Modeling of Ignition Systems of Spark-Ignition Engines

Dr. Haiwen Ge

Texas Tech University
Department of Mechanical Engineering

 

Abstract

Spark plug design is the most critical component for a spark-ignition (SI) engine, as it controls the combustion phasing of the engine. Despite of its importance, the ignition process is far away from full understanding, due to the multiscale, multi-physics, random, strong nonlinear nature of the spark ignition process. The talk briefly reviews the history and the state of the art of the ignition systems for internal combustion engines, and the mathematical models for threedimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation. A comprehensive predictive ignition system model is emphasized. The model consists of an electrical circuitry model, breakdown model, Lagrangian particle arc model, restrike model, ignition and flame propagation model. The model has been implemented into a commercial 3D combustion CFD software through user-defined functions. The model has been validated in some well-controlled cases. The model has been applied to a gasoline direction-injection engine case to investigate the effects of spark plug orientations on flame kernel growth and combustion performance. The future directions of ignition system modeling are discussed.

 

Speaker Biography

Dr. Ge is an Associate Professor of Practice at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Texas Tech University. He joined Texas Tech in 2017. He got Bachelor and Master degrees from University of Science and Technology of China, and Doctor of Science from Heidelberg University. In 2006-2010, he worked as a postdoc fellow at the Engine Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 2010, he worked at Ford, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and John Deere. He was the Senior Technical Specialist on Combustion Development at the FCA. Dr. Ge's research focused on development of advanced models, numerical algorithms, simulation and optimization methods for thermal fluid problems, especially reactive flow, two-phase flow, and engine combustion. He has published 1 monograph, 5 book chapter, 70 archived papers, and 74 conference papers/presentations. He is currently chair of SAE Powertrain Development Committee, and one of the Executive Associates of ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division.