Combustion in engines

Engine type SI Engines CI Engines

(Spark Ignition) (Compression
Ignition)
Charge type just Homogeneous Air at high temp
before Fuel-air mixture at and high pressure,
combustion high temp and fuel is injected
high pressure
Ignition source Spark Autoignition

Combustion type Premixed Nonpremixed

Typical 6-8 14-20

compression ratio 1
P-v and P- diagrams
Volume is a function of crank angle

Theoretical p-v diagram Theoretical p- diagram

35
30
25
Pressure
20
15
10
5
0
-180 -120 -60 0 60 120 180
Crank angle
2
Combustion in SI engines
Necessary Conditions for combustion:
Combustible mixture,
Ignition source with sufficient energy
Stabilization and propagation of flame
Ignition limits:

Fuel air mixture should be within certain limits.

The stoichiometric mixture is the best for combustion.
Increase in temperature increases while addition of diluents will reduce
these limits. 3
Stages of Combustion in SI engines
Actual p- diagram

Flame development (Ignition lag): Spark timing to actual combustion (~

6 to 10 CA) ~ 1-2% energy release (around 1.5 to 2 ms)
Flame propagation: Start of combustion till 90 to 95 % of charge is
burned
Flame termination: Combustion of end gas; Very low %age of energy
release 4
Stages of Combustion in SI engines
• After a spark is initiated (before TDC), it takes some time for the
flame to get created and this is called the ignition lag. It is typically
60 and 100 CA. The energy released and the pressure rise is too small
• The flame then rapidly propagates (flame propagation) and the
pressure within the cylinder rises rapidly. Peak pressure occurs a few
degrees after the TDC and the value depends on the spark timing.
• The last phase known as flame termination happens when the
flame front reaches near the walls of the cylinder. The reactant
mixture is compressed due to the propagation of the flame front
and its temperature rises and sometimes can reach the autoignition
temperature. It may lead to the phenomenon called ‘knocking’.

5
Knocking in SI engine

Autoignition of end charge

• Heat transfer from

flame to the end charge
• Flame compresses the
end gas; pressure and
temperature increases
resulting an autoignition

Normal combustion Knocking

6
Ill effects of knocking
• Noise (pressure wave moving in the cyl)
• Mechanical Damage (wear, erosion)
• Carbon deposits (Volume decreases,
pre-ignition)
• Increased heat transfer (high T,
scouring of protective layers)
• Decrease in power output (HT increase)
• Pre-ignition (local over heating, Spark plug)

7
Knocking in SI engine

Factors affecting Knock

1. Density of Charge (pressure)
2. Temperature of the charge
3. Time period of flame travel
4. Composition of Charge
8
Engine/Operating Change in the state of end gas Effect on knock
variable
Compression ratio Density and temperature increase Increases
Spark timing advance Density and temperature increase Increases
Cylinder diameter Flame travel time longer Increases
Flame travel distance Flame travel time longer Increases
Swirl/Turbulence Flame travel time shorter Reduces
Air-Fuel Ratio Ignition lag minimum near =1 Maximum near =1
Air inlet temperature Temperature increases Increases
Air inlet pressure Density and temperature increases Increases
Coolant temperature Temperature increases Increases
Engine Speed Flame travel time shorter Reduces
Engine load Density and temperature increases Increases
Humidity Temperature decreases, slower reactions Reduces
Altitude Density and temperature decreases Reduces
Fuel Octane number Ignition lag longer Reduces
9
Combustion in CI engines
Stages of Combustion
1. Ignition delay period (Physical and Chemical)
2. Period of uncontrolled combustion (in general premixed flame)
3. Period of controlled combustion (In general diffusion flame) Chamber pr and
temp are so high that spray burns almost instantaneously as they enter.
Burning rate is almost proportional to injection rate.
4. After burning
(Poor droplet distribution) Combustion curve

HRR Curve
Pressure Motored curve

Crank Angle 10
Combustion in CI engines

• Fuel is sprayed into the combustion chamber.

Sprayed by pressuring fuel to very high
pressures and then subsequently injecting into
the cylinder whereby the fuel breaks into large
number of droplets. Process must be
controlled precisely since too large
penetration may cause fuel deposition on
walls and too small may not cause complete
combustion.

11
Combustion in CI engines

• Ignition delay: Heat release does not start as

soon as the injection starts. There is a small
reduction in heat release due to heat
absorbed due to latent heat required for the
fuel vaporization process. Then due to
combustion reactions heat starts to get
released. All fuel vapourizes and gets mixed to
go within the flammability limits.
• Premixed combustion phase: The fuel
combusts rapidly and the pressure rises
rapidly and reaches a peak value
12
Combustion in CI engines
• Mixing controlled combustion: The premixed
fuel has already burnt and now the
combustion depends on the rate of injection
and rate at which mixing takes place to form
compositions within flammability limits. The
heat release rate drops significantly.
• After burning or late combustion phase: Last
phase where remaining fuel and incomplete
combustion products will burn to completion
due to high temperatures in cylinder
13
Delay period

Physical Delay
Fuel atomization, vaporization, mixing with air etc

Chemical delay
Pre-flame reactions

Factors affecting delay period ?

14
Diesel Knock
Reason: Longer delay period
More amount of fuel is accumulated
More homogeneous mixture
More time for chemical reactions
Very high rate of pressure raise cause Knocking
Detonation in SI engine and knocking in CI engine are due to
autoignition of the mixture.
Shorter delay period is good for CI engine and longer delay period is
good SI engine. Hence change of parameters good for SI engine are not
good for CI engine and vice-versa.

Typical p- diagram with

knocking in SI and CI engine

15
SI Detonation and Diesel Knocking
SI engine detonation CI engine knocking
At the end of combustion At the beginning of combustion
process process
Mixture is homogeneous; Mixture is not so homogeneous;
pressure raise is very high pressure raise is less
comparatively
Leads to pre-ignition No question of pre-ignition as
fuel is injected very late
Spark starts the normal Both normal and knocking
combustion and autoignition combustion are due to
causes detonation autoignition

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