MBEYA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
POWER PLANTS
LECTURE NO 6
DIESEL ENGINE POWER PLANTS
 INTRODUCTION
• Reciprocating internal combustion engines have
high efficiencies, even in small sizes. They are
available in a variety of sizes in a broad range (75
kW–50 MW). They can use a broad variety of
gaseous and liquid fuels, and have good
availability (80–90%). These characteristics have
made them the first choice, up to now, for
cogeneration applications in the institutional,
commercial and residential sector, as well as in
the industrial sector when low to medium
voltage is required.
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
• The oil engines and gas engines are called Internal
Combustion Engines. In IC engines fuels burn inside
the engine and the products of combustion form
the working fluid that generates mechanical power.
• Reciprocating oil engines and gas engines are of the
same family and have a strong resemblance in
principle of operation and construction.The engines
convert chemical energy in fuel in to mechanical
energy.
 INTRODUCTION
• A typical oil engine has:
• 1. Cylinder in which fuel and air are admitted and
combustion occurs.
• 2. Piston, which receives high pressure of
expanding hot products of combustion and the
piston, is forced to linear motion.
• 3. Connecting rod, crankshaft linkage to convert
reciprocating motion into rotary motion of shaft.
 INTRODUCTION
• 4. Connected Load, mechanical drive or
electrical generator.
• 5. Suitable valves (ports) for control of flow of
fuel, air, exhaust gases, fuel injection, and
ignition systems.
• 6. Lubricating system, cooling system -In an
engine-generator set, the generator shaft is
coupled to the Engine shaft.
 OPERATING PRINCIPLE
• All the gas engines and oil engines operate in
the same general way. The working fluid
undergoes repeated cycles. A thermodynamic
cycle is composed of a series of sequential
events in a closed loop on P-V or T-S diagram. A
typical cycle has following distinct operations
• 1. Cylinder is charged
• 2. Cylinder contents are compressed
 OPERATING PRINCIPLE
• 3. Combustion (Burning) of charge, creation of
high pressure pushing the piston and
expansion of products of combustion.
• 4. Exhaust of spent products of combustion to
atmosphere. The route taken for these steps
is illustrated conveniently on P-V diagram and
T-S diagram for the cycle.
 Types of Internal Combustion
Engines:
• I.C.E. can be divided into several groups
according different features as characteristics:
operating cycles, method of charging the
cylinder, fuel used, general design (position
and number of cylinders, method of ignition,
rotating speed, etc.), and method of cooling
the engine.
 Fuel Used:
• 1. Liquid Fuels
• a. Volatile liquid fuels: petrol, Alcohol, benzene.
Fuel /Air mixture is usually ignited by a spark;
Spark ignition.
• b. Viscous liquid fuels: fuel oil, heavy and light
diesel oil, gas-oil, bio-fuels. Usually combustion
of fuel takes place due to its contact with high
temperature compressed air (self-ignition);
Compression ignition.
 Fuel Used:
• 2. Gaseous fuels:
• Liquid Petroleum Gas ( LPG ), Natural gas
( NG ), Town gas, Blast Furnace gas; ignition
usually by a spark.
 Fuel Used:
• 3. Dual and Multi-Fuels:
• Dual fuel engines are operated with two types
of fuels, either separately or mixed together.
Multi-fuel engines could be operated by a
mixture of more than two fuels, gaseous; such
as: Hydrogen, methane, L.P.G. etc., combined
with one or more of liquid fuels, such as
alcohol, ethers, esters, gasoline, diesel etc...
 Method of Charging the Engine:
• 1. Naturally aspirated engine: Admission of
charge at near atmospheric pressure.
• 2. Supercharged engine: Admission of charge
at a pressure above atmospheric.
Number of Piston Stroke to Complete the
Thermodynamic Cycle:
• 1. Four stroke engines: the cycle of operation
is completed in four strokes of the piston or
two revolution of the crank shaft. Each stroke
consists of 180 oof crank shaft rotation. The
series of operations are shown in figure( 1 –
6 ):
Number of Piston Stroke to Complete the
Thermodynamic Cycle:
• 2. Two strokes engine: In two-stroke engine
the cycle is completed in two strokes, i.e. one
revolution of the crank shaft. The difference
between two-stroke and four-stroke engines
is in the method of filling the cylinder with the
fresh charge and removing the products of
combustion. The sequence of events shown in
figure (1 – 7):
 Use of the Engine:
1. Marine engine: for propulsion of ships at sea.
2. Industrial engine: for power generation on
land.
3. Automotive engine: for transport.
 Method of Cooling the Engine
1. Water- cooled engines.
2. Air- cooled engines.
 I.C.Engine Parts and Details:
• The main components of the reciprocating
internal combustion engine are shown in
Figure (1-11). Engine parts are made of
various materials and perform certain
functions, some of which will be explained:
cylinder block (g) it is integral with crank case
(m), both are made of cast iron. The piston (e)
reciprocates inside the cylinder, which include
the combustion chamber.
 I.C.Engine Parts and Details
• The piston is connected to the connecting rod (h) by
piston pin (f). This end of the connecting rod is
known as small end. The other end of the connecting
rod called the big end is connected to the crank arm
by crank pin (l).
• Camshaft (u) makes the cam (t) to rotate and move
up and down the valve rod through the tappet (r).
Mainly each cylinder has two valves; one is
admission or suction valve and the other is exhaust
valve.
 I.C.Engine Parts and Details
• The ignition system consists of a battery, an
ignition coil, a distributor with cam and
breaker points, and spark plug for each
cylinder. In diesel engines there is an injection
system instead of ignition system.
 Internal Combustion Engines
Terminology:
1. Cylinder bore (B): The nominal inner diameter
of the working cylinder.
2. Piston area (A): the area of a circle diameter
equal to the cylinder bore.
3. Top Dead Center (T.D.C.): the extreme position
of the piston at the top of the cylinder. In the
case of the horizontal engines this is known as
the outer dead center (O.D.C.).
Internal Combustion Engines Terminology
Internal Combustion Engines Terminology

