Simulation of dynamic behaviour of a digital displacement motor using transient 3d computational fluid dynamics analysis

A fast rotating 1500 rpm radial piston digital displacement motor connected to a 350 bar high pressure manifold is simulated by means of transient 3D CFD analysis of a single pressure chamber. The analysis includes dynamic piston and valve movement, influencing the boundaries of the fluid domain. Movement of the low and high pressure valves is coupled to fluid forces and valve actuation is included to control the valve movement according to the pressure cycle of the digital displacement motor. The fluid domain is meshed using a structured/unstructured non-conformal mesh, which is updated throughout the simulation using layering zones as required by the moving fluid boundaries. The effect of cavitation at low pressures is included by implementing a pressure dependent density, based on an effective bulk modulus model. In addition, pressure dependent oil viscosity is included in the analysis. As a result of the CFD analysis, the dynamic response of the pressure chamber and valve movement of a digital displacement motor is presented, along with the total efficiency of a multi-chamber motor at full and partial displacement. Simulation predicts that pressure over- and undershoot may be reduced to a few percent of the high pressure manifold level by precise timing and fast switching of the seat valves.