Lecture-2

Internal Combustion Engines

Valve Timing Diagrams

1
 Why the difference between
theory and practice??
Mechanical factor

❧ The valves cannot be lifted instantaneously due to the problem of acceleration

involved.
❧ The sudden change in acceleration may lead to loss of contact between cam
and the follower.
❧ This leads to wear and noise.

Dynamic factors
❧ Beside the mechanical factor, the dynamic effect of gas flow is also considered.
❧ This takes into account the speed of the charge, inertia, pressure and work
needed to push out the gases.
Actual Valve Timing For 4-Stroke
Diesel Engine
I.V.O. → 25° Before T.D.C.
I.V.C. → 30° After B.D.C.
F.V.O. → 5° Before T.D.C.
F.V.C. → 25° After T.D.C.
E.V.O. → 45° Before B.D.C.
E.V.C. → 15° After T.D.C.
Valve Overlap → 30°
 Inlet valve timing
❧ The inlet valve opens 10° before piston reaches TDC on exhaust stroke on
both high speed as well as low speed engines.
❧ This is to ensure that valve is fully open and charge starts flowing in as
soon as possible after TDC.
❧ This helps in taking in the maximum amount of charge, thus improving the
volumetric efficiency
❧ The inlet valve remains open after the piston reaches BDC
❧ This is done to take advantage of the inertia of the fresh charge moving
inside.
❧ This ensures maximum air is taken inside during suction stroke.
❧ This is called ‘ram effect’.
❧ However, the time of closing the valve depends on the speed of the engine.
❧ In low speed engines, it is closed 10 ° after the BDC as the inertia is low.
❧ In high speed engines, inlet valve closes 50 ° -60 ° after BDC as the charge
speed is high and hence the inertia is also high.
❧ In case of variable-speed engines, the valve timing is the best setting for
high and low speeds.
 Exhaust valve timing
❧ The exhaust valve opens
❧ 25 ° before BDC in expansion stroke in low speed engines
❧ 55 ° before BDC in expansion stroke in high speed engines

❧ This early opening of exhaust valve leads to loss of some useful work
❧ However, it also reduces the work needed to expel the burnt gases in the
exhaust stroke.
❧ Thus, the overall effect is a gain in the output.

❧ The exhaust valve closes

❧ 5 ° after TDC in low speed engines
❧ 20 ° after TDC in high speed engines
❧ This helps in better scavenging of the cylinder as the inertia of exhaust
gases tend to carry out greater mass of gas from the cylinder.
❧ This increases the volumetric efficiency.
 Valve overlap
❧ As the inlet valve open 10 ° before TDC during exhaust stroke and
the exhaust valve closes 5-20 ° after TDC, there is a valve-overlap.
❧ However, this overlap should not be excessive.
❧ It will lead to escaping of fresh charge with exhaust gases or
exhaust gases to be sucked into inlet manifold.
4-Stroke Petrol Engine
Theoretical & Actual Valve Timing Diagram For
2-Stroke Petrol Engine
Actual Valve Timing For 2-Stroke
Diesel Engine
E.P.O. → 80° Before B.D.C.
E.P.C. → 80° After B.D.C.
T.P.O. → 60° Before B.D.C.
T.P.C. → 60° After B.D.C.
VVT I-VTEC
Assignment question