Report on
Internal
Combustion Engines
Thermodynamics and Mechanism
Presented to:
Dr.
Salah El-Haggar
Presented by:
Moataz Mohammad Attallah
May 1999
The aim of this report is to introduce the fundamentals of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). The report traces the mechanism of operation of ICE and its different kinds based on the operation mechanism, specially the two stroke and four stroke engines. It also involves the thermodynamics relations that govern the processes of these engines, highlighting two main important cycles, which are: Otto Cycle and Diesel cycles. Thus, it uses both cycles to introduce the second categorization of ICE based on the thermodynamic relations; introducing Gasoline engines and Diesel engines. Whenever possible, the report refers to current research and future developments in this field.
Key Words: Internal combustion
engines; mechanism, two stroke engines, four stroke
engines, Otto cycle, Diesel cycles, Gasoline engines, Diesel engines, Research.
CONTENTS AND FIGURES:
Abstract
Introduction
Objective
General
Aspects about the engine Mechanism
Stroke
Categorization
1 . Two-stroke engine
2 . Four-stroke engine
Cycle Categorization
1 . Otto Cycle
2 . Diesel Cycle
Future Developments
and Current Research
Conclusion
References
| Quantity | Common Symbol | Unit | SI Dimensions |
| Entropy | s | KJ/kg.K | L2T-2K-1 |
| Temperature | T | Celsius | (°K) K |
| Pressure | P | Pascal | ML-1T-2 |
| Volume | V | m3 | L-3 |
An engine is defined as the machine that converts the chemical energy liberated through combustion of a certain fuel, into a mechanical energy that is used to derive a certain vehicle. The definition highlights two important facts about the engines. First, an engine is a machine, hence a mechanism exists. This mechanism can vary, and thus we can have more than one mechanism of operation. The two most famous mechanism of actions are the two-stroke and four-stroke engines. As clear from its name, the only difference exists in the so-called stroke. This leads to different design considerations, and accordingly leads to distinguishable efficiency for each kind. There is a third design for engines that is called the Rotary Engine. MENG 491students are working on designing and manufacturing a rotary engine this semester.
The second point in the definition is the conversion of chemical energy that results from combustion of a certain fuel. Based on the type of the fuel and the method of conversion of chemical energy to mechanical energy, one can distinguish two main types of engines, which are: Diesel engine and Gasoline engines. The first engine is based on a thermodynamic cycle called Diesel cycle, while the second is based on a cycle called Otto cycle. Due to the difference in the thermodynamic cycle that is used to burn the used fuel, a certain fuel was selected to suit the process. In Otto cycle engines, gasoline (known as benzene) is the fuel. In Diesel cycle engine engines, diesel oil (known as solar) is the fuel.
The applications of the engines vary according
to its efficiency, and the required working conditions. For example, certain
applications require the use of two stroke engines rather than four stroke
engines. On the other side, some vehicles has diesel operated engines—including
passengers’ cars as well. Still, there are other types of engines other
than the above mentioned types, which were all invented a century or more
ago. From the new types, compressed natural gas engines appears as one
of the most promising engines; because of being an engine based on an environmentally
friendly fuel.
The aim of this technical report is:
1 - Introducing different
types of internal combustion engines, based on different categorization.
2 - Familiarization with
the mechanism of operation of each, and the thermodynamic relations behind
its theoretical cycles.
GENERAL
ASPECTS ABOUT ENGINES MECHANISM:
The stroke is defined as the length of
the path that the piston goes through inside the cylinder. The upper end
of the cylinder is referred to as the Top Dead Center (TDC), and the lower
end is referred to as the Bottom Dead Center (BDC). Using the crankshaft
mechanism, the linear motion that comes out from the piston due to the
combustion is converted into rotational motion. Rotational motion is the
required one to derive the wheels.
Following is the explanation of the two-stroke
and four-stroke engines.
Two stroke engines are normally found in
low power vehicles, such as: garden equipment, jet skis, and some motorcycles
engines. From its name, the two-strokes engine refers to a type of an engine
in which the process of combustion of a fuel and the liberation of mechanical
energy takes place in only two strokes of the piston, the first goes from
the top dead center to the bottom dead center, and vice versa for the second
stroke.
Starting from the point at which compressed
fuel/air/oil mixture exists inside the piston, a spark is ignited from
the spark plug, hence combustion. Combustion produces large energy that
pushes the piston downward and exhaust gases are formed out of the combustion.
Thus, the engine starts its first stroke in which it delivers power using
the crankshaft and exhaust gases are liberated out of the cylinder from
the exhaust valve.
Figure 2
First stroke of the 2-stroke engine
As the piston proceeds downward,
another valve is opened which is the fuel/air valve. Air/fuel/oil mixtures
come from the carburetor, where it was mixed, to rest in an adjacent
fuel chamber. When the piston moves downward more and the cylinder has
no more gases, fuel mixture starts to flow to the combustion chamber and
the second process of fuel compression starts. It is worth mentioning that
the design carefully considers the point that fuel-air mixture should not
mix with the exhaust. Therefore, the processes of fuel injection and exhausting
should be synchronized to avoid that concern.
It should be noted that the piston has
three functions in its operation:
1 - The piston acts as the
combustion chamber with the cylinder, and it also compresses the air/fuel
mixture and receives back the liberated energy and transfers it to the
crankshaft.
2 - The piston motion creates
a vacuum in order to such the fuel/air mixture from the carburetor, and
pushes it from the crankcase (adjacent chamber) to the combustion chamber.
3 - The sides of the piston
are acting like the valves, covering and uncovering the intake and exhaust
ports drilled into the side of the cylinder wall.
