Preparing the Plots and Scenes for Visualization

For a charge-motion simulation, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder provides several injection specific plots and scenes by default. To watch the solution develop, you open the plots for fuel mass tracking and for liquid and vapor spray penetration. You also open the scenes for fuel/air equivalence ratio and the fluid film thickness and write the scenes to image files at regular intervals.

To open the plots:
  1. Expand the Results > Plots node.
  2. Multi-select the following nodes, right-click one of the selected nodes, and select Open:
    • In-Cylinder - Injection > Fuel Mass Tracking
    • In-Cylinder - Injection > Injector : Liquid Spray Penetration
    • In-Cylinder - Injection > Injector : Vapor Spray Penetration
    The plots open in the Graphics window.
    The fuel mass tracking plot displays the following quantities in grams as a function of crank angle:
    • Fuel Mass (Total)—the total mass of the fuel
    • Fuel Mass (Liquid)—the mass of both injected droplets and droplets stripped from the liquid film
    • Fuel Mass (Vapor)—the mass of vapor arising from the droplets
    • Injector : Fuel Mass (Liquid)—the mass of injected droplets
    • Fuel Mass (Film)—the mass of liquid film formed through the impingement of the droplets on the engine walls
    • Stripped Film : Fuel Mass (Liquid)—the mass of droplets stripped from the liquid film
    The spray penetration plots display, for each nozzle, the distance interval that contains 95% mass of the injected droplets and of the vapor arising from the droplets measuring from the nozzle origin.
To prepare the scenes for visualization:
  1. Multi-select the Results > Scenes > Fuel Distribution and Fluid Film Thickness nodes, right-click on one of the selected nodes, and select Open.
    The scenes open in the Graphics window.

    The Fuel Distribution scene allows you to visualize various definitions of air-fuel mixture ratio. By default, the scene displays the air/fuel ratio.

  2. To display the fuel/air equivalence ratio:
    1. Right-click the Fuel Distribution > Air/Fuel Ratio Derived Parts Scalar 1 node and select Toggle Visibility.
      The displayer is rendered invisible.
    2. Repeat Step 4 for the Fuel/Air Equivalence Ratio Derived Parts Scalar 1 displayer.
      The previously hidden displayer is rendered visible.
    3. To get a clear view of the injected parcels, select the Fuel Distribution > Fuel/Air Equivalence Ratio Derived Parts Scalar 1 node and set Opacity to 0.4.
  3. To get a clear view of the fluid film thickness on the engine walls:
    1. Multi-select the Fluid Film Thickness > Cylinder Displayer 1, Cylinder Piston Surface Displayer 1, Exhaust Valve 1 Displayer, and Intake Valve 1 Displayer nodes, right-click one of the selected nodes, and select Toggle Visibility.
    2. Multi-select the Fluid Film Thickness > Fluid Film Thickness Derived Parts Scalar 1 and Spray 1 nodes and set Transform to Symmetry 1.
    3. Select the Fluid Film Thickness > Fluid Film Thickness Derived Parts Scalar 1 > Scalar Field node and set Max to 10.0 μm.
    4. In the Graphics window, click the Fluid Film Thickness tab.
    5. In the Visualization toolbar, click (Save-Restore-Select Views) and select Views > -X > Up +Z.
To write the scenes to image files:
  1. Multi-select the the Results > Scenes > Fuel Distribution and Fluid Film Thickness nodes, right-click on one of the selected nodes, and select Edit.
  2. In the Multiple Objects dialog, select the Attributes > Update node and activate Save To File.
    By default, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ In-cylinder writes the scenes to file after each crank angle.
  3. Click Close.
  4. Save the simulation .