LAB SESSION # 2

OBJECTIVE
To draw the valve timing diagram of matchless diesel engine
APPARATUS
1. Matchless Diesel Engine
2. Tachometer
3. Frictional Dynamometer
4. Stopwatch
5. Weights
Consumable: Fuel

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Single Cylinder
No. of Strokes: 04
No. of Cylinders: 01
Engine Configuration: Horizontal Type
Maximum Power: 16 to 18 hp
Maximum Speed: 350 to 400 rpm
Equipped with Frictional Dynamometer

THEORY

Four Stroke Cycle Engines

A four-stroke cycle engine is an internal combustion engine that utilizes four distinct piston
strokes (intake, compression, power, and exhaust) to complete one operating cycle. The
piston makes two complete passes in the cylinder to complete one operating cycle. An
operating cycle requires two revolutions of the crankshaft. The four-stroke cycle engine is the
most common type of small engine. A four-stroke cycle engine completes five Strokes in one
operating cycle, including intake, compression, ignition, power, and exhaust Strokes.

Intake Stroke
The intake event is when the air-fuel mixture is introduced to fill the combustion chamber.
The intake event occurs when the piston moves from TDC to BDC and the intake valve is
open. The movement of the piston toward BDC creates a low pressure in the cylinder.
Ambient atmospheric pressure forces the air-fuel mixture through the open intake valve into
the cylinder to fill the low-pressure area created by the piston movement. The cylinder
continues to fill slightly past BDC as the air-fuel mixture continues to flow by its own inertia
while the piston begins to change direction. The intake valve remains open a few degrees of
crankshaft rotation after BDC. Depending on engine design. The intake valve then closed,
and the air-fuel mixture is sealed inside the cylinder.

Compression Stroke
The compression stroke is when the trapped air-fuel mixture is compressed inside the cylinder.
The combustion chamber is sealed to form the charge. The charge is the volume of compressed
air-fuel mixture trapped inside the combustion chamber ready for ignition. Compressing the
air-fuel mixture allows more energy to be released when the charge is ignited. Intake and
exhaust valves must be closed to ensure that the cylinder is sealed to provide
compression. Compression is the process of reducing or squeezing a charge from a large
volume to a smaller volume in the combustion chamber. The flywheel helps to maintain the
momentum necessary to compress the charge.

When the piston of an engine compresses the charge, an increase in compressive force supplied
by work being done by the piston causes heat to be generated. The compression and heating of
the air-fuel vapor in the charge results in an increase in charge temperature and an increase in
fuel vaporization. The increase in charge temperature occurs uniformly throughout the
combustion chamber to produce faster combustion (fuel oxidation) after ignition.

The compression ratio of an engine is a comparison of the volume of the combustion chamber
with the piston at BDC to the volume of the combustion chamber with the piston at TDC. This
area, combined with the design and style of combustion chamber, determines the compression
ratio. Gasoline engines commonly have a compression ratio ranging from 6:1 - 10:1. The higher
the compression ratio, the more fuel-efficient the engine. A higher compression ratio normally
provides a substantial gain in combustion pressure or force on the piston.

Ignition Event
The ignition (combustion) event occurs when the charge is ignited and rapidly oxidized
through a chemical reaction to release heat energy. Combustion is the rapid, oxidizing
chemical reaction in which a fuel chemically combines with oxygen in the atmosphere and
releases energy in the form of heat.
Power Stroke
The power stroke is an engine operation Stroke in which hot expanding gases force the piston
head away from the cylinder head. Piston force and subsequent motion are transferred
through the connecting rod to apply torque to the crankshaft. The torque applied initiates
crankshaft rotation. The amount of torque produced is determined by the pressure on the
piston, the size of the piston, and the throw of the engine. During the power Stroke, both
valves are closed.

Exhaust Stroke

The exhaust stroke occurs when spent gases are expelled from the combustion chamber and
released to the atmosphere. The exhaust stroke is the final stroke and occurs when the exhaust
valve is open, and the intake valve is closed. Piston movement evacuates exhaust gases to the
atmosphere.

