SUBJECT CODE & NAME:

EE3027 ELECTRIC VEHICLE DESIGN MACHANICS & CONTROL

UNIT I INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

Part-A (2 Marks Questions)

1. What is the function of the cylinder in an IC engine?

o Answer: The cylinder in an IC engine houses the piston and provides the space for
combustion to occur, converting fuel energy into mechanical energy.
2. Define Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP).
o Answer: BMEP is the average pressure in the combustion chamber of an engine,
used to measure an engine’s output, typically expressed in bar or psi.
3. What is the significance of Brake-Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC)?
o Answer: BSFC measures the fuel efficiency of an engine, indicating the amount of
fuel required to produce one unit of power for one hour.
4. Explain the relationship between BSFC and fuel efficiency.
o Answer: A lower BSFC value indicates better fuel efficiency, as it means less fuel
is consumed for producing a given power output.
5. What does the term “Vehicle Fuel Economy” refer to?
o Answer: Vehicle fuel economy refers to the distance a vehicle can travel per unit
of fuel, often measured in kilometers per liter or miles per gallon.
6. List two main components of emission control systems in IC engines.
o Answer: Two key components are the catalytic converter and the exhaust gas
recirculation (EGR) system.
7. What is the purpose of a catalytic converter in emission control?
o Answer: A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions such as carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides by converting them into less
harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water.
8. What is the primary function of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)?
o Answer: The primary function of EGR is to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions by recirculating a portion of the engine's exhaust gases back into the
intake air.
9. Define the term "Exhaust Emissions."
o Answer: Exhaust emissions refer to the gases and particles released into the
atmosphere from the engine’s exhaust system, primarily including CO, NOx, HC,
and particulates.
10. What is the role of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF) in reducing emissions?
o Answer: DPFs capture and store soot and particulate matter from diesel engine
exhaust, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere.
11. What is the primary source of NOx emissions in diesel engines?
 o Answer: The primary source of NOx emissions is the high combustion
temperatures in diesel engines, which promote the formation of nitrogen oxides.
12. Why is BMEP considered an important performance indicator for engines?
o Answer: BMEP gives an indication of the engine's power output relative to its
displacement, which helps in assessing the engine's efficiency and design.
13. What are the main factors influencing BSFC?
o Answer: Factors influencing BSFC include engine load, speed, fuel type, and
engine design.
14. Explain the term "Fuel Economy" in the context of vehicles.
o Answer: Fuel economy refers to the distance a vehicle can travel per unit of fuel
consumed, usually measured as miles per gallon (MPG) or kilometers per liter
(km/L).
15. What is the significance of treating diesel exhaust emissions?
o Answer: Treating diesel exhaust emissions is crucial to reduce air pollution,
improve air quality, and comply with environmental regulations to protect human
health.
16. What is the impact of high BSFC on engine performance?
o Answer: High BSFC means the engine consumes more fuel to produce the same
amount of power, which leads to reduced fuel efficiency and higher operating
costs.
17. How does the operating temperature affect exhaust emissions in diesel engines?
o Answer: Higher operating temperatures can lead to increased formation of NOx
emissions, while lower temperatures can result in higher particulate emissions.
18. What is a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system?
o Answer: SCR is a technology used to reduce NOx emissions from diesel engines
by injecting a urea-based solution into the exhaust system, which converts NOx
into nitrogen and water.
19. What does the term "Lean-Burn Engine" refer to?
o Answer: A lean-burn engine operates with a higher air-to-fuel ratio than a
stoichiometric engine, improving fuel efficiency but often increasing NOx
emissions.
20. What is the function of an intercooler in turbocharged engines?
o Answer: An intercooler reduces the temperature of the compressed air from the
turbocharger before it enters the engine, improving combustion efficiency and
reducing the likelihood of knocking.

Part-B (13 Marks Questions)

1. Discuss the construction & working principle of an internal combustion engine.

Explain the otto cycle and diesel engine cycle.

