IC Engine Classification & Analysis

June 8, 2024

IC Engines classification, Analysis of a standard cycle, fuel 6

characteristic of SI & CI Engine, Combustion, Engine
performance Automotive Engine exhaust emission and their
control
DETAILED NOTES FOR SEMESTER EXAM

Sure! Below are detailed notes on the various topics related to internal combustion (IC)
engines, which should help you prepare for your semester exam.

1. IC Engines Classification
IC Engines (Internal Combustion Engines):
IC engines are classified based on various criteria:

Cycle of operation:

Two-stroke engine

Four-stroke engine

Fuel used:

Petrol (Spark Ignition, SI) engine

Diesel (Compression Ignition, CI) engine

Gas engine (Natural gas, CNG, LPG)

Cooling method:

Air-cooled engine

Water-cooled engine

Number of cylinders:

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 Single-cylinder engine

Multi-cylinder engine

Valve arrangement:

Overhead valve (OHV) engine

Overhead camshaft (OHC) engine

2. Analysis of a Standard Cycle

Standard Cycles:

1. Otto Cycle (SI Engines):

Consists of two isochoric processes (constant volume) and two adiabatic

processes (no heat transfer).

Key stages:

1. Isentropic compression

2. Isochoric heat addition

3. Isentropic expansion

4. Isochoric heat rejection

2. Diesel Cycle (CI Engines):

Consists of two adiabatic processes, one isochoric process, and one isobaric
process (constant pressure).

Key stages:

1. Isentropic compression

2. Isobaric heat addition

3. Isentropic expansion

4. Isochoric heat rejection

3. Dual Cycle:

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 Combination of Otto and Diesel cycles, with heat addition occurring at constant
volume and constant pressure.

Key stages:

1. Isentropic compression

2. Isochoric heat addition

3. Isobaric heat addition

4. Isentropic expansion

5. Isochoric heat rejection

3. Fuel Characteristics of SI and CI Engines

SI (Spark Ignition) Engines:

Use petrol (gasoline).

Require a spark plug for ignition.

Operate on Otto cycle.

High volatility fuels.

Lower compression ratio (6:1 to 10:1).

CI (Compression Ignition) Engines:

Use diesel.

Ignition by compression of air (no spark plug).

Operate on Diesel cycle.

Low volatility fuels.

Higher compression ratio (14:1 to 22:1).

Fuel Characteristics:

1. Volatility: Important for cold starting and smooth operation.

2. Viscosity: Influences fuel atomization.

3. Cetane number (CI engines): Measure of ignition quality.

4. Octane number (SI engines): Measure of anti-knock quality.

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 5. Sulfur content: Affects emissions and engine wear.

6. Energy content: Affects fuel efficiency and power output.

4. Combustion
Combustion in SI Engines:

Stages:

1. Ignition delay

2. Flame propagation

3. After-burning

Factors affecting combustion:

Mixture quality

Ignition timing

Turbulence

Compression ratio

Combustion in CI Engines:

Stages:

1. Ignition delay

2. Premixed combustion

3. Diffusion combustion

4. Late combustion

Factors affecting combustion:

Injection timing

Injection pressure

Air-fuel ratio

Swirl and turbulence

5. Engine Performance

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 Key Parameters:

1. Indicated Power (IP): Power developed inside the engine cylinder.

2. Brake Power (BP): Power available at the crankshaft.

3. Friction Power (FP): Power loss due to friction (IP - BP).

4. Thermal Efficiency: Ratio of useful work output to heat input.

5. Mechanical Efficiency: Ratio of brake power to indicated power.

6. Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC): Fuel consumption per unit power output.
Fuel consumed (kg/hr)
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC): BSFC = Brake power (kW)
​

7. Volumetric Efficiency: Measure of the engine's ability to fill the cylinders with air.

6. Automotive Engine Exhaust Emissions and Their Control

Common Pollutants:

1. CO (Carbon Monoxide): Produced due to incomplete combustion.

2. HC (Hydrocarbons): Unburnt or partially burnt fuel.

3. NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen): Formed at high temperatures.

4. PM (Particulate Matter): Soot and other particles, primarily from diesel engines.

5. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): Product of complete combustion, contributes to greenhouse

effect.

Control Methods:

1. Catalytic Converters: Reduce CO, HC, and NOx emissions.

2. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR): Reduces NOx emissions by recirculating a portion

of exhaust gas back to the engine.

3. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF): Trap and oxidize particulate matter.

4. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Uses urea-based solution to reduce NOx

emissions.

5. Lean NOx Trap (LNT): Absorbs and reduces NOx under lean conditions.

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 By understanding these fundamental concepts and details, you should be well-prepared
for your semester exam on internal combustion engines. Good luck!

Suggest me questions with solutions that can come in exam

Sure! Here are some potential exam questions along with their solutions, covering
various aspects of internal combustion engines (IC engines):

Question 1: Classification of IC Engines

Q1: Explain the classification of internal combustion engines based on the type of fuel
used and the cycle of operation.

