Numerical investigation of a pressure wave supercharger

Abstract

Abstract The paper aims at a numerical investigation of the evolution of velocity, pressure and temperature field along the wave rotor channels for a pressure wave supercharger. Since in literature most of the studies are made considering the working fluid as incompressible and inviscid in a 2D field, the present study is using the compressible and viscous terms in unsteady Navier-Stokes equations for fluid in 3D field. The geometry was drawn in CAD software using measurements made on a real model of the CX-93 pressure wave supercharger. The simulation was conducted using a CFD code for unsteady 3D k-e, k-co model approach to reproduce data such as pressures, temperature and mass flows which are usually measured in real engine pressure wave supercharging. The computational domain for uRANS was modeled as a moving rotational domain with adaptive meshing. Results such as velocity, pressure and temperature field in the rotor channels were obtained for exhaust gas inlet pressure of 0.28 MPa and 1465 K temperature at different rotational speeds. The air inlet state considered was: 0,098 MPa and 293 K. Supercharging by means of a pressure wave supercharger, in order to improve the performance of an internal combustion engine, appears to be a promising solution since the exhaust gas generates a benefice boost of intake air with significant advantages when compared to the conventional turbocharging. The numerical modelling of the complex phenomena occurring within the narrow channels might be a useful tool for improving the pressure exchange between the working fluids, either by modifying the input parameters or by optimizing the geometry of the rotor, ports or pockets.