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Assignment III on MEE 595 (Internal Combustion Engine labouratory) WORKING PRINCIPLE AND COMPARISON BETWEEN SPARK IGNITION

AND COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINES By OKUBADEJO Abdulsalam Babatunde (MEE/2008/056) To Mr. Ajakaye Coordinator, MEE 595(Internal combustion engine labouratory) Department of mechanical engineering, Obafemi Awolowo university ile-ife, osun state.

14th of May, 2013.

Working principle of spark ignition and compression ignition engines Based on the mode of ignition, internal combustion engines are classified as compression and spark ignition engines. Spark ignition engines Nicolaus A. Otto invented the principle of operation of the SI engine. In this engine, mixture of air and petrol is done in the carburetor and this mixture is drawn into the combustion chamber at the top of the cylinder. This mixture is then compressed by the piston head as it rises in the cylinder then the fuel is ignited by spark from the spark plug. Combustion of the fuel then causes the fuel to expand, forcing the piston down on its power stroke. The linear reciprocating motion is then transmitted through the connecting rod to the crank pin on the crank shaft to give a rotary motion. The crankshaft then transmits the power to the wheels via the transmission system. Camshaft controls the inlet and exhaust valve on the cylinder and is driven by the crankshaft. The diagram of spark ignition engine is shown in fig. 1 (b). The starter motor gives the engine the initial impetus to start up the engine which is connected to a starter ring which is geared to the edge of the flywheel and turns the crankshaft which in turn starts the piston and connecting rods in their reciprocating motion. The flywheel smoothens out the power impulses from the piston and gives a relatively smooth running of the crankshaft. The cooling system is also employed to reduce the heat produced in the internal combustion engineto avoid seizure. This is usually achieved by the use of water being circulated through the water jackets in the engine.

The water is then passed through the radiator which disperses the heat to the atmosphere. Te heat dispersal is usually accelerated by the use of fans. Also, lubrication system is also provided to prevent wear and overheating as the engine parts rub against each other by means of lubricating oil which is kept in the sump beneath the engine block and pumped around the engine. Compression ignition engines Rudolf diesel in the year 1892 invented the CI ignition cycle of operation. Its operation is similar to that of the SI engine except in its mode of ignition. The ignition is of the fuel (diesel) is due to the heat of compression as the piton rises in the cylinder and compresses the air taken into the cylinder and not by spark. When the air reaches an extremely high temperature (above the self ignition temperature of the fuel (diesel)), the fuel is then injected into the cylinder (with the aid of the fuel injector) under high pressure which then leads to combustion which forces the piston down giving the power stroke of the engine. The diagram of compression ignition engine is shown in fig. 1 (a).

(a)

(b)

Fig. 1 (a) Sectioned diagram of Compression ignition engine; (b) sectioned diagram of Spark ignition engine.

Comparison between spark ignition and compression ignition engines The compression ignition (CI) engines works on diesel cycle (fuel combustion is at constant pressure) whereas spark ignition (SI) engines work on otto cycle (fuel combustion is at constant volume). The fuel used in CI engine is diesel which has less self ignition temperature and is less volatile while the fuel used in SI engine is petrol that burns if left in air at a little bit higher temperature. The air-fuel mixture is homogeneous throughout the SI engine while in CI, only the air enters into the cylinder and is compressed before addition of fuel and the mixture is heterogeneous. In SI engines, a carburetor is employed to properly mix air and fuel before intake to the cylinder, while in CI engines, only air enters the cylinder and no need for carburetor but rather the CI engine employs fuel injector. In SI engines, combustion chamber is smaller because no smoke is produced but in CI engines, the combustion chamber is larger due to smoke. Knocking in SI engines is due to pre-ignition which can lead to detonation and can damage the engine altogether while in CI engines, knocking is due to ignition delay and hence It is less harmful. Compression ratio in SI engine is between 6-10 whereas in CI engines, it is about 12-20. Hence, CI engines are considered more efficient than the SI engine. In CI engines, the compression ratio is higher, which produces high pressure inside the engine, hence CI engines are heavier than SI engines.

SI engines are light weight and achieve very high speeds, while CI engines are heavier hence produce lower speeds.

By nature, petrol is a highly volatile liquid, but its self-ignition temperature is high hence, for the combustion of this fuel , a spark from spark plug is needed to initiate its burning process whereas, with diesel, the self ignition temperature is lower comparatively, it can be ignited by pressurizing the air in the chamber to get hot so no need for spark plug.

SI engines produce comparatively less smoke after the ignition while CI engines produce more smoke due to unburnt fuel/hydrocarbon.

CI engines have somewhat rough idling than SI engines which runs more smoothly. CI engines are noisier due to high compression ratio and introduction of fuel at high pressures than SI engines.

Mileage is comparatively less in SI engines than in CI engines.

Therefore, depending on the requirements of a designer or manufacturer, either of these engines can be selected to suit the particular application.

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