37
CHAPTER 4
INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINES
4.1 Heat Engine
engine is a prime mover which derives the heat energy from the combustion of fuels or
A heat
any other source and converts this energy into mechanical work In the heat engines, the mechanical
work produced is a linear work which inturn is converted into rotational work by the elements such
as cylinder, piston, connecting rod, crank, etc.
The heat engines are mainly classified into:(1) External combustion engines and (2) Internal
combustion engines. In the external combustion engines known as E.C. Engines, the combustion of
the fuel takes place outside the engine cylinder, ex: steam engine. In the internal combustion engines,
known as I.C. Engines, the combustion of the fuel takes place inside the engine cylinder, ex : petrol
engines, diesel engines.
4.2 I.C. Engines
An internal combustion engine more popularly known as LC. Engine, is a heat engine which
converts the heat energy released by the combustion of the fuel taking place inside the engine
cylinder into mechanical workIts versatile advantages such as high cfficiency, light weight,
Compactness, easy starting, adaptability, suitability for mobile applications, comparatively lower
initial cost has made its use as a prime mover universal.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE 38
4.3
4.3 Classification of I.C. Engines
L.C. Engines classified
are
according to
(i) Nature of Thermodynamic Cycle as:
1. Otto cycle engine.
2. Diesel cycle engine.
3. Dual combustion cycle engine.
(ii) Type of the Fuel used as:
1. Petrol engine.
2 Diesel engine.
3. Gas engine.
A Bi-fuel Engine.
(ii) Number of Strokes as :
. Four stroke engine.
2. Two stroke engine.
(iv) Method of Ignition as
1. Spark ignition engine, known as S.I. Engine.
2. Compression ignition engine, known as C.I. engine.
(v) Number of Cylinders as
A.Single cylinder engine.
2. Multicylinder engine.
Aiaant
(vi) Position of the Cylinder as :
A. Horizontal engine
2. Vertical engine.
3. Vee engine.
4. In-line engine.
5. Opposed cylinder engine.
6. Radial engine.
(vit) Method of Cooling as
. Air cooled engine.
2. Water cooled engine.
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 39
4.4 Parts of I.C. Engine EXHAUST VAL VE
The various important parts of an OUTLET
LC. Engine are shown in Fig. 4.. INLET_VALVE
A. Cylinder
The heart of the engine is the CYLINDER
cylinder inwhich the fuel is burnt and
the power is developed. The inside INLET PISTON RINGS
diameter is called bore. To prevent the
wearing of the cylinder block, a sleeve
will be fitted tightly in the cylinder. The
PISTON
piston reciprocates inside the cylinder.
2. Piston CAM
The piston is a close fitting
CONNECTING ROD
hollow-cylindrical .plunger moving top-
and-fro in the çylinder. The power
developed by the combustion of the fuel
is transmitted by the piston to the crank FLY WHEEL
shaft through the connecting rod. CRANKCASE
Piston Rings
The piston rings are the metalic
rings inserted into the circumferential
grooves provided at the top end of the CRANK
piston. These rings maintains a gas-tight
joint between the piston and the cylinder CRANK SHAFT
while the piston is reciprocating in the
cylinder. They also helps in conducting
the heat from the piston to the cylinder.
Parts of I.C. Engine
4. ConneGting Rod Fig. 4.1
It is a link that connects the piston and the crankshaft by means of pin joints. It converts the
rectilinear motion of the piston into rotary_motion of the crankshaft.
5. Crank and Crankshaft
The crank is a lever that is connected to the end of the connecting rod by a pin joint with its
other end connected rigidly to a shaft, called crankshaft. It rotates about the axis of the crankshaft
and causes the connecting rod to oscillate.
6. Valves
The valves are the devices which controls the flow of the intake and the exhaust gases to and
from the engine cylinder. They are also called poppet valves. These valves are operated by means of
cams driven by the crankshaft through a timing gear or chain.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE 40
7. Flywheel
It is a heavy wheel mounted on the crankshaft of the engine to maintain uniform rotation of the
crankshaft.
8. Crankcase
t is the lower part of the engine serving as an enclosure for the crankshaft and also as a sump
for the lubricating oil.
4.5 I.C. Engine Terminology
. Bore : The inner diameter of the engine cylinder is called a bore.
2. Stroke: It is the linear distance travelled by the piston when it moves from one end of the
cylinder to the other end. It is equal to twice the radius of the crank.
3. Cover End or Top Dead Centre(TDC): The extreme position of the piston near to the cover or
cylinder head of the engine is called cover end. In the vertical engines, this extreme position of the
piston is also called as top dead centre (TDC),
4. Crank End or Bottom Dead Centre (BDC) : The extreme position of the piston near to the crank is
called crank end. In the vertical engines, this extreme position of the piston is also called as bottom
dead centre (BDC).
