CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
6 March 2012
Product News
Reaction Design to Add Advanced Soot Particle-Size Prediction Capability to FORTÉ
Reaction Design® announced that new capabilities will be added to FORTÉ™--the most advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package for realistic 3D modeling of fuel effects in internal combustion engines. FORTÉ will offer the ability to accurately simulate soot particle size distributions, as well as total particulate-matter emissions.
The new technology in FORTÉ was inspired by the accomplishments of the Model Fuels Consortium (MFC). Founded in 2005 by Reaction Design, the MFC is a highly regarded, industry-led project for the development of cleaner burning, higher-mileage vehicles. The MFC’s work focuses on creating software models and tools that enable engine designers to better determine the fuel effects on efficiency and emissions.
“Soot formation occurs when fuels don’t fully combust, and recent studies show that soot particles smaller than 100 nanometers can be especially harmful to human health,” explains Ellen Meeks, vice president of product development at Reaction Design. “In the past decade, engine exhaust regulations have been focused on limiting the total amount of soot (and NOx) emissions. Future particulate matter (PM) regulations, such as the European Union’s extended Euro 6 standard and the California Air Resources Board’s proposed Ambient Air Quality Standards require soot particle size and number limits in addition to total emissions mass limits. Such requirements are particularly challenging for engine designers.”
Earlier this year, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment released the results of a 2010 study of micro particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) which is known to cause respiratory issues that can range in severity from asthma to lung cancer. The study showed that most of the locations that were measured, particularly those near a main roadway, had average levels of PM2.5 that exceeded the current standard of less than 15 micrograms/cubic meter.
“The MFC and Reaction Design have been working proactively to develop soot modeling approaches that can help reduce these harmful emissions, as we anticipate that more regulations will follow with increasingly strict limits on particle size and number,” said Bernie Rosenthal, chief executive officer of Reaction Design. “The ability to predict soot particle sizes and track their progress from formation through agglomeration and reduction in an engine is of significant benefit for engine developers, who will not only be able to better address air quality regulations, but also shave time from their design cycle.”
When coupled with an accurate soot chemistry mechanism, such as the one developed by the MFC, the FORTÉ soot model provides engine designers with a physics-based approach to the prediction of soot size and mass emissions trends with unprecedented accuracy.
Availability
The new capabilities in FORTÉ will be available later this year. For more information, please visit http://www.reactiondesign.com. For pricing information, please contact the Reaction Design sales team at 1-408-550-1920.
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