AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES

Carburetion

Mixture Requirements
Optimum air-fuel ratio for an SI engine is that
which gives

required power output
with lowest fuel consumption
consistent with smooth and reliable operation
The constraints of emissions may dictate a
different air-fuel ratio

What is carburetion?
The process of formation of a combustible fuel-air
mixture by mixing the proper amount of fuel
with air before it is admitted into the engine
cylinder.
Comes from the words car and burette
because the carburetor meters the
appropriate quantity of liquid fuel (like a
burette) and mixed it with air before sending
the mixture into the engine cylinder.
Factors affecting Carburetion
Engine speed. In a 4-stroke engine running at 3000
rev/min, the intake will take about 10 ms during
which the fuel has to evaporate, mix with air and be
inducted into the engine.

Vaporization characteristics of the fuel. Will require a
volatile fuel for quick evaporation and mixing with air.

The temperature of the in coming air. Must be high
enough to be able to evaporate the fuel and yet not
too high as to reduce mass of fresh charge.

Design of the carburetor. This will help in proper
introduction of fuel into the air stream and provide
proper distribution of the mixture to the various
cylinders.
Air-fuel ratio neglecting compressibility
of air
If we assume air to be incompressible, then
we can apply Bernoullis equation to air flow
also. Since initial velocity is assumed zero, we
have
) 29 (
2
2
2 2 1
C p p
a a
=

Thus
) 30 ( 2
2 1
2 (

=
a
p p
C

Applying the continuity equation for the fuel, we can obtain the theoretical mass
flow rate,
.
a
m
'
( ) ) 31 ( 2
2 1 2
2 2
.
p p A
C A m
a
a a
=
=
'

where A
2
is the venturi in m
2
. If C
d,a
is the coefficient of discharge of the
venturi given by
) 32 (
.
.
,
a
a
a d
m
m
C
'
=
then ( )
.
2 1 2 ,
.
) 33 ( 2 p p A C m
a a d
a
=
Since
) 34 (
.
.
f
a
m
m
F
A
Fuel
Air
= =
) 16 (
2
2
2 1
gz
C
p p
f
f f
+ =

where
f
is the density of the fuel in kg/m
3
, C
f
is the velocity of the fuel
at the exit of the fuel nozzle (fuel jet), and z is the depth of the jet exit
below the level of fuel in the float bowl. This quantity must always be
above zero otherwise fuel will flow out of the jet at all times. The value
of z is usually of the order of 10 mm.
From Eq. 16 we can obtain an expression for the fuel velocity at the jet exit as
) 17 ( 2
2 1
(
(

= gz
p p
C
f
f

Applying the continuity equation for the fuel, we can obtain the theoretical
mass flow rate,
.
f
m
'
( ) ) 18 ( 2
2 1
.
gz p p A
C A m
f f f
f f f f

=
=
'
( )
( )
) 35 (
2 1
2 1 2
,
,
gz p p
p p
A
A
C
C
F
A
f f
a
f f d
a d




=
( )
( )
) 35 (
2 1
2 1 2
,
,
A
gz p p
p p
A
A
C
C
F
A
f f
a
f f d
a d

=
If we assume z = 0, then
) 36 (
2
,
,
f
a
f f d
a d
A
A
C
C
F
A

=
Summary of the Deficiencies of the
Elementary Carburetor
At low loads, the mixture becomes leaner; the
engine requires the mixture to be enriched at
low loads. The mixture is richest at idle.

At intermediate loads, the equivalence ratio
increases slightly as the air flow rate
increases; the engine requires an almost
constant equivalence ratio.
Summary of the Deficiencies of the
Elementary Carburetor
As the air flow approaches the maximum
(WOT) value, the equivalence ratio remains
essentially constant; the engine requires an
equivalence ratio of about 1.1 at maximum
engine power.
Summary of the Deficiencies of the
Elementary Carburetor
The elementary carburetor cannot
compensate for transient phenomena in
the intake manifold. It also cannot
provide a rich mixture during engine
starting and warm-up.
It cannot adjust to changes in ambient air
density due to changes in altitude.


Modern Carburetor
The changes required in the elementary
carburetor so that it provides the equivalence
ratio required at various air flow rates are as
follows.
The main metering system must be
compensated to provide a constant lean or
stoichiometric mixture over 20 to 80% of the
air flow range.
An idle system must be added to meter the
fuel flow at idle and light loads to provide a
rich mixture.
Modern Carburetor
An enrichment system must be provided so
that the engine can get a rich mixture as WOT
conditions is approached and maximum
power can be obtained

A choke must be added to enrich the mixture
during cold starting and warm-up to ensure
that a combustible mixture is provided to
each cylinder at the time of ignition.


Modern Carburetor
An accelerator pump must be provided so that
additional fuel can be introduced into the
engine only when the throttle is suddenly
opened.