4. Bottom Dead Center (B.D.C.): the extreme position

of the piston at the bottom of the
cylinder. In horizontal engine this is known as the
Inner Dead Center (I.D.C.).
5. Stroke: the distance between TDC and BDC is called
the stroke length and is equal to double the crank
radius (l).
6. Swept volume: the volume swept through by the
piston in moving between TDC and is denoted by Vs:
Internal Combustion Engines Terminology

Where d is the cylinder bore and l the stroke.

 Internal Combustion Engines Terminology

Where l is the stroke in (m) and N the number of crankshaft revolution per minute (rpm).
Piston and cylinder geometry
 LUBRICATING SYSTEM
• For lubricating camshaft and timing gears, the
oil is led through a separate oil line from the oil
gallery.
• The valve tappets are lubricated by connecting
the main oil gallery to the tappet guide surfaces
through drilled holes. An oil pressure gauge at
the instrument panel indicates the oil pressure
in the system clear off the oil from dust metal
particles and other harmful particles.
 Parts Of An Engine Requiring Lubrication
• Cylinder walls and pistons.
• Main crankshaft bearings.
• Piston rings and cylinder walls.
• Big end bearing and crank pins.
• Small end bearing and gudgeon pin bearings.
• Main bearing cams and bearing valve tappet and guides
• Timing gears etc.
• Camshaft and cam shaft bearings.
• Valve mechanism and rocker arms.
 FUNCTION OF LUBRICATING SYSTEM
• To reduce friction and wear between the parts having relative
motion by minimizing the force of friction and ensures smooth
running of parts.
• To seal a space adjoining the surfaces such as piston rings and
cylinder liner.
• To clean the surface by carrying away the carbon and metal particles
caused by wear.
• To absorb shock between bearings and other parts and consequently
reduce noise.
• To cool the surfaces by carrying away heat generated due to friction.
• It helps the piston ring to seal the gases in the cylinder.
• It removes the heat generated due to friction and keeps the parts
cool.
Pressure System of Lubrication
 Diesel Electric Power Plant

