Header menu link for other important links
X
Design of fuel tank baffles to reduce kinetic energy produced by fuel sloshing and to enhance the product life cycle
Published in Asian Research Publishing Network
2014
Volume: 9
   
Issue: 3
Pages: 244 - 249
Abstract
Fuel sloshing occurs in vehicle when it accelerates or decelerates. It generates high kinetic energy with unpleasant noise. This fuel sloshing leads to vehicle imbalance. This vehicle instability may occur when the fuel to weight ratio is high. In automobiles, the fuel sloshing generates unpleasant noise which is not expected from the present ones. So, this work presents the use of baffles at different positions in the fuel tank to suppress the fuel sloshing. Generally this phenomenon is seen in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tanks which are strong and light in weight. Introduction of baffles in the HDPE tanks is an onerous process through blow moulding. So the present work mainly focuses on the simulation of the slosh experiments to analyse the baffle design. The result depends upon the number of baffles, location of the baffle and its shape. The highest noise is generated only when the fuel hits the top of the tank. The baffle is designed in such a way that these noises are reduced. The height of the baffle should be sufficient enough to reduce the flow of fuel. The work mainly focuses over the selection of appropriate height of the baffle which gives optimum result with less effect on the fuel capacity of the tank. For this work, the fuel tank is modelled with Solidworks 2011. The fuel tank is meshed in ICEM CFD. It is solved in Ansys CFX 12.0. The Turbulent kinetic energy, force and velocity produced by the fuel during sloshing are calculated. The kinetic energy produced by the fuel produces the stress at the ends when reaching the ends of the tank. So the use of baffle reduced the noise and as well as the stress created at the ends. The product life cycle of the tank is also improved. © 2006-2014 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN).
About the journal
JournalARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
PublisherAsian Research Publishing Network
ISSN18196608