This is a past event.

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series

proudly presents:

Dr. Sibendu Som
Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract: Vehicles powered by Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), operating on a variety of fuels, are expected to remain as the primary mode of transportation in the foreseeable future worldwide. Traditionally, ICEs have been designed and optimized mainly based on extensive experimental testing, which is not only expensive, but also time-consuming. With the advent of High Performance Computing (HPC), simulation-based tools are becoming extremely important for providing unique insights into ICE operation. Computational modeling of engines is an arduous task, primarily because the length and time scales of the multiple processes governing their performance and emission characteristics are diverse in nature. In the past decade, engine simulations have been performed with phenomenological models and coarse mesh sizes and hence small clusters suffice to provide reasonable wall-clock times. As the multiphase, turbulence, and chemical kinetic models become more robust and finer spatial and temporal meshes are implemented, the computational power of the small clusters becomes insufficient. The primary motivation of this presentation will be to highlight recent sub-model developments in two-phase flow, combustion, and emission modeling at Argonne National Laboratory. Extensive validation of these models against x-ray radiography data from Argonne and other published optical engine and sprayflame datasets in literature will be mentioned. Our approach towards capturing the influence of injection transients on cycle-to- cycle will be highlighted. We have also been pioneering the use of Uncertainty Analysis tools for ICE simulations and recent applications of this technique towards combustion applications will be demonstrated. The presentation will highlight latest developments in scaling and load-balancing of engine simulations which enabled the largest engine calculation ever, at the Mira supercomputer at Argonne. Applications of the above mentioned tools towards predictive simulations of different low-temperature combustion concepts such as Gasoline Compression Ignition and Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition will be shown.

Bio: Dr. Sibendu Som leads a CFD team at Argonne with research focus on the development of nozzle-flow, spray, and combustion models for drop-in biofuels, high-performance computing for internal combustion engine applications, and combustion chemistry at Argonne National Laboratory. In this role, Dr. Som is responsible for developing predictive simulation capabilities to enable OEMs to develop advanced high-efficiency low-emission engines for transportation applications. Several of the sub-models developed by Dr. Som’s group are part of commercial CFD engine modeling softwares. Dr. Som is also the technical lead on Argonne’s Virtual Engine Research Institute and Fuels Initiative (VERIFI) program which is aimed at providing predictive simulations of low-temperature combustion concepts for the industry. Dr. Som received his PhD in the field of Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2009. He was a post-doctoral appointee at Argonne National Laboratory for 1.5 years and was subsequently converted to a staff scientist. Currently, Dr. Som is a Principal Research Engineer and Principal Investigator at Center of Transportation Research at Argonne National Laboratory, which is a Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory. He is also a “Computational Fellow” at University of Chicago. Dr. Som is the recipient of the prestigious High-Performance Computing Innovation Excellence Award by “International Data Corporation” in June 2014, winner of the Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for Excellence in Technology transfer by DOE in January 2015, and “best postdoctoral supervisor award” from Argonne in August 2016. Dr. Som serves as track-chair for ASMEInternal combustion engine division, session-organizer for The Combustion Institute, and session-leader for Engine Combustion Network meetings. He also participates actively in Society of Automotive Engineers and International Liquid Atomization and Spray system meetings. He has also been an invited guest speaker at “Indo-US Science and Technology” and “The American Association for the Advancement of Science” forums. Dr. Som serves as guest editor for “Atomization and Sprays” and is on the editorial board for “Journal of Fuels”. Dr. Som has authored more than 100 papers with more than 50 each in journals and peer-reviewed conferences, and two book chapters with more than 1800 citations. He is also in the thesis committee of several MS and PhD students.