International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis

Vol. 2: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com

System Design and Mechanism of a Compressed Air Engine

C. Chinglenthoiba*, V. Balaji, B. Abbas, A. Madhan Kumar
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mahendra Engineering College, Affiliated to Anna University,
Namakkal, Chennai, India

ABSTRACT
The compressed-air vehicle, CAV, is used as compressed air as a fuel, stored in a tank, and
powered by an engine. This designed vehicle consists of an air storage tank, from which the
air is made to expand inside the cylinder. The air engine is derived from the steam engine.
CAV has existed in various forms since two centuries.

Keywords: compressed air technology, effective renewable alternative energy, zero pollution
vehicle

*Corresponding Author
E-mail: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION PRINCIPLE
The CAV is one which uses compressed The principle of the air engine is derived
air as a fuel. This specially designed from the steam engine in which the
vehicle consists of an air storage tank, pressure energy of steam is converted to
from which the air is made to expand kinetic energy. The air engine uses
inside the cylinder. compressed air instead of steam. The
compressed air has pressure which on
Here, the pressure energy of air is getting expansion moves the piston (linear
converted into kinetic energy. The motion) which is converted to rotary
compressed air vehicle is a ZERO motion through crank and connecting rod
POLLUTION VEHICLE because of the mechanism (Figure 1).[6,7]
absence of combustion. CAV is the vehicle
of the future generation when optimized.[1–
5] Pressure Energy Kinetic Energy

Fig. 1. Overall CAV design specification.

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System Design and Mechanism Chinglenthoiba et al.

A compressed-air engine is a pneumatic The storage tank may be made of:

actuator that creates useful work by  Steel
expanding compressed air. They have  Aluminium
existed in many forms over the past two  Carbon fiber
centuries, ranging in size from hand held  Kevlar
turbines up to several hundred horsepower.  Other materials or combinations of the
Some types rely on pistons and cylinders, above
others use turbines.
The fiber materials are considerably lighter
Many compressed air engines improve than metals but generally more expensive.
their performance by heating the incoming Metal tanks can withstand a large number
air, or the engine itself. Some took this a of pressure cycles, but must be checked for
stage further and burned fuel in the corrosion periodically. One company
cylinder or turbine, forming a type of stores air in tanks at 4500 pounds per
internal combustion engine. One can buy square inch (about 30 MPa) and hold
the vehicle with the engine or buy an nearly 3200 cubic feet (around 90 cubic
engine to be installed in the vehicle. meters) of air.
Typical air engines use one or more
expander pistons. In some applications it is The tanks may be refilled at a service
advantageous to heat the air, or the engine, station equipped with heat exchangers, or
to increase the range or power.[8–15] in a few hours at home or in parking lots,
plugging the car into the electrical grid via
TANKS an on-board compressor (Figure 2).[16–20]
The tanks must be designed to safety
standards appropriate for a pressure vessel,
such as ISO 11439.

Fig. 2. Air tank specification.

COMPRESSED AIR values of electrochemical lead-acid

Compressed air has a low energy density. batteries. While batteries can somewhat
In 300 bar containers, about 0.1 MJ/L and maintain their voltage throughout their
0.1 MJ/kg is achievable, comparable to the discharge and chemical fuel tanks provide

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 International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis
Vol. 2: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com

the same power densities from the first to revolution, inlet valve closes and cuts off
the last liter, the pressure of compressed the air supply.[22]
air tanks falls as air is drawn off. A
consumer-automobile of conventional size Then after 8 degree of crank revolution,
and shape typically consumes 0.3–0.5 the exhaust vent opens to allow major part
kWh (1.1–1.8 MJ) at the drive shaft per of the expanded air to escape to the
mile of use, though unconventional sizes atmosphere. Both these timings are given
may perform with significantly less. in such a way that the former prevents
useful air from escaping out and the latter
EMISSION OUTPUT reduces the resistance on the piston during
Like other non-combustion energy storage return stroke. The crank rotates another 45
technologies, an air vehicle displaces the degree to take the piston to BDC, thus
emission source from the vehicle's tail pipe completing the first stroke.
to the central electrical generating plant.
Where emissions-free sources are During the second stroke the piston starts
available, net production of pollutants can moving from BDC to TDC. After 14
be reduced. Emission control measures at a degree of crank revolution from BDC, the
central generating plant may be more exhaust valve opens which facilitates the
effective and less costly than treating the remaining part of expanded air trapped
emissions of widely-dispersed vehicles. inside the cylinder to escape to the
atmosphere. After 45 degree of crank
Since the compressed air is filtered to revolution from BDC, the exhaust vent
protect the compressor machinery, the air closes.
discharged has less suspended dust in it,
though there may be carry-over of At the same time the expanded air
lubricants used in the engine. continues to escape through the exhaust
valve. After this just 7 degree before TDC,
WORKING the exhaust valve closes and the piston
In the compressed air engine, the cycle of reaches TDC after 7 degree of crank
operation gets completed with two strokes revolution, thus completing the second
of the piston or one revolution of the stroke.[15,23]
crank.[21]
EXPANSION OR POWER STROKE
The two strokes are: During this stroke the piston moves from
(1) Expansion or power stroke the TDC to BDC. At the beginning of this
(2) Exhaust stroke stroke the inlet valve is opened and allows
the compressed air stored in the tank to
As mentioned earlier, air engine requires expand inside the cylinder. This moves the
two strokes of piston or one crank piston down as pressure energy of air gets
revolution to complete one cycle. During converted into kinetic energy thus
the first stroke, just 11 degree after TDC, producing a power stroke.
the inlet valve opens to allow air from the
cylinder to expand inside the cylinder. Just before reaching BDC the specially
designed cam mechanism closes the inlet
This causes the piston to move downward valve and the piston uncovers an exhaust
(pressure energy converted to kinetic vent through which the expanded gas
energy). This timing avoids reversing of escapes to the atmosphere. This reduces
the engine. Then after 116 degree of crank the load on the piston by reducing the

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System Design and Mechanism Chinglenthoiba et al.

amount of air present inside the cylinder

during return stroke (Figure 3).

Fig. 3. Expansion stroke.

EXHAUST STROKE
During this stroke piston moves from BDC
to TDC. Initially the piston covers the
exhaust vent and the cam mechanism
opens the exhaust valve. The remaining air
trapped inside the cylinder is expelled to
the atmosphere through the exhaust valve
and the cycle continues (Figure 4, Table
1). Fig. 4. Exhaust stroke.

Valve Opening and Closing in Engine

Table 1. Valve opening and closing in engine.
S.no Stroke Event Position w.r.t. TDC/BDC Crank angle (in degrees)
1 Expansion or power IVO After TDC 11
IVC After TDC 127
2 Exhaust 1
EVO Before BDC 45
EVO After BDC 14
3 Exhaust 2 EVC After BDC 45
EVC Before TDC 7

Valve Timing Diagram

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 International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis
Vol. 2: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com

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