Answer:
Based on the type of fuel used:

1. Petrol (SI) Engines: Use petrol as fuel and operate on the Otto cycle. They require a
spark plug for ignition.

2. Diesel (CI) Engines: Use diesel as fuel and operate on the Diesel cycle. They use
compression for ignition.

3. Gas Engines: Use gaseous fuels like natural gas, CNG, or LPG.

Based on the cycle of operation:

1. Two-Stroke Engines: Complete a power cycle in two strokes of the piston (one
revolution of the crankshaft).

2. Four-Stroke Engines: Complete a power cycle in four strokes of the piston (two
revolutions of the crankshaft).

Question 2: Analysis of Otto Cycle

Q2: Derive the expression for the thermal efficiency of an Otto cycle and explain the
factors affecting it.

Answer:
The Otto cycle consists of two isentropic processes and two constant volume
processes.

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 Thermal efficiency η of the Otto cycle is given by:
1
η =1− rγ−1
​

where:

r is the compression ratio ( VV12 ) ​

​
​

γ is the specific heat ratio ( Cvp )

C ​

Factors affecting thermal efficiency:

1. Compression Ratio (r): Higher compression ratios lead to higher efficiency.

2. Specific Heat Ratio (γ ): Higher values of γ increase efficiency.

Question 3: Fuel Characteristics

Q3: Compare the characteristics of fuels used in SI and CI engines.

Answer:
SI Engine Fuels (Petrol):

High volatility

Lower cetane number

Higher octane number

Suitable for spark ignition

CI Engine Fuels (Diesel):

Lower volatility

Higher cetane number

Lower octane number

Suitable for compression ignition

Question 4: Combustion in SI Engines

Q4: Describe the stages of combustion in a spark ignition (SI) engine.

Answer:

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 1. Ignition Delay: Time interval between the spark plug firing and the beginning of
combustion.

2. Flame Propagation: The flame front moves through the air-fuel mixture, burning it
progressively.

3. After-Burning: Combustion continues in the exhaust stroke as residual gases burn.

Question 5: Engine Performance Parameters

Q5: Explain the significance of Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and how it is
calculated.

Answer:
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC): It measures the fuel efficiency of an engine,
defined as the amount of fuel consumed per unit of brake power produced.

Calculation:
Fuel consumption rate (kg/hr)
BSFC = Brake power (kW)
​

Lower BSFC values indicate higher fuel efficiency.

Question 6: Emission Control

Q6: Describe the working principle of a catalytic converter and its role in reducing
automotive exhaust emissions.

Answer:
Catalytic Converter: It converts harmful pollutants in exhaust gases into less harmful
emissions through chemical reactions facilitated by a catalyst.

Working Principle:

1. Reduction Catalyst: Converts NOx into nitrogen and oxygen.

2. Oxidation Catalyst: Converts CO into CO2 and hydrocarbons into CO2 and water.

3. Oxygen Storage: Maintains the balance of oxygen for effective reactions.

Question 7: Diesel Cycle Analysis

Q7: Derive the expression for the thermal efficiency of a Diesel cycle.

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 Answer:
The Diesel cycle consists of two isentropic processes, one isochoric process, and one
isobaric process.

Thermal efficiency η of the Diesel cycle is given by:

( γ(ρ−1) )
γ
1 ρ −1
η =1− rγ−1
​ ​

where:

r is the compression ratio ( VV12 ) ​

​
​

ρ is the cut-off ratio ( VV32 )​

​
​

γ is the specific heat ratio ( Cvp )

C ​

Question 8: Volumetric Efficiency

Q8: What is volumetric efficiency, and why is it important in IC engines? How is it
calculated?

Answer:
Volumetric Efficiency: It measures the effectiveness of an engine in filling its cylinders
with air-fuel mixture.

Importance:

Higher volumetric efficiency means better cylinder filling, leading to more power
output and better performance.

Calculation:
Actual air intake
Volumetric Efficiency(ηv ) = ​

Theoretical air intake

​ × 100%

Question 9: Dual Cycle

Q9: Explain the dual cycle and its significance in IC engines.

Answer:
Dual Cycle: It combines elements of both the Otto and Diesel cycles. Heat addition
occurs at both constant volume and constant pressure.

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 Significance:

Represents more realistic engine operation where combustion starts at constant

volume and continues at constant pressure.

Offers a compromise between high efficiency (Otto cycle) and lower peak pressure
(Diesel cycle).

Question 10: Engine Emissions

Q10: Discuss the major pollutants from IC engines and the technologies used to control
them.

Answer:
Major Pollutants:

1. CO (Carbon Monoxide): Incomplete combustion.

2. HC (Hydrocarbons): Unburnt fuel.

3. NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen): High temperature combustion.

4. PM (Particulate Matter): Soot, especially from diesel engines.

5. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): Complete combustion, greenhouse gas.

Control Technologies:

1. Catalytic Converters: Reduce CO, HC, and NOx.

2. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR): Lowers NOx.

3. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF): Trap and oxidize PM.

4. Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Reduces NOx using urea solution.

5. Lean NOx Trap (LNT): Absorbs and reduces NOx under lean conditions.

These questions and answers should help you prepare effectively for your semester
exam on internal combustion engines.