As the piston reaches BDC during the power stroke combustion is complete and the cylinder
is filled with exhaust gases. The exhaust valve opens, and inertia of the flywheel and other
moving parts push the piston back to TDC, forcing the exhaust gases out through the open
exhaust valve. At the end of the exhaust stroke, the piston is at TDC and one operating cycle
has been completed.

Figure 1: 4 Stroke Engine

Valve Timing Diagram

Valve timing is the regulation of the points in the cycle at which the valves are set to open
and close.
In the ideal cycle inlet and exhaust valves open and close at dead center
 Figure 2: Ideal Valve Timing Diagram

But in actual cycles they open or close before or after dead center as explained below.
There are two factors, one mechanical and other dynamic, for the actual valve timing to be
different from the theoretical valve timing.

(a) Mechanical factor.

The poppet valves of the reciprocating engines are opened and closed by cam mechanisms.
The clearance between cam, tappet and valve must be slowly taken up and valve slowly lifted,
at first, if noise and wear is to be avoided. For the same reasons the valve cannot be closed
abruptly, else it will ‘bounce’ on its seat. (Also, the cam contours should be so designed as to
produce gradual and smooth changes in directional acceleration). Thus, the valve opening and
closing periods are spread over a considerable number of crankshaft degrees. As a result, the
opening of the valve must commence ahead of the time at which it is fully opened (i.e., before
dead center).
b) Dynamic factor;
Besides mechanical factor of opening and closing of valves, the actual valve timing is set
taking into consideration the dynamic effects of gas flow.

Actual Valve Timing of Four-Stroke Petrol /Spark Ignition Engine.

 Figure 3: Actual Valve Timing Diagram for Four Stroke Engine

 IV opens 20 degrees before TDC.

 IV closes 35 degrees after BDC to take the advantage of momentum of rapidly
moving gases (Ram Effect).
 Ignition occurs 35 degrees before TDC this is to allow the time delay between the
spark and commencement of combustion.
 EV opens at 35 degrees before BDC; else pressure will rise enormously, and the work
required to expel the gas will increase.
 EV closes at 10 degrees after TDC; this is to increase the volumetric efficiency.

Valve Overlap:
The time during which both the valves (inlet and exhaust) remain open
at the same instant. The values quoted in the actual valve timing
diagrams are the typical values, may vary from engine to engine. For HIGH SPEED engines,
higher values of angles are desirable to consider the short time interval.

Working of Valve Timing Diagram

The IV opens before TDC and closes after BDC. This is arranged to get maximum charge
inside the cylinder. When the IV opens, the charge outside the valve must be accelerated up to
the inlet velocity, and this takes time. In order that maximum inlet velocity occurs at the earliest
possible moment during the intake stroke, the IV is opened early. The kinetic energy of the
moving charge is used at the end of the intake stroke to produce a ramming effect by closing
the IV slightly after BDC. The ramming effect thus increases the volumetric efficiency. The
EV opens before BDC to exhaust the combustion products efficiently. Thus, by its excess
pressure above atmosphere, some exhaust gas leaves the cylinder. This makes the exhaust gas
to flow freely from the cylinder by the time piston commences the exhaust stroke. Again, by
closing the EV after TDC, the kinetic energy of the exhaust gas can be utilized to assist in
maximum exhausting of the gas. In the process, the IV begins to open before the EV closes –
and this is called valve overlap.

PROCEDURE
1. Mark all the positions of engine valves opening and closing of flywheel.
2. Mark at which degree angle of rotation of the flywheel engine inlet and outlet valves
open and close.
3. Measure the arc length of the valve opening and closing of the inlet and outlet valves.
4. Also measure the radius of flywheel using measuring tape.
The following positions would be marked:
i. Inlet valve open
ii. Inlet valve close
iii. Exhaust valve open
iv. Exhaust valve close
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
Circumference of Flywheel= 480 cm
Calculations
No. of Position of Arc length Crank Angle θ Angle θ
obs. valves S (cm) (radians) (degree)
1 IVO-IDC 33 0.4338 24.86
2 ODC-IVC 59 0.7757 44.46
3 EVO-ODC 28 0.3681 21.1
4 IDC-EVC 77 1.012 58.03

Where Circumference of Flywheel C=

480cm
Since
C = 2×π×r = 480
Therefore,
480
Radius of flywheel, r= 2×𝜋

For sector
S = r×θ