LES And URANS simulations of the swirling flow in a dynamic model of a uniflow-scavenged cylinder

Abstract The turbulent swirling flow in a uniflow-scavenged two-stroke engine cylinder is investigated using computational fluid dynamics. The investigation is based on the flow in a scale model with a moving piston. Two numerical approaches are tested; a large eddy simulation (LES) approach with the wall-adaptive local eddy-viscosity (WALE) model and a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes approach using the k − ω Shear-Stress Transport model. Combustion and compression are neglected. The simulations are verified by a sensitivity study and the performance of the turbulence models are evaluated by comparison with experimental results. Both turbulence models produce results in good agreement with experimental data. The agreement is particularly good for the LES, immediately after the piston passes the bottom dead center. Furthermore, in the piston standstill period, the LES predicts a tangential profile in agreement with the measurements, whereas the k − ω SST model predicts a solid body rotation. Several instabilities are identified during the scavenging process. The formation of a vortex breakdown with multiple helical vortex structures are observed after the scavenge port opening, along with the shedding of vortex rings with superimposed swirl. The turbulence models predict several flow reversals in the vortex breakdown region through the scavenge process. Flow separations in the scavenge ports lead to a secondary axial flow, in the separated region. The secondary flow exits in the top of the scavenge ports, resulting in large velocity gradients near the cylinder liner above the scavenge ports.