An integrated model for the performance of piston ring pack in internal combustion engines

Author(s):  
Kamel G Mahmoud ◽  
Oliver Knaus ◽  
Tigran Parikyan ◽  
Guenter Offner ◽  
Stjepan Sklepic

Piston rings are important components in internal combustion engines. Their primary function is to seal dynamically the gap between moving piston and cylinder liner surface in order to prevent the combustion gases from penetrating into the crankcase. The rings also control the oil leakage from the crankcase to the combustion chamber. The performance of the piston ring pack impacts the engine efficiency, durability and emissions. The recognition of the impact of the ring-pack performance on the engine design resulted in a sustained effort of research and development aimed at understanding the operation of the piston ring pack. Most of the published models developed in this field are two-dimensional assuming that the ring and liner are perfect circles for the purpose of modelling the axial and radial dynamics. Although this approach has proved to be useful, there exist a number of asymmetrical characteristics of the power cylinder system that can be crucial to the ring-pack performance and therefore it is considered to be appropriate. In this work, an integrated methodology that handles the complex ring-pack mechanism is presented. The physics of the ring-pack mechanism covers the three-dimensional piston ring dynamics of asymmetric engine cylinder due to bore distortion, the mixed lubrication at ring running face as well as the ring flanks and the interring gas dynamics. The modelling method is verified in two steps. In the first step, the dynamic behaviour of the three-dimensional ring model is verified against a commercial finite element software by comparing the eigenmodes up to a frequency of about 1 kHz. In the second step, the ring-pack modelling approach using three-dimensional ring models is also verified against a commercial ring dynamics program, which is based on the two-dimensional modelling. It is shown that the three-dimensional ring dynamics modelling method has advantages over the two-dimensional modelling approach as it facilitates studying the influence of the non-uniform twist along its circumference (ring winding), the effect of bore distortion on blow-by, ring friction, friction power losses and wear.

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Wanyou Li ◽  
Yibin Guo ◽  
Tao He ◽  
Xiqun Lu ◽  
Dequan Zou

Understanding the interaction between ring dynamics and gas transport in ring pack systems is crucial and needs to be imperatively studied. The present work features detailed interring gas dynamics of piston ring pack behavior in internal combustion engines. The model is developed for a ring pack with four rings. The dynamics of ring pack are simulated. Due to the fact that small changes in geometry of the grooves and lands would have a significant impact on the interring gas dynamics, the thermal deformation of piston has been considered during the ring pack motion analysis in this study. In order to get the temperature distribution of piston head more quickly and accurately, an efficient method utilizing the concept of inverse heat conduction is presented. Moreover, a sensitive analysis based on the analysis of partial regression coefficients is presented to investigate the effect of groove parameters on blowby.


1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 382-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Keribar ◽  
Z. Dursunkaya ◽  
M. F. Flemming

This paper describes an integrated model developed for the detailed characterization and simulation of piston ring pack behavior in internal combustion engines and the prediction of ring pack performance. The model includes comprehensive and coupled treatments of (1) ring-liner hydrodynamic and boundary lubrication and friction; (2) ring axial, radial, and (toroidal) twist dynamics; (3) inter-ring gas dynamics and blowby. The physics of each of these highly inter-related phenomena are represented by submodels, which are intimately coupled to form a design-oriented predictive tool aimed at the calculation of ring film thicknesses, ring motions, land pressures, engine friction, and blowby. The paper also describes the results of a series of analytical studies investigating effects of engine speed and load and ring pack design parameters, on ring motions, film thicknesses, and inter-ring pressures, as well as ring friction and blowby.


2016 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 166-171
Author(s):  
Peter Raffai ◽  
Pavel Novotný ◽  
Jozef Dlugoš

The continuously tightening regulations limiting the amount of exhaust gas components of internal combustion engines force the manufacturers to further increase the effectivity of their power units. Due to the already relatively highly-developed state of engines result in the need of research and development of even smaller engine parts – e.g. piston rings. The main aim of this project was to develop a tool for the computer simulation of the behavior of the piston ring pack, which could aid the optimization process of the piston ring pack towards lowered friction losses.


