LESSON

4
LECTURE
DIESEL ENGINE
CYCLES
SUB - OBJECTIVE
At the end of this lesson, the t!inee "ill #e !#le to $-
%& Undest!nd fo'-sto(e )*)le diesel en+ine&
,& Undest!nd t"o-sto(e )*)le diesel en+ine&
-& Identif* )*linde !!n+e.ents&
%&/ INTRODUCTION
There are two types of engines internal combustion and external combustion.
The internal combustion engine may be defined as an engine in which the
combustion of the fuel takes place inside the engine cylinder or cylinders.
Examples are gasoline engine and diesel engine.
The external combustion engine, is one in which the combustion chamber where the
fuel is burned is entirely separate from the engine itself. For example, the steam
engine is an external combustion engine.
In the internal combustion engine, the fuel burns rapidly and incompletely and the
resulting combustion gases expand in the cylinder and drive the engine piston. The
combustion is incomplete because the time available for combustion is short and in
addition, the fuel and the combustion air do not mix thoroughly. As a result the
exhaust always contains unburned gases.
In the external combustion engine, the fuel burns comparatively slowly and
completely and the heat is used to produce steam, which drives the engine.
In diesel engine, which is an internal combustion engine, the heat of compression
ignites the fuel. Therefore diesel engine is classified as a type of compression !
ignition engine.
"iesel engines are commonly used in power plants to drive emergency stand!by
generator, peaking power or as an individual drive unit for auxiliary e#uipment such
as fire!pumps. A diesel engine is much larger than a gas turbine unit of the same
power output. $ecause of their large si%e, diesel engines are not considered
beyond & '( power output.
,&/ 0OR1ING CYCLES O2 DIESEL ENGIENS
Two kinds of cycles are used in the operation of diesel engines.
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,&% 2OUR - STRO1E CYCLE DIESEL ENGINE
The diagram in Fig. 4!3!,, illustrates the operation of the four stroke cycle diesel
engine. The four strokes in se#uence are suction, compression, power and
exhaust.
-uction -troke ! The inlet valve is opened 5ust before the piston reaches the top
dead center position and the exhaust valve closes 5ust after the piston reaches top
dead center. This allows a charge of air to be drawn into the cylinder through the
inlet valve as the piston descends.
2i+& 3-4-%, 2o' - Sto(e C*)le Diesel En+ine&
/ompression -troke ! After the piston has passed the bottom dead center position
the air inlet valve is closed and compression is begun as the piston rises. -hortly
before top dead ! center, fuel in5ection begins. 'eanwhile compression of the air will
have raised its temperature and this may now be &36 7 / to 8&6 7 /, and its
pressure in the range 94&6 to 3,66 :.a. *nder these temperature and pressure
conditions the fuel will ignite almost as soon as it enter the cylinder and mixes with
the hot air. There will be a momentary increase of temperature and pressure as the
fuel burns and the power stroke commences.
.ower -troke ! The hot gases of combustion expand and force the piston
downwards. $efore it reaches the bottom dead center position, the burning gases
have expended their and the exhaust valve is opened to allow them to escape from
the cylinder.
Exhaust -troke ! As the piston again ascends in the cylinder, the remaining exhaust
gases are forced out through the open exhaust valve. ;ust before the piston
reaches the top dead center position, the inlet valve is opened and the whole cycle
of events is repeated.
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,&, T0O - STRO1E CYCLE DIESEL ENGINE
Figures 4!3!9. and 4!3!<, show two types of two ! stroke cycle diesel engines. )ne
difficulty experienced in the two ! stroke engines is in achieving a complete clearing
of the exhaust gases from the cylinder after the completion of one working stroke
and the beginning of the next.
2i+& 3-4-,, T"o - Sto(es C*)le Diesel&
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2i+& 3-4--, T"o - Sto(es C*)le Diesel&
This operation of removal of exhaust gases is called scavenging. In order to get a
more complete clearance of the cylinder it is common, in the larger engine si%es, to
provide inlet air at a slightly increased pressure. This becomes known as
scavenging air and is supplied by a scavenge pump.
Fig. 4!3!9 shows cylinder!scavenging being carried out across the cylinder.
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Fig. 4!3!<, shows an alternative method with the air inlet in the same position but
the exhaust being carried through exhaust valves in the cylinder head, giving a
uniflow type of action. This latter arrangement consists of valves.
-&/ CYLINDER ARRANG4ENTS
The cylinders are usually arranged in two different ways, = configuration and the
inline configuration.
In the = configuration, the cylinders are in two rows forming a = while all cylinders
are in a line, one behind the other in the in!line configuration.
Fig. 4!3!3, shows a = ! form diesel engine.
2i+& 3-4-4, T*5i)!l V - 2o. Diesel En+ine&
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