BME

UNIT-4

Reciprocating
Machines
Basic Mechanical Engineering

Unit – 5
 Engine

An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one form

of energy into mechanical energy.

Heat Engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to do work.

Classification:

(1) External Combustion Engine (EC Engine)

(2) Internal Combustion Engine (IC Engine)

In EC Engine, the products of combustion transfer heat

into working fluid whereas in IC Engine, the products of combustion
produce power directly in the same cylinder.

Advantages of IC Engine:

1. Higher mechanical efficiency

2. Higher power to weight ratio

3. Mechanical simplicity

4. Low initial cost due to the absence of boiler, condenser etc.

Engine Nomenclature:

Top Dead Centre (TDC) : It is the extreme position of the piston when
it is farthest from the crankshaft & it is same as IDC (Inner Dead
Centre).
Bottom Dead Centre (BDC) : It is the extreme position of the piston
when it is nearest to the crankshaft & it is same as ODC (Outer Dead
Centre).

Stroke (L): The distance travelled by the piston between the dead
centres is known as Stroke or Stroke Length.

It is equal to twice the radius of the crank (r). That is L = 2r

Bore (D): The nominal inside diameter of the engine cylinder is called
bore.
Clearance Volume (Vc):
The volume contained in
the cylinder above the
top of the piston, when
the piston is at TDC.

Swept Volume (Vs): The

volume swept by the
piston during one stroke
is called the swept
volume or piston
displacement. Swept
volume is the volume
covered by the piston
while moving from TDC
to BDC.
Compression Ratio (CR or r): It is defined as a ratio of volume before
compression (Total Volume) to the volume after compression
(Clearance Volume).
 Otto Cycle
Petrol Engine or Spark Ignition (SI) Engine

Process 1-2 = Reversible Adiabatic Compression / Isentropic

Compression

Process 2-3 = Reversible Constant Volume Heat Addition

Process 3-4 = Reversible Adiabatic Expansion / Isentropic Expansion

Process 4-1 = Reversible Constant Volume Heat Rejection

Qadd = QSupplied = mCv (T3 – T2)

Qrej = QR = mCv (T4 – T1)

 Diesel Cycle
Diesel Engine or Compression Ignition (CI) Engine

Process 1-2 = Reversible Adiabatic Compression / Isentropic

Compression

Process 2-3 = Reversible Constant Pressure Heat Addition

Process 3-4 = Reversible Adiabatic Expansion / Isentropic Expansion

Process 4-1 = Reversible Constant Volume Heat Rejection

Working :

Process 0-1 (Suction) = It is constant pressure suction process in

which only air enters into the cylinder.
Process 1-2 (Compression) = It is reversible adiabatic compression
process, air is compressed from total volume V1 to the clearance
volume V2 .

Process 2-3 (Heat Addition) = It is reversible constant pressure heat

addition process, where the diesel fuel is injected through fuel injector
and the mixture of Diesel and fuel is self–ignited.

Qadd = QSupplied = mCp (T3 – T2)

Process 3-4 = It is reversible adiabatic expansion process in which the

useful work output is obtained.

Process 4-1 = It is reversible constant volume heat rejection process.

Heat rejection is given by,

Qrej = QR = mCv (T4 – T1)

Dual Cycle
Carnot Cycle
Qin = QS = Heat Supplied or Heat input

Qout = Qrej = QR = Heat Rejected or Heat outgoing

W = Work Done

W = QS – QR
Four Stroke Engine (Diesel / Petrol Engine)
In four stroke cycle engines the four events namely suction,
compression, power and exhaust take place inside the engine
cylinder. The four events are completed in four strokes of the piston
(two revolutions of the crank shaft). This engine has got valves for
controlling the inlet of charge and outlet of exhaust gases. The
opening and closing of the valve is controlled by cams, fitted on
camshaft. The camshaft is driven by crankshaft with the help of
suitable gears or chains. The camshaft runs at half the speed of the
crankshaft. The events taking place in I.C. engine are as follows:

1. Suction stroke

2. Compression stroke

3. Power stroke

4. Exhaust stroke
Suction stroke

During suction stroke inlet valve opens and the piston moves
downward. Only air or a mixture of air and fuel are drawn inside the
cylinder. The exhaust valve remains in closed position during this
stroke. The pressure in the engine cylinder is less than atmospheric
pressure during this stroke .

Compression stroke

During this stroke the piston moves upward. Both valves are in
closed position. The charge taken in the cylinder is compressed by the
upward movement of piston. If only air is compressed, as in case of
diesel engine, diesel is injected at the end of the compression stroke
and ignition of fuel takes place due to high pressure and temperature
of the compressed air. If a mixture of air and fuel is compressed in the
cylinder, as in case of petrol engine, the mixture is ignited by a spark
plug.

