Diesel Engine Working Principles

Diesel engine is a ...

heat engine

internal combustion engine

compression ignition engine
 Diesel engine ...

… converts chemical energy into

mechanical energy through a
series (or cycle) of events.

Chemical Heat Mechanical Shaft

Energy Energy Energy Energy
Engine Terminology
Stroke, Bore, TDC, BDC

Total , swept and clearance volume

Compression ratio

Supercharging

Scavenging Efficiency
TERMINOLOGY

BORE STROKE

STROKE
TERMINOLOGY

CLEARANCE
VOLUME

TOTAL STROKE
VOLUME VOLUME
TERMINOLOGY

CLEARANCE
VOLUME

TOTAL STROKE
VOLUME VOLUME

Total Volume
Compression Ratio =
Clearance Volume
 SUPERCHARGING

Is the process of increasing the density of
fresh air introduced into the cylinder

Increases
the mass of air available for
combustion.

Thus allows more fuel to be burnt to produce

more power.

Increases the power to weight ratio of the
engine
 Scavenging Efficiency

the degree of perfection in replacing the spent gas

the ratio of the actual fresh air mass available for

compression to that ideally retained in the cylinder

ideal mass of volume of air is the air in the cylinder,

when piston is at BDC
What is a cycle?

… is series of separate events which

are essential for the efficient
operation of an engine.
Essential events in a diesel engine’s
cycle ...

Intake of fresh air

compression of air

injection of fuel

ignition of fuel

combustion of fuel/air mixture

expansion of gases

removal of exhaust gases
4- Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine

If all the steps or events are

completed in 4 strokes of piston,
the engine is called
4- Stroke Cycle Engine.
2- Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine

If all the steps or events are

completed in 2 strokes of piston,
the engine is called
2- Stroke Cycle Engine.
Working Principle of Four-Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine

Induction Compression Expansion Exhaust

 1 - Inlet valve open
2 - Inlet valve close TDC
3 - Fuel injection start
4 - Fuel injection stop
5 - Exhaust valve open 3 4 6
6 - Exhaust valve close

4-Stroke
Cycle
2
Timing
Diagram
(super-
charged) 5
BDC
Opening & Closing of Inlet valves

Opens before TDC, whilst exhaust

valve is still open
3 4 6
Supercharged air at higher pressure
enters into the cylinder
1
Pushes the remaining exhaust gas out

Closes after BDC, as air continues to

enter due to momentum

Increase duration of for intake, thus
2 increase amount of air taken

reduces resitsance to motion when
5 piston changes direction after BDC
Opening & Closing of Exhaust valves

Closes after TDC, to increase valve

overlap period
3 4 6
ensures clearing of all exhaust gases
from cylinder.
1
Capture the momentum exhaust gas

remaining energy in gases could not do

significant work on the piston
2
Gases start to come ou by its own
energy (exhaust blowdown)

Increases duration for exhaust
5
Working Principle of Two-Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine

Compression Combustion Exhaust Scavenge

1 - Exhaust valve close 2-Stroke
2 - Fuel valve open TDC Cycle
3 - Fuel valve close
4 - Exhaust valve open Timing
2
5 - Scavenge port open 3 Diagram
6 - Scavenge port close

1 4

6 5

BDC