WORKING OF 4-STROKE PETROL IC ENGINE

ENGINE is a machine that converts thermal energy to mechanical work. This conversion is governed by the Laws of Thermodynamics.

There are two types of engines:

i) Internal Combustion Engine : Fuel is directly burnt inside the combustion chamber. Eg: Petrol/Diesel Engine. ii) External Combustion Engine : Fuel is burnt outside the combustion chamber. Energy produced is utilised to heat the working fluid. Eg: Thermal Power Plant.

BASIC OVERVIEW

(1) (2) (3)

Energy produced by fuel produces reciprocating motion of piston. This reciprocating motion is converted to rotary motion of crank using slider-crank mechanism. Crank is connected to flywheel, whose basic purpose is to provide constant angular velocity using gyroscopic

motion. (4) (5) (6) (7) Flywheel is connected to gearbox via clutch. Gearbox transmits the rotary motion of flywheel to the tyres. The rotary motion of crank is coordinated with that of cam-shaft via gear mesh. Thus, rotations of perfectly aligned cams are responsible for opening and closing of inlet and exhaust valves of

combustion chamber. (8) Stroke basically means movement of piston. (9) 4-Stroke implies that it requires 4 piston strokes to complete 1 combustion cycle.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Spark Plug. Cam. Intake/Exhaust Valve. Piston. Crank. Flywheel. Clutch. Gearbox

WORKING OF 4-STROKE PETROL ENGINE

1. Air and tiny droplets of petrol are mixed in a device called Carburetor. Its flow to cylinder is controlled by a throttle. 2. Starter is used to provide initial torque for rotating the flywheel (in simple word, its required to start the engine). 3. Starter Motor is fed with current from battery. Petrol Engine requires a motor of around 60rpm. Shaft of this motor engages with the toothed rim of flywheel. 4. The rotation of flywheel rotates the crank, which leads to descending motion of piston. 5. Rotation of crank leads to rotary motion of cam. Cam-Shaft mechanism leads to opening of inlet valve. 6. 1st STROKE (INDUCTION STROKE) - Descending motion of piston leads to production of suction pressure which sucks air and fuel mixture to the combustion chamber from carburetor via inlet valve. 7. Inlet Valve closes. 8. 2nd STROKE (COMPRESSION STROKE) - Flywheel still rotating with the help of starter motor produces ascending motion of piston. 9. Pressure and Temperature of fluids increases. Droplets of Petrol vapourise. This facilitates easy ignition. 10. Ignition Coil (Condenser) is an induction coil that steps up 12V from battery to 12KV needed to produce spark in Spark Plug. 11. The electrical network from Ignition Coil passes to Distributor. A point to note as of now, there are multiple combustion chambers (cylinders) in an engine. Each of them requires independent ignition. The role of distributor is to distribute the current from Ignition Coil to Spark Plug in each cylinder. 12. Spark Plug produces a spark which initiates combustion inside the combustion chamber. 13. Starter Motor disengages with the flywheel. 14. Combustion of fuel produces immense energy. This leads to expansion of gases produced during combustion. 15. 3rd STROKE (POWER STROKE) - Expansion of gases pushes the piston downwards. This is the only stroke where work is produced. In other 3 strokes, flywheel provides necessary energy to rotate the crank. 16. A part of work done during this stroke is stored in flywheel in the form of magnetic energy. Remaining work is transmitted to crank. 17. Again, perfectly timed rotation of cam-shaft leads to opening of Exhaust Valve.

18. 4th STROKE (EXHAUST STROKE) - Again, Energy stored in flywheel during Power Stroke is utilized to rotate the crank in this stroke. This produces Ascending motion of piston. 19. Since, exhaust valve is open, all the gases escape through this outlet. 20. Exhaust Valve closes. 21. STEP 4 - STEP 20 is iterated with the only difference that the flywheel in 1st Stroke & 2nd Stroke is now powered by energy stored during Power Stroke of previous cycle (which, in 1st cycle was powered by starter motor).

OVERVIEW OF 2-STROKE PETROL ENGINE

(a) As the word signifies, just 2 strokes of piston are required to complete 1 combustion cycle.

(b) They do not have valves, instead, they have Ports.

(c) In addition to air and petrol, we have lubricating oil in the mixture.

WORKING OF 2-STROKE PETROL ENGINE

1. Ignition of Compressed Fuel Mixture. 2. Combustion starts. 3. 1st STROKE - Released gases pushes the piston downwards. 4. Descending piston opens the exhaust port, squirting the gases out of the cylinder. 5. Further descend of piston closes the exhaust port and opens the inlet port, admitting the fuel mixture into the cylinder. 6. 2nd STROKE - Piston Rises 7. All the ports get closed. 8. Mixture compresses leading to rise in Pressure and Temperature. 9. Step 1 to Step 8 is iterated.