Internal Combustion Engines

Outline

Internal Combustion Engines Types of motion Four Stroke Cycle Engines Two Stroke Cycle Engines Rotary Engines Diesel Engines

Internal Combustion Engine

Internal combustion heat engines

Are a category of engines that burn fuel internally to produce power.

Types of Motion

Internal combustion engines produces mechanical motion in one of three ways:

1. Reciprocating

Back and forth motion. Ex: Piston engines Turning motion. Ex: Turbines and rotary engines

2. Rotary

3. Linear

Motion in a straight line. Ex: Jet/Rockets and Potato gun.

Gasoline Piston Engines

There are two types of gasoline piston engines:

1. Four Stroke Cycle 2. Two Stroke Cycle

Gasoline Piston Engines

Stroke the movement of the piston from the top of the cylinder to the bottom. Cycle A complete set of piston movements that are needed to produce a power stroke.

Gasoline Piston Engines

Both operate with a piston moving up and down in a cylinder. The difference is in the number of strokes each piston makes per engine cycle.

History

The principle of four stroke cycle engine was developed in 1862 by Beau de Rochas of France. The first four stroke cycle engine was built in 1876 by a German mechanical engineer called Nicholas Otto (Otto cycle).

History

In 1893 two American brothers named Duryea built and operated the first gasoline automobile.

Four Stroke Gasoline Engines

In four stroke engines there are four separate piston strokes:

1. Intake 2. Compression 3. Power 4. Exhaust

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Intake stroke

The intake valve opens. The piston moves down the cylinder creating a partial vacuum. A mixture of air and fuel is sucked into the cylinder through the intake valve.

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Compression stroke

When the piston reaches BDC, both valves are closed. This seals the cylinder and prevents the air-fuel mixture from escaping. The piston begins to move up the cylinder and compresses the mixture.

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Power stroke

The piston rises until it reaches TDC. At that moment a high voltage spark is created by the spark plug.

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Power stroke

This spark causes the compressed air-fuel mixture to ignite and burn rapidly. The force of this contained explosion forces the piston down in the cylinder producing power.

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Exhaust stroke

As the piston nears BDC the exhaust valve opens. As the piston rises back up, it pushes the burned gases out of the exhaust valve.

Four Stroke Principles of Operation

Exhaust stroke

Once the exhaust stroke is completed, the four strokes of operation begin all over again.

Two Stroke Gasoline Engines

Two stroke engines operate on the same basic operating principles as the four stroke engine. However, it completes the intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes in only two movements of the piston, as opposed to four.

Two Stroke Gasoline Engines

Each time the piston moves up, it completes the intake and compression stroke. Each time the piston moves down, it completes the power and exhaust stroke.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Intake/Compression Stroke

As the piston moves up the cylinder the intake and exhaust ports are covered. The air/fuel/oil mixture above the piston is compressed.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Intake/Compression Stroke

At the same time a new air/fuel/oil mix is drawn into the crankcase of the engine through a reed valve connected to the carburetor.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Intake/Compression Stroke

The reed valve is a special valve that permits air/fuel/oil to move in one direction only.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Power/Exhaust Stroke

At the top of the stroke the spark plug ignites the compressed mixture. The burning of the mixture pushes the piston downward producing power.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Power/Exhaust Stroke

The downward motion of the piston pressurizes the air/fuel/oil mixture in the crankcase and forces the reed valve to close.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Power/Exhaust Stroke

As the piston reaches BDC, the intake and exhaust ports are opened. The exhaust gases are expelled out of the engine and at the same time the air/fuel/oil mixture is forced into the cylinder through the intake port.

Two Stroke Principles of Operation

Power/Exhaust Stroke

The rush of air/fuel/oil into the cylinder helps push out the exhaust gas and is ready to be compressed by the upward movement of the piston. The cycle now begins again.

Two Stroke Advantages

Advantages

Requires fewer moving parts to accomplish the same amount of output as four stroke engines. Cheaper to maintain than four stroke engines. Smaller and simple in construction than four stroke engines. Can work in any orientation.

Two Stroke Disadvantages

Disadvantages

Less fuel efficient than four stroke. Quicker wear of the engines moving parts. More polluting than four stroke engines since oil is burnt with the fuel and air mixture.

Rotary (Wankel) Engine

Designed in 1958 by a German scientist named Felix Wankel. Wankel engines do not use pistons.

Wankel Engine

The wankel engine uses a triangular shaped rotor housed in an oval shaped cylinder. As the rotor is rotated it moves around the cylinder producing the four basic functions to produce a power stroke.

Wankel Engine Principles of Operation

Intake Stroke

The production of power begins with the rotor at point A. The intake port is uncovered allowing a new air/fuel mixture to enter the combustion chamber.

Wankel Engine Principles of Operation

Compression Stroke

As the rotor rotates the combustion chamber is reduced in size compressing the mixture.

Wankel Engine Principles of Operation

Power Stroke

At the highest point of compression the air/fuel is ignited. The hot expanding gases push on the rotor causing it to rotate.

Wankel Engine Principles of Operation

Exhaust Stroke

The continued rotation of the rotor uncovers the exhaust port allowing the exhaust gas to escape. The cycle then repeats when a new air/fuel mixture is permitted to enter the combustion chamber.

Wankel Engine Advantages

Advantages

Less vibration than piston driven engines. A two rotary engine is as powerful as a six cylinder piston engine. Power output can be increased by adding additional rotors to the engine.

Wankel Engine Disadvantages

Disadvantages

Sealing the rotor in the odd shaped cylinder is very difficult requiring costly maintenance. Construction cost are high for this engine. Shortages of trained mechanics to service this engine type.

Diesel Engines

This engine was invented in 1892 by a German mechanical engineer named Rudolph Diesel. At first this engine was known as the compression engine but later was named Diesel after its inventor.

Diesel Engines

Diesels come in two stroke and four stroke versions and operate much like the gasoline driven engines. Diesels have a greater compression ratio than gasoline engines.

Diesel Gasoline

16:1 23:1 6:1 12:1

Diesel Engine Principles of Operation

Intake Stroke

The intake valve opens. The piston moves downward. Only air is pulled into the cylinder or pumped in using a turbo charger (fan).

Diesel Engine Principles of Operation

Compression Stroke

The upward movement of the piston compresses the air increasing the temperature to approximately 538 degrees Celsius.

Diesel Engine Principles of Operation

Power Stroke

As the piston reaches the top, fuel is injected at just the right moment and ignited by the heat, forcing the piston back down.

Diesel Engine Principles of Operation

Exhaust stroke

The piston moves back to the top and pushes the burned gases out of the exhaust valve or port.

Diesel VS Gasoline Engines

Different type fuel (Diesel fuel). Diesel engines operate at a much higher compression ratio. Diesel engines do not use spark plugs. Glow plugs are used to help get the engines going on very cold days.

Diesel Engine Advantages

Advantages

Greater fuel economy (25% more efficient than gasoline engines). Produces more power. Requires less maintenance.

Diesel Engine Disadvantages

Disadvantages

Must be constructed heavier to withstand the higher pressures. Shortage of qualified mechanics in some areas.