A Second Generation Heat Transfer Simulator for Single-Cylinder Engines to Replicate Multi-Cylinder Engine Dynamics

Researchers in the Powertrain Control Research Laboratory (PCRL) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed single-cylinder engine transient test systems that control the instantaneous dynamic cylinder boundary conditions of these engines to replicate those in the target multi-cylinder engine performance and dynamics. The overall goal is to exploit the benefits of the single-cylinder engine, while eliminating the negative aspects of this device, and to have the single-cylinder “think” it is dynamically operating at any location within a multi-cylinder engine, with the same transient operation.This paper describes the latest developments in controlling the heat transfer geometry and dynamics of the single-cylinder engine to meet these goals. This is a second generation heat transfer simulator (HTS2) that addresses challenges and issues raised from the experimental operation of the original HTS, and that significantly simplifies the control strategies. There is a brief introductory section explaining the overall transient test system and HTS2's role in this system, a presentation of the operational analysis of the heat transfer system, the design and construction of the HTS2, and preliminary performance results.