4,6
4,6 Four Stroke Petrol Engine
A four stroke petrol engine, Fig. 4.3, consists of a
cylinder with its one end fitted with a cover and the other
end left open. The cover is provided with the inlet and
REVERSIBLE
exhaust apertures. These inlet and the exhaust apertures are ADIABATIC
opened and closed by mechanically operated valves. The
valve operating the inlet is called inlet valve and the valve
operating the exhaust is called exhaust valve. The spark plug
fitted at the top of the cover initiates the ignition of the
petrol. A freely moving piston reciprocates inside the
cylinder. The connecting rod and the crank convert the V VOLUME
reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotary motion.
The petrol engines work on the principle of theoretical Theoretical Otto Cycle
Fig. 4.2
known cycle, in
Oto Cycle, also as constant volume shown
Fig 42. The piston performs four strokes to complete one working cycle. The four different strokes
are; (i) suction stroke, (iü) compression stroke, (ili) working or power stroke and (iv) exhaust stroke.
Fig. 4.3 shows the construction and working of a four stroke petrol engine.
Suction Stroke
During this stroke, the inlet is open and the exhaust is closed, the piston moves from the cover
end to the crank end and during this travel of the piston the crankshaft revolves by half rotation. The
energy required to perform this stroke issupplied by 'cranking' only during the first cycle at the time
of starting, and while running,the flywheel supplies the mechanical energy which it had absorbed by
it during the working stroke of the previous cycle.
INTERNAL cOMBUSTION ENGINES
41
INLET VALVE EXHAUST VALVE
PETROL-AIR EXHAUST
MIXTURE
S C O V E R END 4 GASES
CYLINDER
SPARK
PLUG
PISTON ICRANK END
CONNECTING ROD
CRANK
CRANKSHAFT
Suction Compression Working Exhaust
Stroke Stroke Stroke Stroke
Four Stroke Petrol Engine
Fig. 4.3
At the beginning of this stroke, since the inlet is open, the pressure in the cylinder will be
atmospheric,. As the piston gradually moves from the cover end to the crank end, the volume in
the cylinder increases, while simultaneously the pressure decreases. This sets up a pressure
differential between the atmosphere and the inside of the cylinder. Due to this pressure
differential the petrol-and-air mixture will be drawn into the cylinder through the carburettor. This
drawal of the petrol-and-air mixture will be taking place at atmospheric pressure. This stroke is
represented by the horizontal line AB on the PV diagram shown in Fig. 4.2.
At the end of this stroke, the cylinder will be filled completely with petrol-and-air mixure and
the inlet is closed by the inlet valve.
Compression Stroke
During this stroke, both the inlet and the exhaust are closed, the piston moves from the crank
end to the cover end and the crankshaft revolves further by half rotation. The energy required to
perform this stroke is supplied by cranking ' only during the first cycle at the time of starting, and
while
running the flywheel supplies the mechanical energy stored by it during he working stroke of
the previous cycle.
As this stroke is being performed, the petrol-and-air mixture contained in the cylinder will be
compressed. The ratio of compression in petrol engines ranges from 1:7 to 1:11. The process of
compression is theoretically a reversible adiabatic or insentropic, represented by the curve BC and the
PV diagram shown in Fig. 4.2.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
42
mixture is ignited by the electric spark
thc end of this stroke, thc pctrol-and-air
At or near
is by the spark given out by the spark
out by the spark plug. Since the ignition of the pertol
given abbreviated as S.1. engine. The
this type of engine is also called as spark ignition engine
plug. which will increase the pressure
at constant volume
combustion of the pertol releases the hot gases the vertical line CD on the PV
constant volume combustion process is theoretically represented by
This
diagram shown in Fig. 4.2.
Working or Power Stroke
from the cover
inlet and the exhaust are closed, the piston moves
During this stroke, both the
end to the crank end and the crank shaft revolves by half rotation.
called expansion or
Tne high burnt gases force the piston to perform this stroke,
pressure thee mechanical
causes the piston to produce
working or power stroke. The linear motion of the piston
Work or power during this stroke which will be transmitted to
the crankshaft by the connecting rod
and the crank. As the piston moves, the pressure of the hot gases gradually decreases. Theoretically,
the expansion of the burnt gases is considered as reversible adiabatic process represented by the curve
DE on the PV diagram shown in Fig. 4.2.
the burnt gases to the
stroke, the exhaust opens which will release
At or near the end of this
that of atmosphere. This drop in pressure
atmosphere. This will suddenly bring down the cylinder to
at constant volume is theoretically represented by the vertical
line EB on the PV diagram shown in
Fig. 4.2.
