Numerical Simulation of Fluid Flow in Poppet Valves

Simulations of flow through poppet valves were performed using a proprietary finite volume computational fluid dynamics program. A range of valve geometries was simulated, and the flow was turbulent, incompressible and steady. Simulations were compared with experimental measurements and visualized flow patterns. Qualitative agreement between simulated and visualized flow patterns was good. However, errors in the prediction of jet separation and reattachment resulted in quantitative inaccuracies. These errors were due to the limitations of the upwind differencing scheme employed and the representation of turbulence by the κ-ɛ model, which is known to be inaccurate when applied to recirculating flow.