Power stroke

After ignition of fuel, tremendous amount of heat is generated,

causing very high pressure in the cylinder which pushes the piston
downward (Fig.1b). The downward movement of the piston at this
instant is called power stroke. The connecting rod transmits the power
from piston to the crank shaft and crank shaft rotates. Mechanical
work can be taped at the rotating crank shaft. Both valves remain
closed during power stroke.
Exhaust stroke

During this stroke piston moves upward. Exhaust valve opens

and exhaust gases go out through exhaust valves opening. All the
burnt gases go out of the engine and the cylinder becomes ready to
receive the fresh charge. During this stroke inlet valve remains closed.

Thus it is found that out of four strokes, there is only one power
stroke and three idle strokes in four stroke cycle engine. The power
stroke supplies necessary momentum for useful work.
 Two Stroke Engine (Petrol Engine)
In two stroke cycle engines, the whole sequence of events i.e.,
suction, compression, power and exhaust are completed in two
strokes of the piston i.e. one revolution of the crankshaft. There is no
valve in this type of engine. Gas movement takes place through holes
called ports in the cylinder. The crankcase of the engine is air tight in
which the crankshaft rotates.

Upward stroke of the piston (Suction + Compression)

When the piston moves upward it covers two of the ports, the
exhaust port and transfer port, which are normally almost opposite to
each other. This traps the charge of air- fuel mixture drawn already in
to the cylinder. Further upward movement of the piston compresses
the charge and also uncovers the suction port. Now fresh mixture is
drawn through this port into the crankcase. Just before the end of this
stroke, the mixture in the cylinder is ignited by a spark plug. Thus,
during this stroke both suction and compression events are
completed.

Downward stroke (Power + Exhaust)

Burning of the fuel rises the temperature and pressure of the

gases which forces the piston to move down the cylinder. When the
piston moves down, it closes the suction port, trapping the fresh
charge drawn into the crankcase during the previous upward stroke.
Further downward movement of the piston uncovers first the exhaust
port and then the transfer port. Now fresh charge in the crankcase
moves in to the cylinder through the transfer port driving out the
burnt gases through the exhaust port. Special shaped piston crown
deflect the incoming mixture up around the cylinder so that it can help
in driving out the exhaust gases. During the downward stroke of the
piston power and exhaust events are completed.
 Working Principle of Diesel Engine
The basic components of diesel engine are cylinder, piston,
injector, valves, connecting rod and crankshaft. In diesel engines only
air is drawn into the cylinder. The engine has high compression ratio
hence the air in the cylinder attains very high temperature and
pressure at the end of the compression stroke. At the end of the
compression stroke, the fuel is sprayed into the cylinder in atomized
form using injectors. Due to high temperature, the fuel gets ignited,
begins to burn and produce lot of heat. Due to the heat the gases
expand, move the piston downward and rotate the crank shaft. The
torque available at the rotating crank shaft is used to do any
mechanical work.

Special features of diesel engine

1) Engine has high compression ratio ranging from 14:1 to 22:1.

2) During compression stroke, the engine attains high pressure and

high temperature of about 500°C.

3) At the end of the compression stroke, fuel is injected into the

cylinder through injectors at a very high pressure.

4) Ignition takes place due to heat of compression only.

5) There is no external spark in diesel engine.

6) It maintains higher torque for a longer duration of time at a lower

speed.
 Comparison between Diesel Engine and Petrol Engine

Petrol Diesel
It has got carburetor, ignition coil It has got no carburetor, ignition
& spark plug. coil and spark plug.
Its compression ratio varies from Its compression ratio varies from
5:1 to 8:1. 14:1 to 22:1
It uses petrol (gasoline) or power It uses diesel as fuel.
kerosine as fuel.
Mixture of fuel and air is sucked Only air is sucked in cylinder in
in the cylinder in suction stroke. suction stroke.
It has got no fuel injection pump It has got ‘fuel injection
and injector, instead it has got pump’ and injector
carburetor and ignition coil.
Air fuel mixture is compressed in Fuel is injected in combustion
the combustion chamber when it chamber where burning of fuel
is ignited by an electric spark. takes places due to heat of
compression.
Thermal efficiency varies from 25 Thermal efficiency varies from 32
to 32% to 38%
Engine weight per horsepower is Engine weight per horse-power
comparatively low. is high.
Operating cost is high. Operating cost is low.
Comparison between Four Stroke and Two Stroke Engine

Four Stroke Two Stroke

One power stroke for every two One power stroke for each
revolutions of the crankshaft. revolution of the crankshaft.
There are inlet and exhaust There are inlet and exhaust ports
valves in the engine. instead of valves.
Crankcase is not fully closed and Crankcase is fully closed and air
air tight. tight.
Top of the piston compresses the Both sides of the piston
charge. compress the charge.
Weight of engine per hp is high. Weight of engine per hp is
comparatively low.