Any theoretical question?

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 Certainly! Here are some theoretical questions that could appear on your exam, covering
a range of topics related to internal combustion engines:

Theoretical Questions
Question 1: Explain the working principle of a four-stroke engine.

Answer:
A four-stroke engine operates through four distinct strokes in its cycle:

1. Intake Stroke: The intake valve opens, and the piston moves down, drawing in a
mixture of air and fuel.

2. Compression Stroke: The intake valve closes, and the piston moves up,
compressing the air-fuel mixture.

3. Power Stroke: The spark plug ignites the compressed mixture, causing an explosion
that pushes the piston down.

4. Exhaust Stroke: The exhaust valve opens, and the piston moves up again, expelling
the burnt gases out of the cylinder.

Question 2: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a two-stroke engine

compared to a four-stroke engine.

Answer:
Advantages of Two-Stroke Engines:

Simpler design with fewer moving parts.

Higher power-to-weight ratio.

More power strokes per revolution, leading to higher power output.

Disadvantages of Two-Stroke Engines:

Less fuel-efficient.

Higher emissions due to incomplete combustion and oil mixing.

Shorter lifespan due to higher wear and tear.

Advantages of Four-Stroke Engines:

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 More fuel-efficient.

Lower emissions due to better combustion control.

Longer lifespan due to better lubrication and less wear.

Disadvantages of Four-Stroke Engines:

More complex design with more moving parts.

Lower power-to-weight ratio.

Fewer power strokes per revolution, resulting in lower power output.

Question 3: Define and explain the significance of the compression ratio in IC engines.

Answer:
Compression Ratio is defined as the ratio of the maximum cylinder volume when the
piston is at the bottom of its stroke (Bottom Dead Center, BDC) to the minimum cylinder
volume when the piston is at the top of its stroke (Top Dead Center, TDC).

VBDC
Compression Ratio(r) = VT DC ​
​

Significance:

Higher Efficiency: Higher compression ratios lead to higher thermal efficiency, as

the engine can extract more energy from the air-fuel mixture.

Power Output: An increase in compression ratio generally increases the power

output of the engine.

Fuel Type: Different fuels require different compression ratios for optimal
performance (e.g., petrol engines typically have lower compression ratios than
diesel engines).

Question 4: What is knocking in SI engines, and how can it be prevented?

Answer:
Knocking: It is the undesirable and uncontrolled explosion of the air-fuel mixture in the
cylinder, leading to a metallic pinging sound. It occurs when the mixture ignites
prematurely due to high temperature and pressure before the spark plug fires.

Prevention Methods:

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 High-Octane Fuel: Using fuels with a higher octane rating can resist knocking.

Optimized Ignition Timing: Properly timing the ignition to ensure it occurs at the
correct point in the engine cycle.

Lower Compression Ratio: Reducing the compression ratio to decrease the

tendency for pre-ignition.

Cooler Intake Air: Using intercoolers or ensuring better air intake to reduce the
temperature of the mixture.

Question 5: Describe the main differences between the Otto cycle and the Diesel cycle.

Answer:
Otto Cycle:

Fuel: Typically used in petrol engines (SI engines).

Heat Addition: Occurs at constant volume.

Compression Ratio: Generally lower than Diesel cycle.

Efficiency: Efficiency depends significantly on the compression ratio.

Diesel Cycle:

Fuel: Used in diesel engines (CI engines).

Heat Addition: Occurs at constant pressure.

Compression Ratio: Higher than Otto cycle.

Efficiency: Generally higher due to higher compression ratios.

Question 6: Explain the term "volumetric efficiency" in the context of IC engines and
why it is important.

Answer:
Volumetric Efficiency is a measure of the engine's ability to fill the cylinder with air
during the intake stroke. It is defined as the ratio of the actual volume of air-fuel mixture
drawn into the cylinder to the theoretical volume it could hold.

Actual air intake volume

Volumetric Efficiency(ηv ) = ​

Theoretical cylinder volume

​ × 100%

Importance:

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 Performance Indicator: Higher volumetric efficiency indicates better engine
performance and more effective cylinder filling.

Power Output: Directly affects the power output of the engine, as more air-fuel
mixture leads to more combustion and power.

Engine Design: Helps in optimizing the design of intake and exhaust systems to
improve airflow and engine performance.

Question 7: Discuss the environmental impact of engine exhaust emissions and the
technologies used to mitigate them.

Answer:
Environmental Impact:

CO (Carbon Monoxide): Toxic gas, harmful to human health.

HC (Hydrocarbons): Contribute to smog formation and respiratory issues.

NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen): Lead to acid rain and photochemical smog, causing
respiratory problems.

PM (Particulate Matter): Causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): Major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.

Mitigation Technologies:

Catalytic Converters: Reduce CO, HC, and NOx emissions by facilitating chemical
reactions.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR): Reduces NOx by recirculating a portion of exhaust

gas back into the engine.

Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF): Trap and oxidize particulate matter.

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Uses a urea solution to reduce NOx emissions.

Lean NOx Trap (LNT): Absorbs and reduces NOx under lean conditions.

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