CARBURETION

The process of formation of a combustible fuel-air mixture by mixing the proper amount of fuel with air

before admission to engine cylinder is called

carburetion.

The device which perform this job is called carburetor.

Function of Carburetor
It breaks up or atomizes the fuel into a fine spray and it mixes with air to make a mixture that will

burn readily
It regulates the ratio of fuel to air It regulates the amount of the fuel-air-mixture

going into the combustion chamber

Factors Affecting Carburetion

Engine

speed Vapourization characteristics of the fuel Temperature of the incoming air Design of the carburetor

Types of Mixtures
Chemically

correct mixture Rich mixture Lean mixture

Ranges of Throttle Operation

Idling

An idling engine is one which operates at no load and with nearly closed throttle. under Idling conditions, the engine requires a rich mixture.

Cruising

In this range, the primary interest lies in obtaining the maximum fuel economy.
High

power

This range is shown by the line CD in the above figure. During peak power operation, the engine requires a richer mixture due to the following reasons:
a. To provide best power b. To prevent overheating of exhaust valve and the area near it.

Principle of Carburetion
The

carburetor works on Bernoullis Principle: the faster

air moves, the lower its Static Pressure, and the higher

its dynamic pressure. The throttle (accelerator) linkage

does not directly control the flow of liquid fuel.
Instead,

it actuates carburetor mechanisms which meter

the flow of air being pulled into the engine. The speed of this flow, and therefore its pressure, determines the amount of fuel drawn into the airstream.

As the piston moves down a partial vacuum is created in the cylinder Atmospheric pressure pushes air through the

carburetor air intake to equalize this pressure

The air speed increases in the venturi (the narrow passage in the air intake passage)

As the air speed increases the pressure is lowered.

Because the pressure is lowered atmospheric pressure in the fuel bowl pushes fuel through the pipe to the venturi and into the air stream The speed of the air in the venturi and the turbulence past the venturi atomize the fuel and mix the tiny droplets with air.

Once the air & fuel are mixed, the next job of the
carburetor is to provide a means whereby the amount of mixture that enters the cylinder can be controlled

A butterfly (throttle) valve in the manifold controls

the fuel air mixture If you want your engine to run fast open your

butterfly (throttle) valve, the more fuel and air that

gets delivered the faster it will run

A Choke valve is used to aid in cold starts

It helps provide a better vaporization of the fuelair
and it provides more fuel-air (a richer mixture) The choke valve is similar to the butterfly except it is placed on the air-intake side of the carburetor.

Operation of the Venturi Tube

Simple Carburetor
A

carburetor basically consists of an open pipe through

which the air passes into the inlet manifold of the

engine. The pipe is in the form of a venturi: it narrows in

section and then widens again, causing the airflow to increase in speed in the narrowest part.

Fuel is introduced into the air stream through small holes at the narrowest part of the venturi and at other places where pressure will be lowered when not running on full throttle. Fuel flow is adjusted by means of precisely calibrated orifices, referred to as jets, in the fuel path.

A simple Carburetor

Parts of a Carburetor
Fuel

Strainer Chamber

Float

Main

fuel metering and idling nozzles

and throttle

Choke

Strainer

Float chamber

Main Fuel Metering

Types of Carburetors
Depending

on direction of flow of air

Updraught type Downdraught type Cross-draught type

Constant

choke carburetor

The air and fuel flow areas are always maintained to be constant. Eg. Solex and Zenith carburetors

Constant

Vacuum Carburetor

Air and fuel flow areas are being varied as per the demand on the engine, but vacuum is maintained to be always same. Eg. S.U. and Carter Carburetors