The Influence of Specific Heats Variability on Heat Release Analysis Using Two-Zone Models

Heat release and burn rate analysis in Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) are usually based on a zero-dimensional application of First-Law of thermodynamics. In order to evaluate the heat release models available in literature use the differential form of the energy conservation equation, generally neglecting specific heats derivative terms. In this work the effects of specific heats derivative terms on a two-zone heat release model, for a Spark Ignition (SI) engine, have been evaluated. Results obtained with and without considering specific heats derivative terms have been compared. These comparisons show that proposed modifications allow to obtain more regular curves especially for mass fraction burned and heat release according to the combustion phenomenology. Besides, taking into account the specific heats derivative terms, the model’s calibration constants do not need to be tuned, and the combustion efficiency can be evaluated directly by the mathematical model (otherwise experimentally measured).