Cavitation shapes measurements in piston-ring lubrication and their link to lubricant properties

Abstract

The emissions control regulations introduced by governments are set to improve engine quality and reduce the impact automobiles have on the planet. The regulations imposed on the manufactures have proven very difficult to meet. To this effect some of the leading names in the industry were pushed to invest significant funding in research, development and optimisation of combustion, powertrain and tribology inside the ICE. Their goal is reduction of fuel consumption and emissions while increasing performance and durability. The piston-ring and cylinder-liner interaction is the major source of frictional losses for reciprocating ICEs and so, it is important to avoid any failure of piston-rings to effectively control lubricant transport from the sump onto the cylinder walls and further to the combustion chamber. This lubricant will participate in the emissions through absorption and desorption of fuel in the oil film at the cylinder walls, also resulting in lubricant contamination and consumption. The objective of this project is to assist with the investigation of phenomena occurring in the cylinder liner and piston-ring interaction under different operating conditions. The following investigations have been carried out, flow and cavitation visualisation in a model lubricant rig and cavitation visualisation in a newly designed optical engine.