TYPES OF ENGINES

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Unit 1
Title: Types of engines
General objective:
To understand the structure and various types of engines.

Specific objectives:
At the end of this unit you should be able to:
1. define and classify internal combustion engine.
2. draw and label four stoke and two stoke cycle.
3. explain four stroke cycle engine.
4. explain two stroke cycle engine.
5. explain the process of four and two stroke compression
ignition engine.
6. explain the process of the Wankel engine ( Rotary ),
7. explain the process of opposed-piston engine
8. explain the process of turbine gas engine.

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Input
This section introduces the subject matter that you are going to learn.
1.0

Introduction
In this unit we are to discuss the spark ignition (SI) and compression
ignition (CI). These are internal combustion heat engine. Their function is to
convert potential heat energy contained in fuel into mechanical work.

An internal combustion engine can be classified in two different ways and they
are spark ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI).
1.1

Types of ignitions for the internal combustion engine.

a.

Spark Ignition (SI).

An SI engine starts the combustion process in each cycle using a spark
plug. The spark plug gives a high-voltage electrical discharge between
two electrodes which ignites the air-fuel mixture in the combustion
chamber surrounding the plug, Many forms of torch holes are used to
initiate combustion from external flame.

b.

Compression Ignition (CI).

The combustion process in a CI engine starts when the air-fuel mixture

self-ignites due to high temperature in the combustion chamber caused by
high compression.

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1.2

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Four Stroke Cycle

1.2.1 Induction stroke
The air-plus-fuel charge is induced into the cylinder as the piston moves
from TDC to BDC. Due to the movement of the piston the pressure in the
cylinder is lower than a value between the atmospheric pressure. Air flows
through the induction system because of the pressure difference, and the
intake valve is opened. Before air is channelled into the cylinder, the air
passes through a carburetor in which the metered amount of petrol is
added to the air.
1.2.2 Compression stroke.
With both valves closed, the charge is compressed by the piston. At the
TDC position the charge occupies the volume above the piston, which is
called the clearance volume, and it fills

mainly

the volume of the

combustion chamber. The spark is timed to occur at a point before TDC.

The combustion process occurs at almost constant volume, and there is
a large increase in pressure and temperature of the charge during this
process.
1.2.3 Power stroke
When the gas pressure expands, the temperature also rises. This pushes
the piston down the cylinder. This expansion continues and ends near
BDC, but in order to assist in exhausting the gaseous products the
exhaust valve opens before BDC.
1.2.4 Exhaust stroke.
The piston travels from BDC to TDC in the exhaust stroke, and it pushes
most of remaining exhaust gases out of the cylinder, and the pressure
during this stroke is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. In a normal
aspirated engine, the clearance volume cannot be exhausted, and at the
commencement of the next cycle this volume is full of exhaust gas at
about atmospheric pressure. The valve exhaust closes after TDC.

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Figure 1.2.1 : Four stroke cycle

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1.3 Two-Stroke SI Cycle

When the piston ascends on the compression stroke, the next charge or
air-fuel mixture is drawn into the crankcase through spring-loaded automatic
valve. Ignition occurs before TDC, and at TDC the working stroke begins. As the
piston descends through 80% of the working stroke, the exhaust port is
uncovered by the piston and exhaust release will begin. The transfer port is
uncovered later in the stroke due to the shape of the piston or the position of the
transfer port in relation to the exhaust port. The charge in the crankcase which
has been compressed by the descending piston, enters the cylinder through the
transfer port. The piston can be shaped to deflect the fresh gas across the
cylinder to assist the scavenging of the cylinder, this is called cross-flow
scavenge. As the piston rises, the transfer port is closed slightly before the
exhaust port is closed. When the exhaust port is closed compression of the
charge in the cylinder begins.

Figure1.3: Two-Stroke SI Cycle

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1.4

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Compression Ignition Engine Process

1.4.1 Characteristics of CI Engine
a.

CI engine does not have carburetor and electrical ignition system, but
this engine has a fuel injection component.

b.

Fresh air is induced into the cylinder as the piston moves from TDC to
BDC.

c.

Temperature is built up during compression of air in the cylinder.

d.

Fuel in the form of mist is injected into the compressed air at a high
temperature, and the fuel is burnt.

e.

Fuel must be injected using a fuel injector pump at a pressure higher

than the air compression.

f.

In the CI engine, the compression ratio is 21:1 and the pressure

becomes 5000 kPa at the end of compression.

1.5

Four-stroke CI engine cycle.

1.

First Stroke: Intake Stroke.

It is the same as the intake stroke in an SI engine, the only major
difference is that there is no fuel added to the incoming air.

2.

Second Stroke: Compression stroke.

It is similar to as in an SI engine except that only air is compressed, the
compression is of higher pressure and temperature. Next in the
compression stroke fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber,
where it mixes with very hot

air. This causes the fuel to evaporate

and self-ignites, hence combustion starts.

3.

