The paper describes a computational and experimental study of the application of advanced ceramic materials for thermal insulation of the swirl chamber of the passenger car IDI diesel engine. Four ceramic materials, having a wide range of physical properties, were evaluated. These were syalon 101, aluminium titanate, reaction bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) and tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP). A detailed finite element study was carried out in support of component design which examined parameters such as heat flux, operating temperature, thermal and assembly stresses and evaluated the requirements for interference fits between metallic and ceramic components. Experimental work was initially carried out on a steady state dynamometer test stand and later supported by vehicle tests on a chassis dynamometer and test track.
The investigation has shown that current engineering ceramic materials have the potential for application in engine combustion chambers. A total of 254 hours of engine testing with ceramic chambers was achieved without catastrophic engine failure. Engine performance was unchanged by the adoption of a thermally insulated swirl chamber, probably because the increase in swirl chamber surface temperature obtained (increased from 660 to about 850°C at full load) was insufficient to modify the thermodynamic cycle. Hydrocarbon emissions were generally increased, however; this was due in part to the difficulty of sealing the air gap behind the ceramic chamber at the fuel injector and glow plug interfaces.
An Investigation of Thermal Insulation of IDI Diesel Engine Swirl Chambers
1991-10-01
10 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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