THERMAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

ASSIGNMENT 1: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN IC ENGINES.

Internal combustion engines is a heat engine where the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer
in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. Internal engines
consist of a number of parts like piston, piston ring, gudgeon pin, connecting rod, engine cylinder,
valves and ports, works on a number of techniques and cycles, such as Otto or diesel cycle, requiring
intricate timing with other parts to output high efficiency. The complex structure with increasing
number of parts makes the engine not reach its maximum efficiency in today’s day. Constant
research and studies is ongoing for increasing the efficiency, using less fuel, make the engine overall
lighter and many more.

1) Alternative fuels.
Internal combustion engines typically use energy-dense fuels like gasoline or diesel fuel, or
fuels derived from fossils. Although, fossil fuels are high supply energy and the technology to
extract mechanical energy from it has progressed a lot over the decade, fossil fuels are non-
renewable, unsustainable form of energy that also contribute to harming the environment in
harsh ways. Studies on various alternate fuels to drive an IC engine include compressed
natural gas, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum and alcohol fuels for SI engines and biodiesel, di-
ethyl ether and jet propellant for CI engines. Chemically stored electricity is now being
implemented highly in Oslo, Norway where citizen are given tax concessions and many other
rewards to use “electric cars”. These fuels are less damaging to environment, are abundant
in quantity and renewable.

As one can see from the graph, showing CO2 emisions for the past century, the emissions
have been in a steadily increasing and a sharp incline can be noticed at around the year
1950, in which the use of ic engines became more popular..
citations:
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1540748916304850
http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org/IJME/2017/Volume4-Issue4/IJME-V4I4P105.pdf

2) Emission control techniques.

Polluting and harmful exhaust gases exit the combustion cylinder is catalysed in catalytic
converters, attached in a car, acting as an emission control techniques. Current research
involves platinum which is used as a lead catalyst in the converter, which is expensive, and it
agglomerates at working temperature. Other metal oxides such as kaolin and urea as
useable catalyst are being researched upon. Even the conventional muffler, having
resonating chambers that uses destructive interference for reducing noise pollution is
changed in structure into a honeycomb of a shape. Scientist are studying the use of zeolite-
based catalysed hydrocarbon trap to control and minimize the ejection of HCs. Nissan
developed a compact catalytic system by building ultra-thin walled ceramic substrate in the
catalytic converter, walls being as thin as 1.8mm. The main cause of NOx formation is due to
insufficient reductant, particularly under hot conditions present when the engine is running.
To battle this, increasing the amount of ceria-containing mixed oxide in a NOx trap increased
the time for regeneration. The major future challenges are to reduce NOx emissions and
Particulate matter(soot). Several approaches to remove PM have been used, such as using
fuel additives to lower the combustion temperature, devices to increase gas temperature,
etc. The trapped PM can combust with NO2. The combustion occurs at 250 degrees Celsius.
For efficient operation low sulphur fuel is needed.

citations:
https://www.technology.matthey.com/article/47/4/157-162/

https://www.academia.edu/33486653/Design_Development_and_Optimization_of_Exhaust
_System

3) Engine subsystems.
Engine subsystems consist of valves trains, ignition system, cooling system, air intake
system, starting system, lubrication system, fuel system, exhaust system, aerodynamics of
the vehicle frame and more. Valve trains are positioned on top of the cylinder in modern SI
engines, actuated with cams, valve lifters and timing belts. These components are prone to
wear out over eventual use of the vehicle. Variable valve timing uses electrically signalled
valve control to open and close valves, reducing the error in timing of the valves, making the
engine burn less polluted air-fuel mixture. Tribological processes that contribute to wear and
tear in the valve timings is studied, so as to reduce the cause and reduce friction all together.
With the ongoing development in lightweight construction and low-friction bearings for the
shaft, as well as based on the extended functionality, such as for the variable valve train, the
camshaft still has substantial potential for increasing engine efficiency. Currently, spark plug
ignition systems are the most common type of ignition systems used to start automobiles.
Laser can be used instead of spark plug for ignition of vehicles. In laser ignition systems, the
laser beam is passed through a convex lens and the beam is focused on a focal point. Ignition
occurs at the focal point of the convex lens. The focal point can be adjusted as per ignition
requirements. Laser ignition systems are still in a research and development stage. New
chemicals are being developed with high thermal characteristics to function as an efficient
coolant in the radiator of vehicles. Automation lubrication system protects the bearing
failure by giving the proper amount of lubricant to the machine at proper time. The big
 advantage of automation is that gives safety to labour. Its other benefits of this it save the
energy and material, increase quality, efficiency. It control the excess amount of lubricant to
gives the final product the worker area. The future of lubrication system is its automation.
The vehicle frames are made much lighter using carbon composites of some parts such as
engine hood, spoiler, etc. aerodynamic properties of the frame will always be studied upon,
as the mission to reduce drag co-efficient is never ending.

citations:

https://www.academia.edu/33454625/Automatic_Lubrication_System

https://www.ijser.org/researchpaper/Performance-and-Analysis-of-an-Evaporative-cooling-
System-A-Review.pdf

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/laser-ignition-systems-market.html

http://www.angelfire.com/retro2/kalyz_elysyrus/enginesubsystems.html

4) Engine electronics.
An engine control unit (ECU), also commonly called an engine control module (ECM), is a
type of electronic control unit that controls a series of actuators on an internal combustion
engine to ensure optimal engine performance. It does this by reading values from a
multitude of sensors within the engine bay, interpreting the data using multidimensional
performance maps (called lookup tables), and adjusting the engine actuators. Before ECUs,
air-fuel mixture, ignition timing, and idle speed were mechanically set and dynamically
controlled by mechanical and pneumatic means. New software to control the unit, read the
engine at real time along with connecting it to the internet is the main development.
Advanced engine units are capable to self-repair, using the control unit installed in the
vehicle. Mechanics can remotely repair vehicles or analyse the system fault of the engine
and prepare accordingly. All operations, from air intake to fuel injection can be electronically
controlled, meaning a better engine performance is given. Engines these days have a hybrid
engine, consisting of electrical motors and an IC engine. Electrical motors are used for start-
ups and accelerating while IC engines are used for cruising at rated high speeds. The
seamless transition from motor to IC Engine is taken care by the control units that are being
developed.

citations:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276937432_Development_of_Custom-
made_Engine_Control_Unit_for_a_Research_Engine