Session: Technical Posters

Paper Number: 111113

111113 - Computational Modeling of a 1:10 and 1:1 Scale Large-Bore Marine Two-Stroke Engine 

Most projections of future marine engine operation include alternative fuels ranging from ammonia to bio-oil or biodiesel blends to decarbonize the marine sector.  Due to the extremely large physical size of marine engines, experimental development of the alternative fuel system is cost prohibitive at full or even reduced scales.  Considerations in evaluating alternative fuels suitability include fuel injection as well as combustion and emissions performance.

We present results from our development of a computational model of a large-bore marine engine.  The scaled model is representative of a 1:10 scale experimental research engine commissioned for lubricant research at ORNL.  Reduced chemical mechanisms are developed for several fuels.  The mechanisms are evaluated and performance and emissions of NOx, and PAHs as a surrogate for soot, are assessed.  The model is validated against experimental data from the research engine and details of the combustion process between selected fuels are discussed.  An interesting aspect of the research is the concurrent development of a full-scale (1:1) engine model.  We will discuss implementation considerations when evaluating such a large, full-scale simulation as well as where scaling similarities might apply.  We will also discuss prospects for the maritime industry to use such virtual platforms to evaluate alternative fuels and to reduce the number of experimental evaluations in experimental engines.

Presenting Author: Flavio Chuahy Oak Ridge National Laboratories

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Chuahy is a Research Staff in the Thermal Hydraulics Group as part of the Advanced Reactor Engineering and Development Section of ORNL in the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division.

Dr. Chuahy's expertise lies in multi-phase reacting and non-reacting fluid dynamics, high efficiency combustion systems, electrochemistry and fuel chemistry with a focus on high-fidelity simulations and high performance computing.

Currently his research focuses on understanding some of the most important barriers to higher thermal efficiency and fuel chemistry impacts on combustion performance, high performance multi-phase cooling, optimization of direct air CO2 capture devices and building efficiency.

His broad research background also includes high efficiency heat exchangers, topology optimization, marine fuels, electrochemical-combustion systems, carbon capture contactors, etc.

Dr. Chuahy earned his MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin - Madison at the Engine Research Center and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Maua School of Engineering in Sao Paulo, Brazil.