Modern Carburetor Design
.
Altitude compensation is necessary to adjust the
fuel flow which makes the mixture rich when air
density is lowered.
Typical Fuel System
Components that supply clean fuel to the fuel metering system
(fuel pump, fuel pipes, fuel filters).
1. Fuel Supply System
Components that supply controlled clean air to the engine (air
filter, ducting, valves).
2. Air Supply System
Components that meter the correct amount of fuel (and air)
entering the engine (injectors, pressure regulator, throttle valve).
3. Fuel Metering
System
The exact components used will vary with fuel system type and
design.
Introduction to Electronic Petrol
Throttle/Single Point Fuel Injection
Systems
The Carburettor has now been replaced with petrol injection
systems. These systems supply the engine with a highly
atomized mixture of air and fuel in the correct air/fuel ratio.
This has the following advantages over the carburettor
systems
Lower exhaust emissions (pollution)
Better fuel consumption
Smoother engine operation and greater power
Automatic adjustment of the air/fuel ratio to keep the
vehicles emissions (pollution) to a minimum.

Air drawn in by the engine
Fuel Supply
Throttle Body
Throttle Valve
Inlet Manifold
Fuel Injector (one off)
The Engine
Throttle Body/Single Point
S.I. Fuel Injection
Single Point Electronic Fuel Injection
(EFI) Systems
EFI systems are classified by using the point of
injection.
A fuel injector (may be
2) is located in a
throttle body assembly
that sits on top of the
inlet manifold.
Fuel is sprayed into
the inlet manifold from
above the throttle
valve, mixing with
incoming air.
Fuel quantity, how
much feul is injected
is controlled by an
ECU.
Single Point (Throttle Body) Fuel Injection
22 of 14
ECU
Fuel in
Inlet manifold
Air in
TB injector
Needle valve
Electrical connector
Fuel filter
Fuel in
Spring
Armature Nozzle/jet
Solenoid
coil
Electronic Fuel Injector Operation
An injector sprays fuel into the inlet manifold by use of a solenoid
coil.
When the coil is switch on by the ECU, it pulls the
armature/needle valve away from the nozzle, allowing pressurized
fuel into the engine.
When the coil is not switched on, the spring pushes the
armature/needle against the nozzle, no fuel is injected into the
inlet manifold
Injectors are more precise and
efficient than carburetors.
Air drawn in by the engine
Fuel Injectors
Throttle Valve
Fuel
Supply
Inlet Manifold
Injectors
Engine
Multi Point S.I. Fuel Injection
Sensor System
Monitors engine operating condition and reports this information
to ECM (computer).
Sensors are electrical devices that change resistance or voltage
with change in condition such as temperature, pressure and position.
Computer Control System
Uses electrical data from the sensors to control the operation of
the fuel injectors.
Engine Control Module (ECM)- Brain of the electronic fuel
injection.
Engine Sensors
Oxygen Sensor measures the oxygen content in engine exhaust.
Mounted on the exhaust system before the
catalytic converter.
Voltage out-put of O2 sensor changes with
the change in oxygen content of exhaust.
Lean mixture decreases the voltage.
Rich mixture increases the voltage.
Signal is sent to ECM and the ECM changes the time that an injector
is open or close.
Engine Sensors
Open Loop
When the electronic injection system doesnt use the input from
the engine exhaust.
System operates on information stored in the computer (PROM).
Computer ignores the sensors when the engine is cold.
Closed Loop
Ones engine reaches the operating temperature, computer uses
information from oxygen sensor and the other sensors.
Engine Sensors
Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP)
Measures the pressure, or vacuum inside
the engine intake manifold.
Manifold pressure = Engine load
High pressure (low intake vacuum) =
High load = Rich mixture
Low pressure (high intake vacuum) =
Little load = Lean mixture
Computer senses the change in resistance
and alters the fuel mixture.
Engine Sensors
Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)
Variable resister connected to the
throttle plate.
Change in throttle angle =
change in resistance.
Based on the resistance, ECM
richens or leans the mixture.
Engine Sensors
Engine Temperature Sensor
Monitors the operating temperature of the engine.
Exposed to engine coolant.
Engine cold = Low Resistance = Rich Mixture
Engine Hot = High Resistance = Lean Mixture.
Engine Sensors
Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF)
Measures the amount of outside air entering the engine.
Contains an air flap or door that operates a variable resistor.
Helps computer to determine how much fuel is needed.
Engine Sensors
Inlet Air Temperature Sensor
Measures the temperature of air entering the engine.
Cold air (more dense) = More fuel for proper AF ratio.
Engine Sensors
Crankshaft Position Sensor
Detects engine speed.
Changes injector timing and duration.
Higher engine speed = More fuel
Engine Sensors
Engine Idle Speed Control
Fast Idle Thermo Valve
Thermo wax plunger expands
and shrinks as the engine
warms up or cools down.
The thermo valve opens when cold to allow air to by-pass
the throttle valve.
This extra air increases engine idle speed to prevent cold engine
stalling.
Engine Idle Speed Control
Idle Air Control Motor (IAC)
Computer opens the valve when temperature sensor signals
a cold engine.
Open = More Air = Increased Idle Speed.
Throttle Body Injection
Uses one or two injectors.
Injectors (pulse) spray fuel into the
top of throttle body air horn.
Atomized fuel mixes with air and
drawn into the engine.
Fuel pressure regulator is spring loaded
and is part of the housing.
Fuel is being injected whenever the
engine is running, also called CIS:
Continuous Injection System.
EFI
EFI Multi port Injection System




Injector is pressed into the runner(Port)
in the intake manifold.
Injector sprays towards an engine
intake valve.
EFI Direct fuel Injection System
Injectors are pressed into the
combustion chamber and spray fuel
directly into the combustion chamber.
Each cylinder has its own
injector