Development of a web-based ‘computational combustion device’ for testing diagnostic strategies

 

PI:        Scott T. Sanders, Assistant Professor, ssanders@engr.wisc.edu

Engine Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UW-Madison

10 September 2006

 

In the field of combustion diagnostics, researchers typically design and assemble optical systems, test them in controlled cells or flames, repeat as needed, and finally apply them to practical combustion devices such as engines.  This routine is time-consuming, expensive, and largely unsuccessful as many attempts never make it to the practical device, or fail when they do.

 

We propose to develop a computational tool that is both user-friendly and representative of practical engine conditions, thus allowing researchers to test diagnostic strategies efficiently.

 

Development of the proposed tool requires a budget (see below), but will ultimately cut costs dramatically by limiting use of the painstaking routine described above.

 

We propose to conduct experiments in engines so that the tool will provide accurate, quantitative estimations of:

 

In addition, we propose to incorporate estimations of parameters that are already sufficiently understood, including:

 

Our vision is that, in time, researchers will be able to test a diagnostic strategy using the tool, and be able to publish the results as strong evidence for the expected performance in practical environments.

 

Approximate minimum budget:

Equipment and supplies

$25k

Personnel

$55k

Total

$80k

 

References

[1]  Kranendonk, L. A., and Sanders, S. T., 2005, "Optical Design in Beam Steering  Environments with Emphasis on Laser Transmission Measurements," Applied Optics, 44(31) pp. 6762-6772.

 

For more information contact Prof. Sanders, ssanders@engr.wisc.edu


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