WORKING OF PETROL ENGINE

A petrol engine (known as a gasoline engine in North America) is an internal

combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol (gasoline) and similar
volatile fuels.

It differs from a diesel engine in the method of mixing the fuel and air, and in using spark
plugs to initiate the combustion process. In a diesel engine, only air is compressed (and
therefore heated), and the fuel is injected into the then very hot air at the end of the
compression stroke, and self-ignites. In a petrol engine, the fuel and air are usually pre-
mixed before compression (although some modern petrol engines now use cylinder-direct
petrol injection).

The pre-mixing was formerly done in a carburetor, but now (except in the smallest
engines) it is done by electronically controlled fuel injection. Petrol engines run at higher
speeds than diesels, partially due to their lighter pistons, con rods and crankshaft (as a
result of lower compression ratios) and due to petrol burning faster than diesel. However
the lower compression ratios of a petrol engine give a lower efficiency than a diesel
engine.

Rotary inlet valve

The intake pathway is opened and closed by a rotating member. A familiar type
sometimes seen on small motorcycles is a slotted disk attached to the crankshaft which
covers and uncovers an opening in the end of the crankcase, allowing charge to enter
during one portion of the cycle.

Another form of rotary inlet valve used on two-stroke engines employs two cylindrical
members with suitable cutouts arranged to rotate one within the other - the inlet pipe
having passage to the crankcase only when the two cutouts coincide. The crankshaft itself
may form one of the members, as in most Glowplug model engines. In another
embodiment, the crank disc is arranged to be a close-clearance fit in the crankcase and is
provided with a cutout which lines up with an inlet passage in the crankcase wall at the
appropriate time, as in the Vespa motor scooter.

Rotary valve engines can be tailored to deliver power over a wider speed range or higher
power over a narrower speed range than either piston port or reed valve engine. Where a
portion of the rotary-valve is a portion of the crankcase itself it is particularly important
that no wear is allowed to take place.

Reed inlet valve

A Cox Babe Bee 0.049 cubic inch (0.8 cubic cm.) reed valve engine disassembled. It uses
glow plug ignition. The mass is 64 grams.

The reed valve is a simple but highly effective form of check valve commonly fitted in
the intake tract of the piston-controlled port. They allow asymmetric intake of the fuel-
charge, improving power and economy, while widening the power band. They are widely
used in ATVs, and marine outboard engines.

Cylinder arrangement

Common cylinder arrangements are from 1 to 6 cylinders in-line or from 2 to 16

cylinders in V-formation. Flat engines -- like a V design flattened out-- are common in
small airplanes and motorcycles and were a hallmark of Volkswagen automobiles into the
1990s. Flat 6s are still used in many modern Porsches, as well as Subarus. Many flat
engines are air-cooled. Less common, but notable in vehicles designed for high speeds is
the W formation, similar to having 2 V engines side by side. Alternatives include rotary
and radial engines the latter typically have 7 or 9 cylinders in a single ring, or 10 or 14
cylinders in two rings.
Ignition

Petrol engines use spark ignition and high voltage current for the spark may be provided
by a magneto or an ignition coil. In modern car engines the ignition timing is managed by
an electronic Engine Control Unit.

Working Principle Of Two Stroke Petrol Engine.

IN two strike engine,there is only one working stroke in each cycle.It means,two revolutions of crank-shaft
are required to produce work in each cycle.The desire to have one working stroke per cylinder for every
revolution of the crank-shaft has led to development of two stroke cycle engines.

In 1838,Barnett an Englishman describe the mechanism for supplying a charge to the cylinder by means of
separate pumps,the fresh charge of fuel,displacing the product of the previous charge.Dugald Clerk also
made a lot of contributions in this direction.

Two stroke cycle are very widely employed where small power required for motor cycle,auto
rickshaw,scooters.This type of engines are compact in size,easy for manufacturing and simple in
operations.One drawback is there,Specific Fuel Consumption (S.F.C) is more.(means fuel per Break Horse
Power (b.h.p.)per hour is more).
There are no inlet and exhaust valves as in four stroke engine but we have inlet and exhaust ports only,due
to which suction and exhaust stroke are
eliminated in two stroke cycle engine.Here the burnt exhaust gases are forced out through the exhaust port
by a fresh charge of fuel which enters the cylinder nearly at the end of working stroke through inlet port.This
process is called as “Scavenging”.Details about Scavenging will be covered in another post.

