Contact: 414.288.2160 casey.allen@marquette.edu
Multi-Zone Model for Rapid Compression Machines
Our multi-zone model (MZM) can be used to simulate rapid compression machine (RCM) experiments by providing the inputs of: (1) RCM geometry, (2) piston velocity profile, and (3) initial conditions for the temperature, pressure, and mixture composition.
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The model is implemented using Python 2 and integrates with Cantera (open source chemical kinetics package). The code has been successfully validated using Cantera 2.3. Validation results and a model summary are reported in:
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Application of a multi-zone model for the prediction of species concentrations in rapid compression machine experiments
Combustion and Flame, Vol. 171, pp. 185-197 (2016)
D. Wilson, C. Allen
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Additional details regarding the model are reported in:
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A computationally efficient, physics-based model for simulating heat loss during compression and the delay period in RCM experiments
Combustion and Flame, Vol. 159, pp. 3476-3492 (2012)
S.S. Goldsborough, C. Banyon, G. Mittal
MZM Files
The full set of MZM files is available here: mzm_v3
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Getting Started
An example case input is provided in the downloaded files (folder name "example_input"). To conduct a MZM run, open a command window in the parent folder that CONTAINS the "example_input" folder. Subsquently execute the main.py Python program while passing the name of the input folder as an argument (e.g., python main.py example_input).
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Upon running the model, several output files are generated: log.out, thermo_mainRC.out, species_molefrac.out, and time.out. The data in these files are described in the headers of each file.
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The "example_input" folder can be used as a template for building other input case files. The following files should be updated as necessary:
inputs.in - Specifies all simulation parameters and initial conditions
geometry.in - Specifies main chamber and crevice geometry parameters
velocity_8_mod.txt - This is an arbitrary velocity profile. It specifies time in seconds (column 1) and velocity in m/s (column 2). When creating a new file, the correct filename must be updated in inputs.in.
Tsurushima.xml - This specifies the chemical mechanism used in the simulation. Other mechanisms may be used once the correct filename is references in inputs.in.