Exhaust Stroke
moves from the crank
During this stroke, the exhaust is open and the inlet is closed, the piston
end to the cover end and the crank shaft revolves by half rotation. The energy required to perform
it during the previous stroke.
this stroke is supplied by the flywheel from the energy absorbed by
this stroke, the burnt gases will be expelledof the cylinder at
out
As the piston performs
atmospheric pressure. This process is represented by the horizontal line BA on the PV diagram
shown in Fig. 4.2.
Summary
called a four stroke
Since this engine requires four strokes to complete one working cycle, it is
two revolutions to complete one cycle. The power is developed in every
engine. The crankshaft makes
alternate revolutions of the crankshaft.
Since the four stroke petrol engines have higher load carrying capacities than two stroke petrol
engines, they are generally used passenger
in cars and also in some high power-high speed motor cycles.
4.7 Four Stroke Diesel Engine REVERSTBLE
ADIABATIC
The basic construction of a four stroke diesel engine is same
as that of four
stroke petrol engine, except instead of spark plug, a
its place as shown in Fig. 4.5. A fuel
fuel injector is mounted in
the fuel oil to the injector at higher pressure.
pump supplies
The diesel engines work on the principle of theoretical Diesel
Cycle, also known as constant pressure heat addition cycle. The
four stroke diesel engine cycle also comprises of suction, VOLUME
and exhaust strokes. Fig. 4.5 shows the Theoretical Diesel Cycle
compression, working
construction and working of a four stroke diesel engine. Fig. 4.4
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 43
INLET VAL VE EXHAUST VALVE
AIR- AUST
GASES
COVER END
CYLINDER
FUEL
INJECTOR
PISTON CRANK END
CONNECTING ROD
CRANK
CRANKSHAFT
Suction Compression Working Exhaust
Stroke Stroke Stroke Stroke
Four Stroke Diesel Engine
Fig. 4.5
Suction Stroke
During this stroke, the inlet is open and the exhaust is closed, the piston moves from the cover
end to the crank end and crankshaft revolves by half rotation. The energy required to perform this
stroke is supplied by 'cranking ' only during the first cycle at the time of starting, and while running.
the flywheel supplies the mechanical energy which it had absorbed during the working stroke of the
previous cycle.
At the beginning of this stroke, since the inlet is open, the pressure in the cylinder will be
atmospheric. As the piston gradually moves from the cover end to the crank end, the volume in the
cylinder increases while the' pressure decreases. This sets up a pressure differential between the
atmosphere and the inside of the cylinder. Due to this pressure differential only the atmospheric air
will be drawn into the cylinder through the air and the inlet. This drawal of air will be
filter taking
place at atmosphere pressure. This stroke is represented by the horizontal line AB on the PV diagram
shown in Fig. 4,4.
At the end of this stroke, the cylinder will be filled completely with air and the inlet will be
closed by the inlet valve.
Compression Stroke
During this stroke, both the inlet and the exhaust are closed, the piston moves from the crank
end to the cover end and the crankshaft revolves by half rotation. The energy required to perform
this stroke is supplied by 'cranking ' only during the first cycle at the time of starting, and while
Tunning the flywheel supplies the mechanical energy absorbed by it during the workiñg stroke of the
previous cycle.
44 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
As this stroke is performed, the air in the cylinder will be compressed. The ratio or
compression ranges from 1:20 to 1:22. The compression process is reversible adiabatic or isentropic
represented theoretically by the curve BC on the PV diagram shown in Fíg. 4.4.
The compression ratio in this engine is higher than the four stroke petrol engine. The air as it 1s
being compressed gets heated up and therefore its temperature will increased. At the end of this
be
stroke the air will have attained a temperature greater than the ignition temperature of the diesel oil.
At the end of this
or near stroke, metered
a quantity of the diesel oil is sprayed into the cylinder
through the injector. The high temperature of the air ignites the diesel oil as soon as it is sprayed.
This is called auto-ignition or self-ignition. Since the compressed air ignites the diesel oil, this type
of engine is also called as compression ignition engine
or C.L Engine.
Working or Power Stroke
During this stroke, both the inlet and the exhaust are closed, the piston moves from the cover
end to the crank end and the crankshaft revolves by half rotation.
The auto-ignition of the diesel oil initiates the combustion as a result the hot gases are released.
