Ford Uses CONVERGE CFD

Ford EcoBlue has deployed CONVERGE from Convergent Science to develop its EcoBlue diesel engine. In using CONVERGE, engineers were able to automate meshing before implementing the simulation.

“The use of CONVERGE has allowed us to run high quality in-cylinder CFD simulations,” said Dr. Werner Willems, Ford technical specialist for combustion systems. “We used CONVERGE to refine a number of features on the EcoBlue, including the shape of the combustion chamber, the piston bowl geometry and the fuel injection parameters.”

In particular, Dr. Willems and his colleagues used CONVERGE CFD during the development of the EcoBlue’s innovative mirror-image intake ports, a press release states. In a first for Ford, the symmetrical design of the integrated inlet manifold causes the air going to cylinders one and two to swirl clockwise, while the supply to cylinders three and four swirls counterclockwise.

“The two sets of ports are essentially mirror images of each other,” said Dr. Willems. “When you have a lot of variation between the airflow you’re always focusing on getting the weakest cylinder to work properly, which means the others are being held back. Our mirrored port design improves the distribution of air between the cylinders, which reduces emissions and fuel consumption.”

For more information, visit Convergent Science.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.