Abstract
In the present study, a transient incompressible viscous turbulent flow is simulated for the automotive torque converter with moving mesh technique. For the analysis, entire torque converter flow passages are modeled. Computed torque ratio, capacity factor and efficiency show a good agreement with the experiment data. The flow instabilities characterized by back-flow and wake etc. appeared in some cascade passages are shown to be propagating along tangential direction. These flow patterns are mainly influenced by the pump and turbine blade passing and can't be predicted through conventional steady simulation with a mixing plane approach. The understanding of the unsteady flow characteristics in a torque converter achieved in the present study may lead to the optimal design of a torque converter.
