Lecture-31

Prepared under
QIP-CD Cell Project

Internal Combustion Engines

Ujjwal K Saha, Ph.D.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

1

Introduction
Known as Hot air engine
Earlier abandoned due to development
of superior power-to-weight engines
Remained as academic interest due to
its unique feature during 19th century
In 1938, N.V.Philips developed small gas
refrigerating machine for production of
liquefied gases
In 1953, Stirling engine with an efficiency
of 40% with specific power of 82 kW/l was
invented
2

The working principle

The basis of stirling engine is the same as

that of all internal combustion engines

i.e. the alternate compression at low
temperature and expansion at high
temperature of a confined working fluid.

However, the gas is heated in a radically

different manner. The conventional

engines burn fuel internally and
intermittently whereas stirling engine
burns its fuel outside the engine itself and
continuously, i.e., it is an external
continuous combustion engine.
3

Difference
The fuel do not enter the engine cylinder
to become the working gas.
The cyclic flow of working fluid within the
engine is achieved solely through
geometric volume changes and without
the use of intermittently-closed valves or
ports.

Difference
An intermittent flow heat exchanger
stores a large portion of heat of the
working fluid after expansion and
subsequently returns it to the working
fluid after compression, thereby,
accomplishing thermal regeneration.

Ideal thermodynamic cycle

Isothermal compression and
simultaneous heat rejection
Constant volume heat addition
(by regeneration)
Isothermal expansion with
simultaneous heat addition
Constant volume heat
rejection (by regeneration)

Basic types of stirling engine

Two-piston mechanism (Alpha

type)
Piston displacer system
Beta type
Gamma type

Two piston mechanism

Different configurations of two piston mechanism

Simple two piston
mechanism is
unsuitable for higher
output engines. So
came the double
acting engines with
following two
mechanical
configurations:
In line crankshaft
drive
Circular swashplate
drive

In line 4-cylinder stirling engine

The piston displacer engine

Two pistons
power and
displacer.
Displacer piston
heat and cools the
working gas.
Power piston
compress and
expand the gas.
Stirling engine is governed by the relative
motion of these two pistons.
10

Phases of the operating cycle

11

Types of piston displacer engine

Beta typesingle cylinder
classic sterling engine
configuration.
Gamma typepower piston
and displacer piston in different
cylinders.
Convenient
complete
separation
between
the
regenerator associated with
displacer and the expansion
and compression work of
power piston.
Larger unswept volume.
Lower specific power.
Used when the advantage of
separate cylinders outweighs
the
specific
power
disadvantage
12

Phasing between power piston and displacer

Power
piston
and
displacer
must
be
connected with some
mechanical linkage to
obtain the required
phasing.
Types of linkages are:
Crankshaft with
displaced throws
Rhombic drive.
Two symmetrically placed
connecting rods drive the
power piston while the
displacer piston is driven by a
displacer
rod
extending
through the power piston.
13

 Two
crankshafts
rotating in opposite
directions.

Rhombic drive

Two synchronizing
gears for timing the
shafts.
Symmetry
makes
even single cylinder
engine balanced.
No horizontal thrust
as
forces
are
balanced at yoke.
Hence low frictional
losses too.
14

Engine parts
Combustor and
heater head.
Regenerator.
Cooler.
Power piston and
displacer piston
assembly.
Buffer space and
the rhombic drive.

15

Performance of stirling engine

The stirling cycle engine is specially suitable for
automotive applications because of:-

High brake thermal efficiency.

Low noise.
Low emissions.
Specific power output comparable to Otto engine.
Desirable output shaft maximum to ideal speed ratio.

16

Advantages

Multi fuel capability

Perfect balancing
Reduced exhaust emissions
Efficiency and size
Smooth and noise free engine
operation
Overload capacity
Reliable starting
No lubricating oil needed
17

Disadvantages
Complex design due to use of
rhombic
drive,
regenerators,
heaters and coolers.
Needs a large amount of cooling
water which increases the size of
the radiator.
High cost.
Requires a blower which reduces
the engine efficiency and increases
the noise.
18

References
1.

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11.
12.

Crouse WH, and Anglin DL,

DL (1985), Automotive Engines, Tata McGraw Hill.
Eastop TD, and McConkey A, (1993), Applied Thermodynamics for Engg.
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Fergusan CR, and Kirkpatrick AT, (2001), Internal Combustion Engines,
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Gill PW, Smith JH, and Ziurys EJ, (1959), Fundamentals of I. C. Engines,
Oxford and IBH Pub Ltd.
Heisler H, (1999), Vehicle and Engine Technology, Arnold Publishers.
Heywood JB, (1989), Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, McGraw Hill.
Heywood JB, and Sher E, (1999), The Two-Stroke Cycle Engine, Taylor &
Francis.
Mathur ML, and Sharma RP, (1994), A Course in Internal Combustion
Engines, Dhanpat Rai & Sons, New Delhi.
Pulkrabek WW, (1997), Engineering Fundamentals of the I. C. Engine, Prentice
Hall.
Rogers GFC, and Mayhew YR,
YR (1992), Engineering Thermodynamics, Addison
Wisley.
Stone R, (1992), Internal Combustion Engines, The Macmillan Press Limited,
London.
Taylor CF, (1985), The Internal-Combustion Engine in Theory and Practice, Vol. 1
& 2, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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