Simulation of intercooler performance for aviation piston engine based on overset grid and porous media

doi:10.16731/j.cnki.1671-3133.2025.08.011

Abstract

Abstract: Aiming at the issues of flow non-uniformity and high computational demands due to the compact structure and fine,dense fins of an air-to-air intercooler in a specific type of aviation piston engine,it proposed a numerical simulation method based on overset grids and a composite porous media model. By developing a composite porous media model and a heat exchanger model based on overset grids,the airflow uniformity and heat transfer characteristics within the intercooler under different flow conditions were investigated. The simulation results show that the flow uniformity of the intercooler is influenced by both hot-and cold-side flow rates.When the hot-side flow rate is 0.091 7 kg/s,the overall uniformity coefficient decreases by 1.88 % with an increase in cold-side flow rate,and by 0.82 % when the hot-side flow rate is 0.108 3 kg/s. Comparison between wind tunnel test results and simulations indicates that this method accurately predicts the flow and heat transfer characteristics of the intercooler. The relative error for intercooler outlet temperature does not exceed 2 %,and for heat transfer power,it is within 7.5 %. These simulation results are within a reasonable range of the experimental values,validating the model′s accuracy and reliability.

Key words: aviation piston engine, intercooler, composite porous media model, overset grids, heat exchanger model

CLC Number:

V234

YE Junsong, ZHOU Dan, DENG Tao. Simulation of intercooler performance for aviation piston engine based on overset grid and porous media[J]. Modern Manufacturing Engineering, 2025, 539(8): 100-107.

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