The burnt gases released by the combustion of the diesel oil that is continuously injected into the
cylinder, force the piston to performearlier part of this stroke at constantpressure til the injection of
the diesel oil is completed. This constant pressure expansion with simultaneous combustionis
represented theoretically by the horizontal line CD on the PV diagram shown in Fig. 4.4. The piston
is forced further during the remaining part of this stroke only due to the expansiono f the burnt
gases. The linear motion of the piston causes the piston to produce the mechanical work or power
during this stroke which will be transmitted to the crankshaft through the connecting rod and the
crank. As the piston moves the pressure of the hot gases gradually decreases. Theoretically the
expansion of the burnt gases is considered as reversible adiabatic process represented by the curve DE
on the PV diagram shown in Fig. 4.4.
Exhaust Stroke
During this stroke, the exhaust is open and the inlet is closed, the piston moves from the crank
end to the cover end and the crankshaft revolves by half rotation. The energy required to perform
this stroke is supplied by the flywheel out of the power produced during the previous stroke.
As the piston performs this stroke, the exhaust gases will be expelled out of the cylinder at
atmospheric pressure. This process is represented by the horizontal line BA on the PV diagram
shown in Fig. 4.4.
Summary
Since this engine requires four strokes to compelete one working cycle, it is called four stroke
engine. The crankshaft makes two revolutions to complete one cycle. The power is developed in every
alternate revolution of the crankshaft.
Sincefour stroke diesel engines produce higher power than the four stroke petrol engines, they
aregenerally used in trucks, tractors, jeeps, etc.
50 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
4.12 Comparison between Petrol and Diesel Engines
SI. Petrol Enginc Dicsel Engine
No. Principle (S.I. Engine) (C.I. Engine)
/1 Theoretical Cycle
of Operation
It works on Otto Cycle which It works on Diesel Cycle which
is also called as constant is also called as constant pressure
volume cycle. cycle.
Fuel used Petrol. Diesel.
Admission of During the suction stroke itself The diesel oil is pressurised by
the Fuel the petrol is first admitted to the fuel pump and then injected
the carburettor, where it gets into the engine cylinder by the
mixed with the air and then fuel injector at the end of
mixture enters the cylinder. compression stroke.
t Charge drawn Air and petrol mixture is Only air is drawn during the
during the drawn during the suction suction stroke.
Suction Stroke stroke.
15. Compression
Ratio
Low compression ratio High compression ratio ranging
rangingfrom 7:1 to 12:1 from 16:1 to 20 :1
/6 Ignition of The compressed air and petrol The ignition of the diesel is
the Fuel is ignited by the spark plug. accomplished by the compresssed
This type of ignition is called air which will have been heated
spark ignition. due to high compression, to the
temperatures greater than the
ignition temperature of the diesel.
This type of ignition is called
compression ignition or auto
ignition.
7. Governing The quantitative method of The qualitative method of
gOverning is employed in governing is employed in diesel
petrol engines. engines.
Engine Speed High engine speeds of about Low engine speeds ranging from
3000 rpm. 500 to 1500 rpm.
. Power Output Because of the low Due to high compression ratio
Capacity compression ratio the power the power developed will be
developed will be less. more.
Coninued in next page
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 51
S. Petrol Engine Diesel Engine
No. Principle (S.I. Engine) (C.I. Engine)
0. Thermal The thermal efficiency of The thermal efficiency
of diesel
Efficiency petrol engines is lower due toengines is higher due to high
lower compresion ratio. compression ratio.
Noise and Because of operating pressure Because of higher operating
Vibration is less the noise and vibrations pressures the noise and vibration
are almost nil. are high.
12 Weight Due to low compression ratio, Due to high compression ratio,
of the the maximum pressure and the and higher maximum pressure
Engine temperature of firing is less and temperature, the engine will1
therefore the engine need not have to be strong and sturdy
be of robust construction hence the weight of the engine is
hence the weight of the engine more
is less.
Initial Cost For the same power output the The initial cost of diesel
initial cost of the engine is less engines is more due to costlier
because it is lighter in fuel injection syste and
construction. robust design.
1A. Operating The running or operating cost The running or operating cost
Fuel Cost is high because the petrol is is less because the diesel is
costlier. cheaper.
15 Maintenance Cost Less. Slightly higher.
Starting of the The petrol engines can easily be The diesel engines are difficult
Engine started even in cold weather. to start in cold weather.
17. Exhaust Gas The exhaust pollution is more The exhaust gas pollution is
Pollution in petrol engines, because the less because there will be a
unburnt hydrocarbon and large amount of excess air
carbon monoxide are which results in a wide range
significant in the exhaust gases of air-fuel ratios ranging from
due to the constant air-fuel very lean mixture to very rich
ratio and quantitative mixture. A well maintained
governing employed. diesel engine has very little
carbon monoxide and hence
less amount of smoke.
Uses Used in Scooter, Motor Cycle, Used in as Trucks, Tractors,
Cars, etc. Buses, Bulldozers.