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
| It has no valves or camshaft mechanism, hence simplifying its mechanism and construction. | · The lack of lubrication system that protects the engine parts from wear. Accordingly, the 2-stroke engines have shorter life. |
| · For one complete revolution of the crankshaft, the engine executes one cycle—the 4-stroke executes 1 cycle per 2 crankshafts revolutions. | · They do not consume fuel efficiently. |
| · Less weight and easier to manufacture. | · They produce lots of pollution. |
| · High power to weight ratio | · Sometimes part of the fuel leaks to the exhaust with the exhaust gases. |
In 1867, Nikolaus August Otto, a German
engineer, developed the four stroke "Otto" cycle, which is widely used
in transportation even today. Otto developed the four stroke internal combustion
engine when he was 34 years old. Actually most of today’s gasoline cars
use four stroke engines, which is a direct application for the thermodynamic
cycle "Otto Cycle".
| The cylinder of the four strokes engine differs from the two strokes engine. The major difference between both engines is the valves that are located on the top of the cylinder. These two valves open and close alternatively to allow either air/fuel mixture to enter or exhaust gases to come out. As it was previously mentioned, the motion of the two valves happen through the camshaft system. The spark plug is the one that ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture at a time when both valves are closed. Accordingly, the piston is pushed downward, transmitting power to the crankshaft. Power is then transferred to the wheel through other mechanisms. Figure 4 |  |
| Suction (Intake) stroke: During this stroke, the piston starts its motion from the top downward of the cylinder. Synchronously, the intake valve is opened (based on the camshaft mechanism), allowing air/vaporized fuel mixture to enter to the combustion chamber.Figure 5a |  |
| Compression stroke: In this one, both valves should be closed. The piston starts to move upward to compress the fuel, until it reaches the top dead center. By compressing the fuel, the fuel temperature and pressure increases.Figure 5b |  |
| Power Stroke: As the piston reaches the top dead center, the spark plug ignites a spark, allowing the fuel to burn. The combustion yields a high power that is transmitted through the crankshaft mechanism. It should be noted that in order for the combustion energy to be consumed efficiently in moving the piston, both valves should be closed.Figure 5c |  |
| Exhaust Stroke: After reaching to the maximum displacement of the piston, most of the energy liberated is transferred. Accordingly, the pistons starts it back upward motion to get rid of the exhaust gases that result from combustion. At that moment, the exhaust valve is opened to allow it to go outside the cylinder.Figure 5d |  |
This is one of the important points to discuss, which is the thermodynamics of the combustion process. There are two main cycles based on which we can categorize internal combustion engines, which are: Otto cycle and Diesel cycle.
Otto cycle is the typical cycle for most of the cars internal combustion engines, that work using gasoline as a fuel. Otto cycle is exactly the same one that was described for the four-stroke engine. It consists of the same four major steps: Intake, compression, ignition and exhaust.
In the Diesel Cycle, named after Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913), only air is admitted in the intake stroke. The air is then adiabatically compressed, and fuel is injected into to the hot air in the form of many small drops (not a vapor). Each drop burns over a small time, giving an approximation of a isobaric explosion. The explosion pushes the cylinder outwards. The power stroke, valve exhaust, and exhaust stroke which follow are identical to those in the Otto Cycle.
A - 1 to 2: Isentropic compression
B - 2 to 3: Reversible constant
pressure heating
C - 3 to 4: Isentropic expansion
D - 4 to 1: Reversible constant
volume cooling
In other words, the only difference between
is the Otto engine and diesel engine is that the latter does not require
a spark plug to ignite the fuel; the fuel here is ignited under the effect
of increase in pressure and temperature. In Diesel engines, compression
ratios are as high as 22.5 to 1, where for Otto engines it normally does
not reach even one fifth that number.
Rotary Engine
In the 1950s the German engineer Felix
Wankel developed an internal-combustion engine , in which the piston and
cylinder were replaced by a three-cornered rotor turning in a roughly oval
chamber. The fuel-air mixture is drawn in through an intake port and trapped
between one face of the turning rotor and the wall of the oval chamber.
The turning of the rotor compresses the mixture, which is ignited by a
spark plug. The exhaust gases are then expelled through an exhaust port
through the action of the turning rotor. The cycle takes place alternately
at each face of the rotor, giving three power strokes for each turn of
the rotor. Because of the Wankel engine's compact size and consequent lesser
weight as compared with the piston engine, it appeared to be an important
option for automobiles. In addition, its mechanical simplicity provided
low manufacturing costs, its cooling requirements were low, and its low
center of gravity made it safer to drive. A line of Wankel-engine cars
was produced in Japan in the early 1970s, and several United States automobile
manufacturers researched the idea as well. However, production of the Wankel
engine was discontinued as a result of its poor fuel economy and its high
pollutant emissions.
Excerpted from Encarta 97® ©
Internal combustion engines are among the
most important engineering applications. The theory of application either
depends on Diesel or Otto cycles. They are categorized either according
to the operating cycle, or due to the mechanism of working.
Each type of engines has some advantages
over the other one. Thus, the selection of the appropriate engine requires
determining the conditions of application.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm
http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/08/0085e000.htm
http://www.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke.htm
http://www.siu.edu/~autoclub/frange.html
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~eww6n/physics/OttoCycle.html
http://www.uq.edu.au/~e4nsrdja/teaching/e4213/Related/Cycles/Diesel.htm
http://www.merlin.net.au/~bhampton/holdfast/howengines.html
http://www.taftan.com/thermodynamics/DIESEL.HTM
Microsoft ® Encarta © 97: Internal
Combustion Engine