Author(s):  
M-T Ma ◽  
E H Smith ◽  
I Sherrington

The study of piston ring lubrication in internal combustion engines has remained a very active area in tribology. Theoretical analyses have been developed by many researchers to predict the performance characteristics of piston rings, but almost all previous models established were based upon the assumption that ring/cylinder geometry was axisymmetric. This may not be adequate for modern-day engine design since it is well known that cylinder bores are not perfectly circular. They suffer radial distortions which arise for various reasons. In the current work, a three-dimensional model has been developed to account for the effects of bore out-of-roundness. In order to do this, the three-dimensional Reynolds equation was solved cyclically using the finite difference method in fully flooded lubrication conditions. In this part of the paper, the theoretical model is presented and the effect of bore shape on piston ring performance is examined with three proposed types of bore (circular, elliptical and four-lobe). The results have shown that piston ring performance is significantly dependent on the bore shape or bore out-of-roundness.


Author(s):  
P J Burnett ◽  
B Bull ◽  
R J Wetton

The performance characteristics of the piston ring-liner assembly and the lubricant within it are critical for the operation of modern internal combustion engines. The ring pack can directly affect engine friction, oil consumption and oil degradation, which in turn can impact upon fuel economy, emissions and engine wear. The operation of this system is complex and no single technique is capable of fully characterizing the processes occurring. This paper outlines the range of both experimental and theoretical methods that are being applied to the study of this system and the lubricant within it. These include the modelling of ring pack gas and oil flows, and direct measurement of piston temperatures, ring belt pressures and piston ring motion. Characterization of lubricant degradation via direct sampling of oil from the top ring groove of an operating engine has also been used. The merits of such a multi-faceted approach are discussed in relation to piston deposit formation.


Author(s):  
Mohamed Kamal Ahmed Ali ◽  
Hou Xianjun ◽  
Richard Fiifi Turkson ◽  
Muhammad Ezzat

This paper presents a model to study the effect of piston ring dynamics on basic tribological parameters that affect the performance of internal combustion engines by using dynamics analysis software (AVL Excite Designer). The paramount tribological parameters include friction force, frictional power losses, and oil film thickness of piston ring assembly. The piston and rings assembly is one of the highest mechanically loaded components in engines. Relevant literature reports that the piston ring assembly accounts for 40% to 50% of the frictional losses, making it imperative for the piston ring dynamics to be understood thoroughly. This analytical study of the piston ring dynamics describes the significant correlation between the tribological parameters of piston and rings assembly and the performance of engines. The model was able to predict the effects of engine speed and oil viscosity on asperity and hydrodynamic friction forces, power losses, oil film thickness and lube oil consumption. This model of mixed film lubrication of piston rings is based on the hydrodynamic action described by Reynolds equation and dry contact action as described by the Greenwood–Tripp rough surface asperity contact model. The results in the current analysis demonstrated that engine speed and oil viscosity had a remarkable effect on oil film thickness and hydrodynamic friction between the rings and cylinder liner. Hence, the mixed lubrication model, which unifies the lubricant flow under different ring–liner gaps, is needed via the balance between the hydrodynamic and boundary lubrication modes to obtain minimum friction between rings and liner and to ultimately help in improving the performance of engines.


Author(s):  
Liang Liu ◽  
Tian Tian

A three-dimensional (3D) model for piston ring-pack dynamics and blow-by gas flow was developed to enable more in-depth analyses of the ring-pack performance. This model predicts the 3D dynamic behavior of compression rings and twin-land oil control ring due to the ring’s non-axisymmetric properties, bore distortion and piston secondary motion. Finite element beam theory is used for ring structure calculation. Gas flows along the axial and circumferential directions of the power cylinder system are resolved simultaneously with the ring dynamics. The model was applied to a heavy-duty diesel engine. Particular emphasis was placed on the dynamics of keystone type of top ring, and the stability of the second ring with a twist chamfer and twin-land oil control ring under the influence of piston secondary motion. The variations of the gas pressure and ring dynamic behavior along the circumference are discussed.


Author(s):  
K Liu ◽  
Y. B. Xie ◽  
C. L. Gui

Based on the two-dimensional average flow model and asperity contact model, a theoretical model for the non-axisymmetrical analysis of piston ring lubrication has been suggested in this paper. The two-dimensional distribution of oil-film thickness between the piston rings and cylinder wall is obtained. Results show that the oil-film thickness along the circumference is non-uniform. Starvation is also considered in the model. The effect of secondary motion of piston assemblies on the lubrication property of the piston ring pack has also been studied.


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