Optimization of Engine Cooling Through Conjugate Heat Transfer Simulation and Analysis of Fins 2012-32-0054

Engine life and effectiveness can be improved with effective cooling. In designing and optimization process, simulation plays a vital role. The cooling mechanism of the air cooled engine is mostly dependent on the fin design of the cylinder head and block. The heat is conducted through the engine parts and convected to air through the surfaces of the fins. Insufficient removal of heat from engine will lead to high thermal stresses and lower engine efficiency.

To simulate the cooling mechanism of the naturally aspirated engines, Three Dimensional CFD analyses with the SC/Tetra code is done. This gives a good scope in analyzing the existing fin design and proposes the optimized design. The boundary conditions required for carrying the CFD analysis such as the heat transfer co-efficient, cylinder temperature, has been generated by carrying One Dimensional engine cycle simulation. Engine assembly is imported into SC/Tetra code and conjugate heat transfer analysis is conducted to understand the effectiveness of heat transfer through the fins. Conjugate heat transfer analysis provides a clear view on heat transfer through solid and fluid domain. Detailed study on the heat transfer of the cylinder head and block has been done. Fin increases the convective heat transfer rate. A detailed parametric study of heat transfer on fins is done and Theoretical analysis has been carried out to achieve an optimal fin design for effective heat transfer. Theoretical analysis aids in speeding up the design optimization problem. Conjugate heat transfer analysis of engine assembly with modified fins is performed.

The results of heat transfer through the existing fins and modified fins are compared. There is a considerable increase in the heat transfer with the modified fins. A methodology for optimizing the fin heat transfer and fin performance is proposed.