This paper presents a numerical study of the flows in an internal combustion engine inlet manifold. The three-dimensional turbulent flows through a single branched manifold were simulated using the κ-ɛ model of turbulence. The flow structure was characterized in detail and the effects of the flow split ratio and inlet flowrate were investigated.
Detailed measurements were performed to validate the numerical predictions, using laser Doppler anemometry. Good agreement was obtained between the predicted and the measured mean velocities. The predicted levels of turbulence energy are in qualitative agreement with the measurements.
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