Lecture-31 Prepared under

QIP-CD Cell Project

Internal Combustion Engines

Ujjwal K Saha, Ph.D.

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
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 Introduction

Known as Hot air engine

Earlier abandoned due to development
of superior power-to-weight engines
Remained as academic interest due to
its unique feature during 19th century
In 1938, N.V.Philips developed small gas
refrigerating machine for production of
liquefied gases
In 1953, Stirling engine with an efficiency
of 40% with specific power of 82 kW/l was
invented

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 The working principle
The basis of stirling engine is the same as
that of all internal combustion engines
i.e. the alternate compression at low
temperature and expansion at high
temperature of a confined working fluid.
However, the gas is heated in a radically
different manner. The conventional
engines burn fuel internally and
intermittently whereas stirling engine
burns its fuel outside the engine itself and
continuously, i.e., it is an external
continuous combustion engine.
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 Difference

The fuel do not enter the engine cylinder

to become the working gas.

The cyclic flow of working fluid within the

engine is achieved solely through
geometric volume changes and without
the use of intermittently-closed valves or
ports.

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 Difference

An intermittent flow heat exchanger

stores a large portion of heat of the
working fluid after expansion and
subsequently returns it to the working
fluid after compression, thereby,
accomplishing thermal regeneration.

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 Ideal thermodynamic cycle
Isothermal compression and
simultaneous heat rejection
Constant volume heat addition
(by regeneration)
Isothermal expansion with
simultaneous heat addition
Constant volume heat
rejection (by regeneration)

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 Basic types of stirling engine

Two-piston mechanism (Alpha

type)
Piston displacer system
Beta type
Gamma type

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Two piston mechanism

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Different configurations of two piston mechanism

Simple two piston

mechanism is
unsuitable for higher
output engines. So
came the double
acting engines with
following two
mechanical
configurations:
In line crankshaft
drive
Circular swashplate In line 4-cylinder stirling engine
drive
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 The piston displacer engine

Two pistons
power and
displacer.
Displacer piston
heat and cools the
working gas.
Power piston
compress and
expand the gas.

Stirling engine is governed by the relative

motion of these two pistons.
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Phases of the operating cycle

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 Types of piston displacer engine
Beta typesingle cylinder
classic sterling engine
configuration.
Gamma typepower piston
and displacer piston in different
cylinders.
Convenient complete
separation between the
regenerator associated with
displacer and the expansion
and compression work of
power piston.
Larger unswept volume.
Lower specific power.
Used when the advantage of
separate cylinders outweighs
the specific power
disadvantage

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Phasing between power piston and displacer
Power piston and
displacer must be
connected with some
mechanical linkage to
obtain the required
phasing.
Types of linkages are:
Crankshaft with
displaced throws
Rhombic drive.
Two symmetrically placed
connecting rods drive the
power piston while the
displacer piston is driven by a
displacer rod extending
through the power piston.
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 Rhombic drive
Two crankshafts
rotating in opposite
directions.
Two synchronizing
gears for timing the
shafts.
Symmetry makes
even single cylinder
engine balanced.
No horizontal thrust
as forces are
balanced at yoke.
Hence low frictional
losses too.
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 Engine parts

Combustor and
heater head.
Regenerator.
Cooler.
Power piston and
displacer piston
assembly.
Buffer space and
the rhombic drive.

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 Performance of stirling engine
The stirling cycle engine is specially suitable for
automotive applications because of:--

High brake thermal efficiency.

Low noise.
Low emissions.
Specific power output comparable to Otto engine.
Desirable output shaft maximum to ideal speed ratio.

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 Advantages

Multi fuel capability

Perfect balancing
Reduced exhaust emissions
Efficiency and size
Smooth and noise free engine
operation
Overload capacity
Reliable starting
No lubricating oil needed

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 Disadvantages

Complex design due to use of

rhombic drive, regenerators,
heaters and coolers.
Needs a large amount of cooling
water which increases the size of
the radiator.
High cost.
Requires a blower which reduces
the engine efficiency and increases
the noise.

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 References
1. Crouse WH, and Anglin DL, DL (1985), Automotive Engines, Tata McGraw Hill.
2. Eastop TD, and McConkey A, (1993), Applied Thermodynamics for Engg.
Technologists, Addison Wisley.
3. Fergusan CR, and Kirkpatrick AT, (2001), Internal Combustion Engines,
John Wiley & Sons.
4. Gill PW, Smith JH, and Ziurys EJ, (1959), Fundamentals of I. C. Engines,
Oxford and IBH Pub Ltd.
5. Heisler H, (1999), Vehicle and Engine Technology, Arnold Publishers.
6. Heywood JB, (1989), Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, McGraw Hill.
7. Heywood JB, and Sher E, (1999), The Two-Stroke Cycle Engine, Taylor &
Francis.
8. Mathur ML, and Sharma RP, (1994), A Course in Internal Combustion
Engines, Dhanpat Rai & Sons, New Delhi.
9. Pulkrabek WW, (1997), Engineering Fundamentals of the I. C. Engine, Prentice
Hall.
10. Rogers GFC, and Mayhew YR, YR (1992), Engineering Thermodynamics, Addison
Wisley.
11. Stone R, (1992), Internal Combustion Engines, The Macmillan Press Limited,
London.
12. Taylor CF, (1985), The Internal-Combustion Engine in Theory and Practice, Vol. 1
& 2, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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 Web Resources
1. http://www.mne.psu.edu/simpson/courses
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23. http://widget.ecn.purdue.edu/~yanchen/ME200/ME200-8.ppt -

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