As I told above,it has no valves but consists of the inlet port(IP),exhaust port(EP) and transfer port(TP).The
ignition starts due to the spark given by spark plug when the piston be nearing the completion of its
compression stroke.As a result,piston is pushed down performing the working stroke and in doing so,the air-
fuel mixture already drawn from the inlet port in the previous stroke is compressed to a pressure of about 1.4
kilogram/centimeter square.

When 80% of this stroke is completed the exhaust port is uncovered slightly and some of the charge of burnt
gases escape to the atmosphere.As the exhaust
port is uncovered by the further downward movement of the piston,the transfer port,which is slightly lower
than exhaust port,is also uncovered and a charge
of compressed air-fuel mixture enters the cylinder and further pushes out the burnt gases out of the exhaust
port.

From bottom dead centre,when the piston moves up,it first closes the transfer port and then exhaust
port.The charge of fuel which previously entered in the cylinder is now compressed.When the piston is
nearing the upward movement the inlet port opens and afresh charge of air-fuel mixture from the carburettor
enters the crankcase.After the ignition of charge takes place the piston moves down for the power stroke
and thus the cycle is repeated.

It can be fairly assumed that the crankcase and the bottom of the piston form a compressor assembly.In
which the work used up in compressing the charge
is negative.The top of the piston is considered as positive and crankcase is as negative.The difference
between the positive and negative loop gives us the
net work available from engine.

PARTS OF PETROL ENGINE

01) Cylinder Block
Function- In the bore of cylinder the fresh charge of air-fuel mixture is
ignited,compressed by piston and expanded to give power to piston.

02) Cylinder Head

Function-It carries inlet and exhaust valve.Fresh charge is admitted through inlet valve
and burnt gases are exhausted from exhaust valve.In case of petrol engine,a spark plug
and in case of diesel engine,a injector is also mounted on cylinder head.

03) Piston

Function-During suction stroke,it sucks the fresh charge of air-fuel mixture through inlet
valve and compresses during the compression stroke inside the cylinder.This way piston
receives power from the expanding gases after ignition in cylinder.Also forces the burnt
exhaust gases out of the cylinder through exhaust valve.

04) Piston Rings

Function-It prevents the compressed charge of fuel-air mixture from leaking to the other
side of the piston.Oil rings,is used for removing lubricating oil from the cylinder after
lubrication.This ring prevents the excess oil to mix with charge.

05) Connecting Rod

Function-It changes the reciprocating motion of piston into rotary motion at crankshaft.This
way connecting rod transmits the power produced at piston to crankshaft.

06) Gudgeon Pin

Function-Connects the piston with small end of connecting rod.

07) Crank Pin

Function-hand over the power and motion to the crank shaft which come from piston
through connecting rod.

08) Crank Shaft

Function-Receives oscillating motion from connecting rod and gives a rotary motion to the
main shaft.It also drives the camshaft which actuate the valves of the engine.

09) Cam Shaft

Function-It takes driving force from crankshaft through gear train or chain and operates the
inlet valve as well as exhaust valve with the help of cam followers,push rod and rocker arms.

10) Inlet Valve & Exhaust Valve

Function-Inlet valve allow the fresh charge of air-fuel mixture to enter the cylinder
bore.Exhaust valve permits the burnt gases to escape from the cylinder bore at proper
timing.

11) Governor

Function-It controls the speed of engine at a different load by regulating fuel supply in diesel
engine.In petrol engine,supplying the mixture of air-petrol and controlling the speed at
various load condition.

12) Carburettor

Function-It converts petrol in fine spray and mixes with air in proper ratio as per requirement
of the engine.

13) Fuel Pump

Function-This device supply the petrol to the carburettor sucking from the fuel tank.
14) Spark Plug

Function-This device is used in petrol engine only and ignite the charge of fuel for
combustion.