Project B2 (finished)

Project B2 - Modelling, simulation and optimization of gas dynamics in an exhaust pipe

Principal Investigator: Ingenuin Gasser

Background and Motivation

Modelling and simulation of exhaust pipe systems in cars is an important research area in order to reduce the exhaust gas pollution caused by vehicles.

Aims and Objectives

The aim is to capture the dynamics of the temperature in the catalytic converter by a simple yet
reliable model. The model computes the one-dimensional gas flow through an exhaust pipe created by a single chemical reaction and governed by the conservation principles of fluid mechanics.
While the flow velocity is at small Mach number, the strongly varying temperatures makes an incompressible approach flawed. Using small Mach number asymptotics leads to a semi-compressible model providing well-balanced quantities. The exhaust system is modelled as a network of single pipes with constant cross sections. The resulting model allows for fast computation and hence also to affordable optimal control.

PhD Student: Martin Rybicki

Martin Rybicki successfully defended his PhD on 2 July 2014

Publications

I. Gasser, M. Rybicki: Modeling and simulation of gas dynamics in an exhaust pipe, Applied Mathematical Modelling, 37 (5), 2747-2764 (2013).
I. Gasser, M. Rybicki, W. Wollner: Optimal control of the temperature in a catalytic converter, Computers and Mathematics with Applications 67, 1521–1544 (2014).