Numerical simulation of the injection of alternative fuels

IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) est un acteur majeur de la recherche et de la formation dans les domaines de l’énergie, du transport et de l’environnement. De la recherche à l’industrie, l’innovation technologique est au cœur de son action, articulée autour de quatre priorités stratégiques : CLIMAT, ENVIRONNEMENT ET ÉCONOMIE CIRCULAIRE, ÉNERGIES RENOUVELABLES, MOBILITÉ DURABLE et HYDROCARBURES RESPONSABLES.

L’engagement d’IFPEN en faveur d’un mix énergétique durable se traduit par des actions visant :

• à gagner en efficacité énergétique ;
• à réduire les émissions de CO2 et de polluants ;
• à améliorer l’empreinte environnementale de l’industrie et des transports ;

tout en répondant à la demande mondiale en mobilité, en énergie et en produits pour la chimie.

Dans cet objectif, IFPEN développe des solutions permettant, d’une part, d’utiliser des sources d’énergie alternatives et, d’autre part, d’améliorer les technologies existantes liées à l’exploitation des énergies fossiles.

Numerical simulation of the injection of alternative fuels

In the context of the ongoing fight against global warming, this internship aims to better understand the spray development and vaporization of alternative fuels (such as ethanol and methanol) in internal combustion engines (ICE). Various fuels containing components from biomass sources are currently under study in order to reduce CO₂ emissions.

In this work, the injection of different alternative fuels composed of ethanol and hydrocarbons (such as iso-octane, toluene) will be studied using a new single-nozzle engine combustion network (ECN) injector, called Spray M, for which experimental data are available from the ANR OFELIE project.

The candidate will conduct injection fuel spray simulations using a Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) approach with the CONVERGE CFD software. The spray will be modelled using a real-fluid model (called RFM) recently implemented in the CONVERGE solver.

This approach is selected for its accuracy as it considers most of the phenomena occurring during liquid injection process including possible cavitation phenomenon inside the injector. The first objective will therefore be to investigate the internal flow of the injector depending on the alternative fuel composition.

Then, the intern will concentrate on simulating spray injection in a high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) vessel using the RFM model to explore the effects of the operating conditions (such as cell pressure and temperature) and fuel composition on spray atomization and evaporation.

Finally, the results of this internship will contribute to the validation of the recently developed RFM two-phase flow model on the basis of available experimental data, thereby improving the accuracy of the results of numerical simulations of internal combustion engines using alternative fuels.

Requested profile and skills:

• Master M2 recherche (Equivalent Bac +5)
• Knowledge of fluid mechanics fundamentals and CFD (theoretical and/or practical). Ideally with a first experience in CFD in an internship or project with a research or commercial code.
• Experience with a coding language (ideally Python and C++)

Tutors: Dr. Al Hassan Afailal (R109); Dr. Chaouki Habchi (R116)
Keywords: Fluid-mechanics, CFD, ICE, sustainable fuels, alternative fuels, injection, evaporation, thermodynamics

Duration and dates: 5 or 6 months starting from March or April to July or August 2024

Internship location and practical information: The internship will take place at IFP Energies Nouvelles in Rueil-Malmaison (west of Paris). The intern will be granted with a financial compensation (unless granted otherwise).

---

Annonces similaires