Simulated design of the piston geometry of a hydrogen engine

The project "Simulated design of the piston geometry of a hydrogen engine" deals with the potential analysis of various mixture formation concepts suitable for diverse piston bowl geometries within the realm of hydrogen combustion engines, specifically within the context of commercial vehicle applications. For this study, a single-cylinder commercial vehicle engine is equipped for hydrogen operation, both with port fuel- and direct injection, and operated on an engine test bench. The reference point for comparison is the direct fuel injection design, which is subsequently contrasted with various piston bowl concepts in terms of their capability to create an optimal air-fuel mixture through the combustion chamber. It is critical to understand the physical process of mixing between the injected fuel and the air within the cylinder to optimize the overall performance of the direct injection engine. The local equivalence ratio near the spark plug at the time of the spark discharge is particularly important for successful ignition. In addition, the mixture distribution around the spark plug, together with fluid motion, strongly influences the combustion initiation, which subsequently affects the engine performance, efficiency, and emissions. Thus, a fundamental understanding of mixture formation processes is necessary to optimise DI-H2 ICE operation. Accompanying the tests on the engine test bench, a 3D CFD model is being set up to simulate the mixture formation processes, which should provide more detailed insights into the mixture formation and homogenisation of the combustion chamber.