Combustion.
Combustion is fully developed by TDC and it continues at constant
pressure

until fuel injection is completed, at this stage, the piston has

moved towards

BDC.

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4.

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Third Stroke: Power Stroke.

The power stroke continues as combustion ends and the piston travels
towards TDC.

1.6

5.

Exhaust Blow down, similar to an SI engine.

6.

Fourth Stroke: Exhaust Stroke. Similar to as an SI engine

Two-Stroke CI Engine Cycle

The two-stroke cycle of a CI engine is similar to a SI engine, except for
two changes. No fuel is added to the incoming air, so that compression is done
on air only. Instead of a spark plug, a fuel injector is located in the cylinder. Near
the end of the compression stroke, fuel is injected into the hot compressed air
and combustion is initiated by self-ignition. This two-stroke CI engine also has a
rotary air pump to compress air. The exhaust valve is located in the cylinder
head, which is similar to an SI engine.

1.7

Opposed-piston engine
This engine has parallel cylinder barrels. It may be described as an inflow
opposed-piston engine since the scavenge air flows continuously from the inlet
ports uncovered by one piston to the exhaust ports uncovered by the other, the
two pistons moving towards each other for compression and away from each
other for expansion.

However, the description is confined to the construction incorporating a single

straight cylinder barrel in which the two pistons move in opposite phase towards
and away from each other.

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Figure 1.7.1. : Opposed-piston engine

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Figure 1.7.2 : Opposed-piston engine

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1.8

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Wankel engine
This engine has rotor that provides three equal working spaces. An
exhaust release will occur each time an apex seal overruns the leading edge of
an exhaust port, that is, three times per revolution of the rotor, and this exhaust
will continue until the following seal reaches the trailing edge of the port.
Induction will commence

in the same space about 60 of rotor movement

earlier.

Thus, there are three complete four-stroke cycle per revolution of the rotor in
different working spaces, but all fired by the same spark plug as maximum
compression is reached.

Figure 1.8 : Wankel engine

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1.9

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The practical gas turbine cycle

The most basic gas turbine unit is one operating on the open cycle in
which rotary compressor and a turbine are mounted on a common shaft, as
shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.9. Air is drawn into the compressor, C, and
after that compression passes to a combustion chamber, CC. Energy is supplied
in the combustion chamber by spraying fuel into the airstream, and the resulting
hot gases expand through the turbine, T, to the atmosphere. In order to achieve
net work output from the unit, the turbine must develop more gross work output
than is required to drive the compressor and overcome mechanical losses in the
drive. The compressor used is either a centrifugal or an axial flow compressor
and the compression process is therefore irreversible but approximately
adiabatic.

Figure1.9 : The practical gas turbine cycle

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1.9.1. Power turbine

The power turbine is more convenient to have two separate turbines, one
of which drives the compressor while the other provides the power output.
The first, or high-pressure (HP) turbine, is then known as the compressor
turbine, and second, or low-pressure (LP) turbine.

Turbine, is called the power turbine. The arrangement is shown in

Figure.1.9.1 The power turbine is mostly used in a jet engine. The
population nozzle takes the place of the LP stage turbine.

The aircraft is powered by the reactive thrust of the jet of gases leaving
the nozzle, and this high-velocity jet is obtained at the expense of the
enthalpy drop from 4 to 5 at the diagram. The turbine develops just
enough work to drive the compressor and overcome mechanical losses.

Fig. 1.9.1:Gas turbine unit with separate power turbine or simple jet
engine.

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1.9.2: Turbo-prop
In a turbo-prop engine the turbine drives the compressor and also the
airscrew, or propeller, as shown in Figure.1.9.2. In practice there is also small jet
thrust developed in a turbo-prop aircraft.

Figure 1.9.2: Turboprop engine

1.9.3: Regeneration process in the turbine gas unit.
Exhaust gas flows in a turbine which contains great heat and it can be
used to heat up the compressed air provided and for burning in the
combustion chamber. Transfer of heat occurs in equipment called
regeneration.

1.9.4 Regeneration process

Exhaust gas flows in tubes whereas air flows on the outside of the tubes
in the opposite direction, and it is heat up by the heat of the gas. The
effectiveness of heat transfer depends on the heated area of tubes.
In using regeneration to heat up air, can reduce fuel consumption and
improve the cycle of heat.

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Figure 1.9.3 :Turbine gas unit with the regenerate unit (P.S)

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Activity 1A
The activity in this section tests your understanding of the subject matter.
You have to complete this section by following the instructions carefully.
1.1 Define the difference between SI engine and CI engine?.

1.2 Draw and label the diagram of the four stroke and two stroke engine.
1.3 Explain the four stroke cycle with a diagram of four piston movement over two
engine revolution for each cycle.

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1.4 Explain why the two stroke cycle has two piston movement over one revolution for
each cycle.

1.5 Describe the process of the four stroke compression ignition (CI) engine.

1.6 Explain the process of Wankel engine ( Rotary ).

Check your answers.