Answer: An internal combustion engine converts fuel into mechanical energy by igniting
fuel within a cylinder. In a four-stroke engine, the cycle consists of intake, compression,
power, and exhaust strokes, Explain the strokes using pV graph
 2. Explain the factors affecting the fuel economy of a vehicle and how these factors can
be optimized.
o Answer: Factors affecting fuel economy include engine efficiency, aerodynamics,
vehicle weight, tire pressure, driving habits, and fuel quality. These can be
optimized by maintaining the vehicle, improving driving techniques, using
efficient tires, and reducing unnecessary weight.
3. Describe the process and components involved in emission control for diesel engines.
o Answer: Emission control in diesel engines includes the use of EGR, DPF, SCR,
and catalytic converters. EGR recirculates exhaust gases to reduce NOx, DPF
captures soot, SCR reduces NOx using urea, and catalytic converters reduce CO,
HC, and NOx.
4. Discuss the concept of Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP). How is it related to
engine performance?
o Answer: BMEP is a measure of an engine’s ability to produce power relative to its
displacement. It is calculated by dividing the brake power by the engine
displacement. A higher BMEP indicates better engine efficiency and
performance, particularly in relation to power output.
5. Explain the working of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and its role in emission
reduction.
o Answer: A DPF captures and stores particulate matter (soot) from diesel engine
exhaust. It periodically undergoes regeneration, where the collected soot is burned
off at high temperatures. This reduces the amount of particulate matter released
into the atmosphere.
6. Discuss the importance of reducing NOx emissions in diesel engines and the
methods used to achieve this.
o Answer: NOx emissions contribute to air pollution and acid rain. Methods for
reducing NOx include EGR, SCR, and using lower-temperature combustion
techniques, which can reduce the formation of NOx at high temperatures.
7. Discuss the impact of the air-fuel ratio on engine performance and emission
characteristics.
o Answer: The air-fuel ratio affects combustion efficiency. A stoichiometric ratio
(14.7:1 for gasoline) provides the most efficient combustion, but lean or rich
mixtures can lead to increased emissions such as NOx and HC, respectively.
8. Describe the various types of emission control technologies used in modern vehicles.
o Answer: Modern emission control technologies include three-way catalytic
converters, EGR, SCR, selective catalytic oxidizers (SCO), and diesel particulate
filters (DPF), all aimed at reducing harmful emissions.

Part-C (15 Marks Questions)

1. Explain the working of a complete emission control system in a diesel engine.

Discuss the role of each component involved in reducing emissions.
o Answer: A diesel engine emission control system includes components such as the
turbocharger, intercooler, EGR, DPF, SCR, and catalytic converters. The
 turbocharger increases engine efficiency, while the intercooler cools compressed
air. EGR recirculates exhaust gases to reduce NOx emissions, DPF captures soot
particles, SCR reduces NOx using urea, and catalytic converters reduce CO, HC,
and NOx.
2. Analyze the impact of vehicle fuel economy on the environment and discuss
measures to improve it.
o Answer: Poor fuel economy leads to higher emissions of CO2, contributing to
global warming. To improve fuel economy, measures such as optimizing engine
performance, reducing vehicle weight, using hybrid or electric technologies, and
improving driving habits can be adopted.
3. Discuss the factors influencing BSFC and its impact on the overall efficiency of an
engine.
o Answer: BSFC is influenced by engine load, speed, fuel type, and engine design.
A higher BSFC indicates poor fuel efficiency, while optimizing the engine design,
maintaining proper operating conditions, and using advanced fuels can reduce
BSFC and improve overall efficiency.
4. Discuss the impact of various emission control strategies on reducing particulate
matter in diesel exhaust.
o Answer: Strategies like DPF, EGR, and SCR help reduce particulate matter by
trapping soot (DPF), reducing NOx (EGR and SCR), and improving combustion
efficiency. These methods are crucial for meeting modern emission standards and
reducing environmental pollution.