Internal Combustion (I.C.

) Engine

Dr. Nilkanta Barman

Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Jadavpur University, Kolkata
 Ignition System
 Air is a poor conductor of electricity, thus an air gap in an electric circuit acts
as a high resistance.
 When a high voltage is applied across electrodes of a spark plug, it produces a spark across
the gap. When such a spark is produced to ignite a homogeneous air-fuel mixture in the
combustion chamber of an engine, it is called the spark-ignition system.
 The ignition systems are classified as:
(i) Battery ignition system
(ii) Magneto ignition system

A spark plug consists of a steel shell, an insulator and two

electrodes. A central electrode connected to high tension supply of
ignition coil, is well insulated with porcelain or ceramic material.
Ground electrode is welded to the steel shell of the plug, is Hot or cold plugs depending on
automatically grounded when the plug is installed on the cylinder the length of the tip/heat transfer
head of the engine. The electrodes are made of high nickel alloy to length of the central electrode.
avoid erosion and corrosion.
 Battery Ignition System
Battery (need a 12 volt battery for a 6-
cylinder engine): It provides electrical
energy for ignition. It is charged by a
dynamo driven by the engine. A lead acid
battery consists of a number of cells
connected together in series and each
having a nominal potential of 2 volts
when fully charged.

Ignition Coil : An ignition coil consists of a

magnetic core of soft iron, and two insulated
conducting coils (primary and the secondary
windings). The purpose of an ignition coil is
to step up the voltage of a battery to a high
voltage (10-30kV) by maintaining a
suitable ratio in turns between the primary
and secondary coils ( 200-300 turns of 20
gauge copper wire for the primary coil and 
21,000 turns of 38-40 gauge wire for the
Distributor secondary coil). One end of both the coils
The function of a distributor is to distribute the connected to the contact breaker.
ignition surge/high voltage to individual spark plug
in its correct sequence and at the correct instant of
time for sparking.
 Battery Ignition System
Contact Breaker : This is a mechanical
device for making and breaking current
flow in the circuit of ignition coil.

Current flowing through primary coil produces a

magnetic field in the core. The breaker point opens
when an ignition discharge is required. The current is
then flowing through condenser. As condenser
becomes charged, primary current falls and magnetic
field collapses too. The collapse of magnetic field
Ballast Resistor: A ballast resistor is provided in series induces a voltage in the primary winding, which
with primary winding to regulate primary current to charges the condenser to a voltage much higher than
prevent injury to spark coil by overheating (Joule battery voltage. The condenser then discharges it into
heating) if the engine operates for a long time/at low the battery, reversing the direction of both the
speed/breaker in the closed position. primary current and magnetic field. The rapid
Capacitor/Condenser: An ignition capacitor is collapse and reversal of the magnetic field in the core
induce a very high voltage in the secondary winding
connected in parallel with the contact breaker, consist of of the ignition coil. The high secondary voltage is led
two metal plates – separated by an insulating material – to the proper spark plug by means of a rotating
are placed face to face in order to store charge/voltage. switch called the distributor.
Magneto Ignition System
Magneto is a special type of ignition
system with its own electric
generator to provide necessary
energy for the system.
A magneto when rotated by the
engine is capable of producing a
very high voltage and does not need
a battery as a source of external
energy.

Magneto can be either of rotating armature

type or rotating magnet type. A third type
of the magneto called the polar inductor
type is also in use. Applicable for light
weight cars/usually two wheelers.
 Firing Order

There are three factors which must be

The order/sequence in which cylinders of a multi- considered before deciding the optimum
cylinder engine fire is called the firing order. firing order of an engine, these are:
(i) minimizing engine vibrations
 For a 4-stroke 4-cylinder engine, the fire inside (ii) minimize overheating of the engines,
a cylinder requires for every 180 of crank and
rotation. (iii) avoid developing a comparatively
 For a 4-stroke 6-cylinder engine, firing requires higher back pressure by the exhaust gas
for 120 of crank rotation. of other cylinders
For a six-cylinder engine, possible firing
orders are:
1 − 5 − 3 − 6 − 2 − 4 (commonly used)
For a four-cylinder engine, possible firing or 1 − 5 − 4 − 6 − 2 − 3
orders are: Or 1 − 2 − 4 − 6 − 5 − 3
1 − 3 − 4 − 2 (commonly used) or 1 − 2 − 3 − 6 − 5 − 4
or 1 − 2 − 4 − 3
 Internal
Combustion
(I.C.) Engine

Contd…