6/4/21
Combustion
Initiators
ME134-2
Combustion Engineering
Lecture 3
Engr. Emmanuelle R. Biglete
School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Topic Outline
• Reciprocating Devices
• Four-stroke Spark Ignition System
• Carburetors vs EFIs
• Fuel Injection Systems
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Reciprocating Devices
The following are some terminologies that we need to understand for reciprocating
engines—typically piston-cylinder devices. Let’s look at the following figures for the
definitions of top dead center (TDC), bottom dead center (BDC), stroke, bore, intake valve,
exhaust valve, clearance volume, displacement volume, compression ratio, and mean
effective pressure.
Compression Ratio and MEP
The compression ratio rK of an engine is the ratio of the maximum volume to the minimum
volume formed in the cylinder.
V max VBDC
r= =
V min VTDC
The mean effective pressure (MEP) is a fictitious
pressure that, if it operated on the piston during
the entire power stroke, would produce the
same amount of net work as that produced
during the actual cycle.
Wnet wnet
MEP = =
Vmax - Vmin vmax - vmin
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4-stroke Spark-ignition Engine Cycle
Carburetors vs EFIs
Carburetor EFIs
Purely Based on
mechanical electronics
Affected by Uses a fuel pump
engine to create its own
temperature, pressure
pressure,
elevation, etc.
Cheaper but Expensive
easier to maintain
ECU Mapping More soot is Dynamic thus
produced more
environment
friendly
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ECU + TCU = PCM
Electronic Control Unit – controls the actuators in an ICE to ensure optimal engine
performance. It may control the air-fuel ratio (EEMS) – oxygen sensor, throttle position
sensor, air flow sensor, engine coolant temperature sensor. It also controls the idle speed
and valve timing.
Spark
Sensors ECU Actuators Fuel Valve
Injection Timing
Crankshaft
position
sensor
Transmission Control Unit – controls components in automobiles with automatic
transmissions. It calculates how and when to shift gears for optimum performance, smooth
shifting, and fuel economy.
Sensors TCU Transmission
Electronic Fuel Injection
Air mass
Gas pedal
sensor
Camshaft
Fuel Injectors sensor
Ignition Coil
Crankshaft
position
sensor
Injector
Ignition Coils
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Fuel Injection Systems
• Throttle Body Injection (TBI) or Single-point Injection – it consists of a single injector for
the entire engine where it is mounted above the throttle valve where fuel is injected like
a carburetor system.
• Multi-port Injection (MPI) – it consists of separate injector for each cylinder mounted in
the inlet port.
a) Central port injection - all the injector valves release at the same time
b) Sequential fuel injection - each injector valve open-up in time with its
corresponding intake valve. The injector timing is controlled by the ECU much like
ignition spark timing.
• Direct Injection (GDI) – fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. GDI engines can use
very lean fuel-air mixes when the engine is under light load. More carbon buildup.
Carburetors vs EFIs
Advantages of Carburetors:
• Cheaper, Simple in operation and easy to replace (not integrated into the engine)
• Can be tuned based on requirements
Disadvantages:
• Not efficient
• There is a slight lag which results to slow throttle response
• Air-fuel mixture fluctuates
Advantages of EFI:
• Optimized air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion
• Sharper throttle response
• Better fuel efficiency and more power delivered
• Maintenance free
Disadvantages:
• Substantially expensive than carburetors
• Cannot be easily customized (ECU remapping/tuning)
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4-stroke Spark-ignition Engine Cycle
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