Thermodynamic model for simulation of internal combustion engines using alternative fuels

• Grant number: 13/18050-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Thermal Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Santiago del Rio Oliveira
• Grantee: Ana Laura Limoni Geraissati
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The analysis and development of internal combustion engines with spark ignition is a topic of great scientific and technical interest. In general, studies related to this type of equipment have to analyze their energy efficiency, i.e., the conversion of chemical energy of fuel into mechanical energy. The analysis and development of these devices are complex and characterized by multidisciplinary of concepts involved. A study of energy efficiency can be achieved from the point of view of the materials involved in the design of the engine, the quality and type of fuel used, the size of engine components and the thermal interaction between the components. Regardless of the perspective used, several mathematical models can be proposed, since simple models with fast analytical solutions even more complex models with numerical solutions that require high computational power. The aim of this research project is to develop a simple mathematical model to simulate an internal combustion engine using a general fuel in the form C-H-O-N. This generality allows analysis of both engines with spark ignition engines as compression ignition. The model is based on basic concepts of thermodynamic, heat transfer and mechanisms, being dependent on the angle of rotation of the crank. The resulting set of differential equations is solved numerically using Matlab to obtain the curves of pressure, temperature, work and heat transfer for selected fuels.