Thermal efficiency is high. Thermal efficiency is

comparatively low.
Removal or exhaust gases is Removal of exhaust gases is
easy. comparatively difficult.
Torque produced is even. Torque produced is less even.
For a given weight, engine would For same weight, two stroke
give only half the power of two engine gives twice the power
stroke that of four stroke engine.
All types of speed are possible Mostly high speed engines are
(high and low). there.
Size of the flywheel is Size of the flywheel is
comparatively larger. comparatively smaller.
Working Principle of Compressor
Animated Versions of various Mechanisms
http://www.animatedengines.com/

Two Stroke Engine Animation

http://www.animatedengines.com/twostroke.html

Four Stroke Engine Animation

http://www.animatedengines.com/otto.html

Petrol Engine (How does it work?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZUoLo5t7kg

2 Stroke Petrol Engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6YC3I54so4

4 Stroke Petrol Engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emSXIJwGfQU
in Hindi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgFLfsr1IhQ

Diesel Engine (How it works)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZt5xU44IfQ

4 Stroke Engine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu7g3uIG6Zo

Power Transmission through Crankshaft (How Engine Works)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGj8OneMjek

See Combustion through engine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdW1t8r8qYc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rURHVLM9nxs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31mtOdHGbB4

Air Compressor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oti4Nnyh1no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJluUxA7aaY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRyhzBJqjN8
 Steam Engine

It is a machine uses steam power to perform mechanical work by

means of heat.
In a steam engine, hot steam, usually supplied by a boiler,
expands under pressure, and part of the heat energy is converted
into work. The remainder of the heat may be allowed to escape, or,
for maximum engine efficiency, the steam may be condensed in a
separate apparatus, a condenser, at comparatively low temperature
and pressure. For high efficiency, the steam must fall through a wide
temperature range as a consequence of its expansion within the
engine. The most efficient performance that is, the greatest output
of work in relation to the heat supplied is secured by using a low
condenser temperature and a high boiler pressure. The steam may
be further heated by passing it through a superheater on its way
from the boiler to the engine. A common superheater is a group of
parallel pipes with their surfaces exposed to the hot gases in the
boiler furnace. By means of superheaters, the steam may be heated
beyond the temperature at which it is produced by boiling water.

In a reciprocating engine, the piston and cylinder type of steam

engine, steam under pressure is admitted into the cylinder by a valve
mechanism. As the steam expands, it pushes the piston, which is
usually connected to a crank on a flywheel to produce rotary motion.
In the double-acting engine, steam from the boiler is admitted
alternately to each side of the piston. In a simple steam engine,
expansion of the steam takes place in only one cylinder, whereas in
the compound engine there are two or more cylinders of increasing
size for greater expansion of the steam and higher efficiency; the first
and smallest piston is operated by the initial high-pressure steam
and the second by the lower-pressure steam exhausted from the
first.
 UNIT-5
Question Bank
1. Explain the working of 2-stroke and 4-stroke petrol
engine.
2. Explain the working of 2-stroke and 4-stroke diesel
engine.
3. Draw and explain the P-V and T-S diagram of Otto cycle.
4. Draw and explain the P-V and T-S diagram of Diesel cycle.
5. What do you mean by Entropy? How do you relate the
entropy with the real world, give some examples?
6. What do you mean by Enthalpy?
7. Draw and explain the Dual cycle also give the formula for
its efficiency.
8. Explain with suitable p-v diagram, the working principle
of a steam engine.
9. Write down the terminologies of a reciprocating engine.
10. Differentiate between the spark and compression
ignition engine.
 Assignment-5
1. Draw PV & TS plot for:
i) Carnot Cycle
ii) Otto Cycle
iii) Diesel Cycle
iv) Dual Cycle
Also write their formulae for its efficiency.
2. Explain two stroke and four stroke petrol engines.
3. Write the differences between Petrol Engine and Diesel
Engine.

Important Questions
1. Draw PV & TS diagram for, & also write their formulae for
efficiency.
a. Carnot cycle
b. Otto cycle
c. Diesel cycle
d. Dual cycle
2. Explain 2 stroke and 4 stroke petrol engines.
3. Explain 2 stroke and 4 stroke diesel engines.
4. Explain steam engine and its indicator diagram.
5. Explain following terms in brief:
a. Cylinder Bore
b. Piston Stroke
c. Swept Volume
d. Clearance Volume
e. Dead Centre