ME-2842 Basic Thermal Sciences and Applications

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Name Index no Field Instructed By Conducted on Submitted on

: M.K.B.S.Munasinghe : 090337U : Electrical Engineering : : 26/08/2011 : 07/09/2011

OBJECTIVES
To appreciate different types of IC Engines. To develop an awareness on different classifications of IC Engine. To have an understanding of the working principals of an IC Engine. To have an understanding of the applications of IC Engine.

APPERATUS
The display boards of two stroke and four stroke IC Engines. The cut section of two stroke IC Engine. The side valve four stroke IC Engine. The display working model of the four stroke compression ignition IC Engine. Other display models in Automobile Laboratory.

INTRODUCTION
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel (normally a fossil fuel) occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and pressure gases produced by combustion applies direct force to some component of the engine, such as pistons, turbine blades, or a nozzle. This force moves the component over a distance, generating useful mechanical energy. The term internal combustion engine usually refers to an engine in which combustion is intermittent, such as the more familiar four-stroke and two-stroke piston engines, along with variants, such as the sixstroke piston engine and the Wankel rotary engine. A second class of internal combustion engines use continuous combustion: gas turbines, jet engines and most rocket engines, each of which are internal combustion engines on the same principle as previously described.

The internal combustion engine (or ICE) is quite different from external combustion engines, such as steam engines, in which the energy is delivered to a working fluid not consisting of, mixed with, or contaminated by combustion products. Working fluids can be air, hot water, pressurized water or even liquid sodium, heated in some kind of boiler.

APPLICATIONS
Internal combustion engines are most commonly used for mobile propulsion in vehicles and portable machinery. In mobile equipment, internal combustion is advantageous since it can provide high powerto-weight ratios together with excellent fuel energy density. Generally using fossil fuel (mainly petroleum), these engines have appeared in transport in almost all vehicles. Where very high power-to-weight ratios are required, internal combustion engines appear in the form of gas turbines. These applications include jet aircraft, helicopters, large ships and electric generators.

DISCUSSION
Classification of Internal combustion engines Internal combustion Engines can be classified under many different criteria. o Ignition o Number of strokes o Valve location o Design o Position of cylinders o Air intake o Fuel input method o Fuel used o Cooling o Application (Spark Ignition, Compression Ignition) (2-stroke, 4-stroke) (In head, In block, one in block and one in head) (Reciprocating, Rotary) (Inline, V configuration, W configuration, Radial, Flat etc) (Naturally Aspirated, Supercharged, Turbocharged, Crankcase compressed) (Carbureted, Injected) (Gasoline, Diesel or fuel oil, LP gas, Biodiesel, Dual fuel, Alcohol) (Air cooled, Water cooled) (Automobiles, portable equipment, Generators etc)

Differences between 2 stroke and 4 stroke IC Engines. Four-stroke: Four piston movements over two engine revolutions for each engine cycle. A separate lubricating system is present to lubricate the cylinders pistons connecting rods and crank shaft. Usually bigger than their 2 stroke counterpart. Two-stroke: Two piston movements over one revolution for each engine cycle. The lubricating oils are mixed with the fuel according to the correct ratio. Has higher power to weight ratio and makes higher noise.

Differences between Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition Engines. Spark ignition (SI): High-voltage electrical discharge between two electrodes ignites air-fuel mixture in combustion chamber surrounding spark plug. Compression ignition (CI): Air-fuel mixture self-ignites due to high temperature in combustion chamber caused by high compression. (Diesel Engine)

Overview of 4 stroke Internal Combustion Engine As their name implies, four-stroke internal combustion engines have four basic steps that repeat with every two revolutions of the engine:

1. Intake stroke: Known as the suction stroke because the piston moves to the maximum volume position. The inlet valve opens as a result of piston movement, and the vaporized fuel mixture enters the combustion chamber. The inlet valve closes at the end of this stroke. 2. Compression stroke: In this stroke, both valves are closed and the piston starts its movement to the minimum volume position and compresses the fuel mixture. During the compression process, pressure, temperature and the density of the fuel mixture increases. 3. Power stroke: When the piston reaches the minimum volume position, the spark plug ignites the fuel mixture and burns. This produces power that is transmitted to the crank shaft mechanism. 4. Exhaust stroke: In the end of the power stroke, the exhaust valve opens. During this stroke, the piston starts its movement to the minimum volume position. The open exhaust valve allows the exhaust gases to escape the cylinder. At the end of this stroke, the exhaust valve closes, the inlet valve opens, and the sequence repeats in the next cycle. Many engines overlap these steps in time; jet engines do all steps simultaneously at different parts of the engines.

Overview of 2 stroke Internal Combustion Engine This system manages to pack one power stroke into every two strokes of the piston (up-down). This is achieved by exhausting and recharging the cylinder simultaneously.

1. Down stroke (Power, suction and Exhaust): Intake and exhaust occur at in this same stroke. When the piston goes down the fuel mixture in the crankcase is compressed and it is pushed in to the combustion chamber through the transfer port.(can use other methods like supercharging also to compress the fuel) Burnt fuel inside the cylinder is stroke is driven out through the exhaust valve. 2. Compression stroke: The exhaust and transfer ports are closed and fuel-air mix is compressed and ignited. In case of diesel: Air is compressed, fuel is injected and self-ignited. Relative Advantages and Disadvantages of two stoke and four stroke IC Engines. This comparison is done considering two, two stroke and four stroke engines that produce the same power output. Two stroke IC Engine Lower power to weight ratio Lower cost Can be operated in any configuration Makes higher noise Pollutes air more (exhaust contains burnt lubricants) Lubricants are added to the fuel (no dedicated lubrication system) Lower volumetric and thermal efficiency Wears out faster Four stroke IC Engine Higher power to weight ratio Higher cost Operation limited by lubricating system Makes less noise Less air pollution Posses a dedicated lubrication system. Higher volumetric and thermal efficiency Slower wearing out