Our Expertise | AUTOMOTIVE

Fuel tank sloshing: digital modelling with meshless CFD

Futurities Year 21 n°4
By G. Usai | Dallara Automobili, Italy
M. Merelli | Particleworks Europe, Italy
Thermal management: challenges in and strategies for developing electrified products
Thermal management: challenges in and strategies for developing electrified products

Abstract

Motorsport's competitive demands drive innovation, such as optimizing fuel tank performance by reducing sloshing and ensuring efficient fuel extraction. This study explores a meshless CFD approach using Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) to streamline workflows and reduce computational costs compared to traditional finite volume method (FVM) CFD.

Key findings include:

  • Efficiency Gains: MPS enables faster simulations with reduced hardware needs, allowing Dallara Automobili to analyze sloshing over more tracks in less time.
  • Optimal Particle Size: A 3.5mm particle size strikes a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency.
  • Teflon Sphere Innovation: Adding solid spheres reduces sloshing (14% in x, 8% in y, 17% in z directions) without affecting fuel flow, offering performance advantages in partially filled tanks.

This approach provides actionable insights for enhancing racing fuel tank design, advancing precision and efficiency in motorsport engineering.

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Particleworks

An advanced CFD Software solution, based on the Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) method

Particleworks is an advanced CFD Software solution, based on the Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) method.

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