• In the diesel electric power plant, diesel oil is

used as fuel. The block schematic and
different parts of diesel electric plants are
explained below.
 Diesel Engine
• This is the main component of the diesel electric
power plant which develops power. They may be 4
strokes or 2 stroke engine. 4 stroke engines has
lower fuel consumption, more flexibility, better
scavenging and higher efficiency than 2 stroke.
Cylinders are arranged in V shape to make the engine
more compact. 6 to 8 cylinders are commonly used.
Speed is in the range of 500-1000 rpm. The diesel
engines are compression ignition type. Diesel
engines are available in sizes from 75kW to 3750kW.
 Air filter and Supercharger
• The function of air filter is to remove the dust
from the air, which is taken by the engine. The
function of supercharger is to increase the
pressure of air supplied to the engine to
increase the power of the engine. The
supercharger is driven by the engine.
 Exhaust system
• This includes silencer and connecting ducts.
silencer is required in between the engine and
the intake system, since the noise may be
transmitted back to outside air via the air
intake system. The temperature of exhaust
gases are really high that heat is used for
heating the oil or air supplied to the engine.
 Fuel System
• This includes fuel storage tank, fuel pump, fuel
transfer pump, strainers and heaters. the fuel
is supplied according to the load on the plant.
Strainers are provided to remove the
suspended impurities. Heaters are required to
heat the oil, especially during winter seasons.
Functions Of A Fuel Injection System
• To deliver oil from the storage to the fuel injector.
• To raise the fuel pressure to the level required for
atomization.
• To measure and control the amount of fuel
admitted in each cycle.
• To control time of injection.
• To spray fuel into the cylinder in atomized form
for thorough mixing and burning.
 Lubricating System
• This includes oil pumps, oil tanks, filters,
coolers and connecting pipes. The function of
the lubricating system is to reduce the friction
of moving parts and to reduce the wear and
tear of the engine parts. The life of engine and
its efficiency largely depends on the
lubricating system.
 Starting System
• This includes compressed air tanks. The
function of this system is to start the engine
from cold by supplying the compressed air.
 Governing System
• Their function is to maintain the speed of the
engine constant irrespective of load on the
plant. This is done by varying fuel supply to
the engine according to load.
 Diesel Engine Generator
• The generators used in diesel power plants are of
rotating field, salient pole construction, speed
ranging from 214 to 1000 rpm and capacities
ranging from 25-5000 kVA at 0.8 power factor
lagging. Generators are coupled directly to diesel
engine. They are provided with voltage regulators
to allow voltage regulation. The excitation is usually
provided at 115 to 230 V from a DC exciter, usually
coupled to the engine shaft through a belt.
 Application of diesel engine in
power field
• Peak load plant- Diesel plants can be used in
combination with thermal or hydro-plants as
peak load units. They can be easily started or
stopped at a short notice to meet the peak
demand.
• Mobile plant-Diesel plants mounted on trailers
can be used for temporary or emergency
purposes such as for supplying power to large
civil engineering works.
 Standby unit
• If the main unit fails or cannot cope up with
the demand, a diesel plant can supply the
necessary power. For example , if water
available in a hydro-plant is not adequately
available due to less rainfall, the diesel station
can operate in parralle to generate the short
fall in power
 Emergency plant
• During power interruption in a vital unit like a
key industrial plant or a hospital , a diesel
electric plant can be used to generate the
needed power
 Nursery station
• In the absence of main grid , a diesel plant can
be installed to supply power in a small town.
In course of time, when electricity from the
main grid becomes available in the town, the
diesel unit can be shifted to some other area
which needs power on a small scale. Such a
diesel plant is called a « nursery plant »
 Starting stations
• Diesel units can be used to run the
auxiliaries(like FD and ID fans, BFP etc) for
starting a large steam power plant
 Central station
• Diesel electric plants can be used as central
station where capacity required is small.
PERFORMANCE OF DIESEL ENGINE
• The performance of the diesel engine means
the power and efficiency. The engine develops
as the various parameters of the engine, e.g.
piston speed, air-fuel ratio, compression ratio,
inlet air-pressure and temperature are varied.
PERFORMANCE OF DIESEL ENGINE
• The two usual conditions under which I.C.
engines are operated are:
• (1) constant speed with variable load, and
• (2) variable speed with variable load. The first
situation is found in a.c. generator drives and
the second one in automobiles, railway
engines and tractors etc.
PERFORMANCE OF DIESEL ENGINE
• A series of tests are carried out on the engine to
determine its performance characteristics, such as:
• indicated power (I.P.),
• Brake power (B.P.),
• Frictional Power (F.P.),
• Mechanical efficiency (ηm),
• thermal efficiency, fuel consumption and also specific
fuel consumption
INDICATED MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE (IMEP)

• In order to determine the power developed by

the engine, the indicator diagram of engine
should be available. From the area of indicator
diagram it is possible to find an average gas
pressure that while acting on piston
throughout one stroke would account for the
network done. This pressure is called
indicated mean effective pressure (I.M.E.P.).
INDICATED HORSE POWER (IHP)
BRAKE HORSE POWER (B.H.P.)
 FRICTIONAL HORSE POWER (F.H.P.)

• The difference of I.H.P. and B.H.P. is called

F.H.P. It is utilized in overcoming frictional
resistance of rotating and sliding parts of the
engine.
• F.H.P. = I.H.P. – B.H.P.
INDICATED THERMAL EFFICIENCY (ηi )
BRAKE THERMAL EFFICIENCY (OVERALL EFFICIENCY)
MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY (ηm)
Advantages of diesel power plant
• It is easy to design and install these electric
stations
• They are easily available in standard capacities
• They can respond to load changes without
much difficulty
• There are less standby losses
• They occupy less space
• They can be started and stopped quickly
 Advantages of diesel power plant
• They require less cooling water
• Capital cost is less
• Less operating and supervising staff required
• High efficiency of energy conversion from fuel to electricity
• Efficiency at partloads is also higher
• Less of civil engineering work is required
• They can be located near the load centre
• They have no ash handling problem
• Easier lubrication system
Advantages of diesel power plant
• Very simple design also simple installation.
• Limited cooling water requirement.
• Standby losses are less as compared to other
Power plants.
• Low fuel cost.
• Quickly started and put on load.
• Smaller storage is needed for the fuel.
Advantages of diesel power plant
• Layout of power plant is quite simple.
• There is no problem of ash handling.
• Less supervision required.
• For small capacity, diesel power plant is more
efficient as compared to steam power plant.
• They can respond to varying loads without any
difficulty.
 Disadvantages of diesel engine
power plant
• High operating cost
• High maintenance and lubrication cost
• Capacity is restricted. Cannot be of very big
size
• Noise problem
• Cannot supply overload
• Unhygienic emissions
 Disadvantages of diesel engine
power plant
• High Maintenance and operating cost.
• Fuel cost is more, since in India diesel is costly.
• The plant cost per kW is comparatively more.
• The life of diesel power plant is small due to high
maintenance.
• Noise is a serious problem in diesel power plant.
• Diesel power plant cannot be constructed for large
scale.
 END OF PRESENTATION

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