Thermal Analysis of 4-Stroke Engine

Tan, Yann Shaw (2021) Thermal Analysis of 4-Stroke Engine. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

Text TAN YANN SHAW_Full text.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (4MB)

Abstract

This research is to analyse the thermal behaviours of various types of materials that would be apply in a 4-stroke engine using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The model geometry was constructed using SOLIDWORKS as the computer-aided engineering tool. Next, the model was imported to ANSYS for Finite Element Analysis in order to find out the thermal behaviours such as the temperature distribution, thermal stress, and thermal deformation of the 4-stroke SI engine. As a consequence of the combustion cycle, high temperatures are generated in the engine cylinders during the process of translating thermal energy to mechanical energy. A large part of the heat is transferred to the piston, the head of the cylinder and the cylinder walls. If this excess heat is not taken away and the components are properly cooled, the engine would be hurt. For the specification of the engine, a Spark Ignition engine (SI engine) was used for the study purpose and the temperature inside the combustion chamber will be defined as 600℃ which is the common combustion process temperature. Next, the thermal analysis materials that used in the simulation is Grey Cast Iron, Aluminium Alloy and Stainless Steel Alloy for the materials of connecting rod and cylinder wall. While for the piston part the material was fixed on aluminium-silicon alloy (Al-SI alloy), in order to improve the thermal performance of the piston different Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBC) materials was coated on the piston head and the thermal behaviours also was simulated through thermal analysis in ANSYS software. For the thickness of the thermal coating the range usually will be 0.1mm to 1mm, in this case of simulation study the thickness of coating was specific as 0.4mm for each different material and the materials that used for thermal coating is Titanium Oxide (TiO2) and Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2). After conducted through the thermal analysis, the best combination of engine components material will be Aluminium Alloy and Zirconium Oxide as the piston coating.