INTRODUCTION

There are two types of engines: 1. Internal combustion - combustion occurs in the working fluid - Open cycle The working fluid is replenished in each cycle Exhaust gas is dumped into the atmosphere 2. External combustion use of heat exchanger to transfer energy to the working fluid - Open or closed cycle - Ex) steam engine, sterling engine The internal combustion engine operates by the combustion of fuel. The process takes place inside a combustion chamber, and the fuel is ignited inside it. It converts chemical energy into useful mechanical energy. The most common types of IC engines are two stroke and four stroke (Otto) cycle engines. The combustion produces gases at high temperature and pressure, which in turn transmits the force to some component such as the piston. While the combustion process in the most commonly seen IC engines is not continuous, the engines used in devices such as gas turbines and jet engines use continuous combustion in them. IC engines operate in a cyclic process.

Four stroke cycle Objectives of the practical

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.

Apparatus required: 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.

DISCUSSION Working principle of IC engines: The working principle behind IC engines is that when a gas is ignited and burned in a small confined space, the resulting expanding exhaust gases release a large amount of energy, which can be converted to useful mechanical work by the means of a moving mechanical device such as a piston.

Classification of internal combustion engines: The following criteria are used to classify IC engines. Method of Ignition Spark ignition engine or Petrol Engine. Compression ignition engine or Diesel Engine. Hot spot ignition engine. Fuel Used Petrol Engines. Diesel Engines. Gas Engines. Number of Strokes per cycle Two stroke engines. Four stroke engines. Cycle for Operation Hot cycle engine. Diesel cycle engines. Dual combustion cycle engine. Number of Cylinders Single cylinder engines. Multi-cylinder or Double Cylinder engines. Cylinder Arrangement Horizontal Cylinder Engines. Vertical cylinder engines. Inline cylinder engines. Radial engines.

Engines Speed Low speed engines. Medium speed engines. High speed engines. Applications of IC engines: Internal combustion engines are in vehicles and many other moving machinery. We encounter IC engines in cars, boats, trucks, and even aircraft and jet engines. Operation of four stroke engines: In the four-stroke engine the cycle of operations of the engine are completed in four strokes of the piston inside the cylinder. The four strokes of the 4-stroke engine are: suction or intake of fuel, compression of fuel, expansion or power stroke, and exhaust stroke. In 4stroke engines the power is produced when piston performs expansion stroke. During four strokes of the engine two revolutions of the engine's crankshaft are produced. The piston moves twice from the top dead centre to the bottom dead centre in one cycle. In the suction stroke, only the inlet valve is open. The exhaust valve is closed and the gas/fuel is taken in. In the compression stroke, both valves are closed, and the piston moves in to compress the gas mixture, which increases in density and temperature. In the power stroke, the piston reaches the inner dead centre and the spark ignited the gas fuel mixture, which then starts to expand. Both valves are closed at this point. In the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve opens and the exhaust gases are let out.

Operation of two stroke engines: In the 2-stroke, the suction and compression strokes occur at the same time, and the expansion and exhaust strokes occur at the same time. Power is produced during the expansion stroke. When two strokes of the piston are completed, one revolution of the engine's crankshaft is produced, thus completing the two stroke engine cycle. In 4-stroke engines the engine burns fuel once for two rotations of the wheel, while in 2stroke engine the fuel is burnt once for one rotation of the wheel. Hence the efficiency of 4stroke engines is greater than the 2-stroke engines. However, the power produced by the 2stroke engines is more than the 4-stroke engines.

Differences between two stroke and four stroke engines: The two stroke engine only requires two strokes of the piston to complete the cycle, in comparison to the four strokes in the four stroke engine. In the four stroke system, the spark plug fires only during the power stroke, which means that the firing takes place during once every other revolution of the piston. But in the two stroke system, the engine powers during every revolution, and this gives two stroke engines a power advantage. There is no need for valves in the two stroke engine. An inlet and an exhaust port is there in the combustion chamber wall itself. But the efficiency of the two stroke engines is lower than that of the four stroke engines. Two stroke engines have a higher power to weight ratio than the four stroke engines. But their engine wear is faster. Two stroke engines heavily contribute to pollution, and four stroke engines cause less pollution.