Stratified charge Engine

DEFINITION
The stratified charged engine is an internal combustion engine in which air-fuel ratio isn't equal throughout the cylinder. The fuel charge consisting of two layers i.e. layering of fuel/air mixture. A rich mixture is provided close to the spark plug by a small auxiliary inlet valve and combustion promotes ignition of a lean mixture in the remainder of the cylinder through the main inlet valve. Thus providing a variable A.F. ratio across the combustion chamber with overall lean mixture

OBJECTIVE
The objective was to feed a rich mixture through a separate pipe, past the inlet valve and to generate a swirl in the cylinder. This caused the weak mixture to enter the cylinder in the normal way and at the same time a vortex comprising alternate layers of rich and weak mixtures was formed in the cylinder. Since the rich portion of the mixture was directed initially over the sparking plug points, it could be ignited and on burning, also ignite the weak mixture throughout cylinder body

 The stratified charge i.e. variable A.F. ratio can be obtained either by fuel injection with air swirl or by carburettor. In these engines a rich mixture near the spark plug establishes a strong flame kernel which spreads into the lean mixture and burns it completely. It reduces not only the fuel consumption but also the exhaust emissions.

CONSTRUCTION
The combustion chamber is dividing so as to create a pre-combustion chamber where the spark plug is located so that rich mixture is produced close to the spark plug. It contains a spheroid cavity that imparts a swirling movement to the air contained by the cylinder during compression.

Volkswagen PCI
the VW system uses swirl generated by the incoming charge from the main chamber which passes through an offset connecting passage. The flow enters the spherical prechamber and hence creates a level of swirl during compression. The fuel is injected early in the compression stroke to take advantage of this.

 Mixture strength can be varied in the main chamber according to the load on the engine. Advantages of this system are that it can operate with fuel of low octane and with very lean mixture and gives low exhaust emission.

Honda CVCC
The Honda Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion system uses a secondary carburettor to supply a relatively rich mixture to the pre-chamber through a secondary inlet valve. Its operation is based upon a three zone stratification system, whereby during the induction stroke a proportion of the rich mixture leaves the pre-chamber and mixes with a proportion of the lean charge in the main combustion chamber. During compression this intermediate charge is compressed into the connecting passage between the pre-chamber and the main chamber.

 It was also noted that the increased combustion rate of the combustion process increased the anti-knock quality, thereby allowing an increase in the compression ratio relative to the baseline engine and hence a decrease in the specific fuel consumption.

Advantages
Starting of engine is easy. It gives better part load efficiency. It can use high compression ratio compared to conventional engines. As very rich mixture near spark plug that ignites easily and burns smoothly. As the combustion proceeds, it meets a very lean area (often only air)where it cools rapidly and the harmful Nox never has a chance to form. The additional oxygen in the lean charge also combines with any CO to form CO2, which is less harmful. Thus It has low exhaust emissions particularly Nox Co

Limitations
Design is complex. It has reduced power for a given size of the engine. It has high weight to power ratio. Initial and maintenance cost is high compared to conventional engines.