STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT APPROACHES TO DECREASE THE MECHANICAL AND THERMAL LOADS FOR 10D100 DIESEL ENGINE PISTONS

During operation, the piston is subjected to high pressure and temperature due to the combustion of the air-fuel mixture, necessitating improvements in piston durability. This study focuses on a piston of the 10D100 medium-speed diesel engine. Although the piston has undergone previous improvements, its durability still requires enhancement through various methods. This article investigates approaches to improve piston durability by optimizing the piston structure and evaluating its impact on engine performance. Analysis shows that the stress and temperature at the survey modes on the piston, following the new design are significantly lower than both the initial design and the original piston. When comparing these stress and temperature outcomes against the material's mechanical properties, including temperature effects, the new piston demonstrates enhanced durability. The redesigned piston also resulted in a weight reduction from 26 kg to 22 kg. Additionally, modifying the piston structure alters the heat balance within the piston assembly, with the average temperature of the piston top surface potentially changing by up to 15°C. Reducing the piston crown temperature can increase the piston's strength and reliability; however, this also leads to increased heat loss from the combustion gases to the piston crown.