Kyprianidis, Konstantinos G.
(författare)
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Multi-Disciplinary Conceptual Design of Future Jet Engine Systems
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis describes various aspects of the development of a multi-disciplinary aero engine conceptual design tool, TERA2020 (Techno-economic, Environmental and Risk Assessment for 2020), based on an explicit algorithm that considers: engine performance, engine aerodynamic and mechanical design, aircraft design and performance, emissions prediction and environmental impact, engine and airframe noise, and production, maintenance and direct operating costs.As part of this research effort, a newly-derived semi-empirical NOx correlation for modern rich-burn single-annular combustors is proposed. The development of a numerical methods library is also presented, including an improved gradient-based algorithm for solving non-linear equation systems. Common assumptions made in thermo-fluid modelling for gas turbines and their effect on caloric properties are investigated, while the impact of uncertainties on performance calculations and emissions predictions at aircraft system level is assessed. Furthermore, accuracy limitations in assessing novel engine core concepts as imposed by current practice in thermo-fluid modelling are identified.The TERA2020 tool is used for quantifying the potential benefits from novel technologies for three low pressure spool turbofan architectures. The impact of failing to deliver specific component technologies is quantified, in terms of power plant noise and CO2 emissions. To address the need for higher engine thermal efficiency, TERA2020 is again utilised; benefits from the potential introduction of heat-exchanged cores in future aero engine designs are explored and a discussion on the main drivers that could support such initiatives is presented. Finally, an intercooled core and conventional core turbofan engine optimisation procedure using TERA2020 is presented. A back-to-back comparison between the two engine configurations is performed and fuel optimal designs for 2020 are proposed.Whilst the detailed publications and the work carried out by the author, in a collaborative effort with other project partners, is presented in the main body of this thesis, it is important to note that this work is supported by 20 conference and journal papers.
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| 9. |
- Larusson, Ragnar, 1986
(författare)
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Modal Analysis of Supersonic Flow Separation in Nozzles
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Operating a convergent-divergent nozzle under overexpanded conditions can lead to supersonic flow separation in the divergent section of the nozzle. In this case, an attached oblique shock wave forms at the separation base. The sudden pressure rise across the shock wave can cause damaging lateral pressure forces, or side-loads, to act on the nozzle if the separation line is asymmetric. Such asymmetry can be caused by downstream instabilities stemming from turbulence, external excitation or periodic modes. In this thesis the applicability of applying modal decomposition methods to supersonic nozzle flows was investigated. Axisymmetric RANS and URANS simulations of nozzle flows were investigated using the Arnoldi algorithm and the Dynamic Mode Decomposition,respectively. The Arnoldi method relies on a linearized flow solver and has the advantage of being able to detect asymmetric modes on two dimensional grids. The DMD, however, is a snapshot-based algorithm which needs no explicit linearization of the flow dynamics. Results show that these methods can successfully be applied to supersonic nozzle flows with separation and strong shocks. For example, the Arnoldi method predicted a helical screeching mode with impressive accuracy and The DMD analysis on perturbed 2D URANS flow field was able to detect modes linked to transonic resonance. Finally, Detached Eddy Simulations (DES) on a separated flow inside a Truncated Ideal Contoured Nozzle were performed for two separate nozzle pressure ratios (NPR’s). The simulated sideload were lower than experimentally measured values but within uncertainty range. A three dimensional DMD analysis was performed on the DES data and revealed a strong ovalization mode at the lower NPR and a helical mode which could be linked to a peak in side-load spectrum at the higher NPR.
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| 10. |
- Forslund, Anders, 1982
(författare)
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Uncertainty and Robustness in Aerospace Structures
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Engineering is not an exact science. In fact, all engineering activity contain some degree of assumption, simplification, idealization, and abstraction. When engineered creations meet reality, every manufactured product behaves differently. This variation can be detrimental to product quality and functionality. In an aerospace context, this variation may even result in serious threats to the safety and reliability of aircraft. However, it is not the variation in and of itself that is harmful, but the effects it imposes on functionality—an important distinction to make. Reducing sources of variation is often associated with tightening tolerances and increasing cost. Instead, it is preferable to eliminate the effects of this variation by making designs more robust. This idea is at the core of robust design methodology. Aerospace is an industry characterized by the complexity of its products and the multidisciplinary nature of its product development. In such contexts, there are significant barriers against implementing uncertainty-based design practices. The research presented in this thesis aims at identifying the role of robust design in general, and geometry assurance in particular, in the early phases of aerospace component design. Further, this thesis proposes a methodology by which geometry assurance practices may be implemented in this setting. The methodology consists of a modelling approach linked to a multidisciplinary simulation environment. In a series of case studies, the methodology is tested in an industrial setting. The capability of the methodology is demonstrated through several applications, in which the effects of geometric variation on the aerodynamic, thermal, and structural performance of a load-bearing turbofan component are analysed. Investigated effects include part variation, fixture variation, part configuration and welding. The proposed methodology overcomes many of the current barriers, making it more feasible to assess geometric variation in the early design phases. Despite some limitations, the methodology contributes to an academic understanding of how to evaluate geometric variation in multidisciplinary simulations and provides a tool for industry. Geometric variation is only one source of uncertainty amongst many others. By evaluating geometric variation against the framework of uncertainty quantification, this thesis addresses the relative importance of geometry assurance against other product development activities.
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