Valve Timing Diagram

What is the Valve timing Diagram?

Valve timing is the regulation of the points in the cycle at which the valves are
set to open and close.
A valve timing diagram is a graphical representation of the exact moments, in
the sequence of operations, at which the two valves (i.e. inlet and exhaust
valves) open and close as well as the firing of the fuel. It is, generally, expressed
in terms of angular positions of the crankshaft. Here we shall discuss theoretical
valve timing diagrams for four-stroke and two-stroke cycle engines.
In the ideal cycle inlet and exhaust valves open and close at dead centers, but in
actual cycles they open or close before or after dead centers as explained below.
Theoretical Vs Actual Valve Timing Diagram :
There are two factors, one mechanical and other dynamics, for the actual valve
timing to be different from the theoretical valve timing.

(a) Mechanical factor.

The poppet valves of the reciprocating engines are opened and closed by cam
mechanisms. The clearance between cam, tappet, and valve must be slowly
taken up and the valve slowly lifted, at first, if noise and wear is to be avoided.
For the same reasons the valve cannot be closed abruptly, else it will ‘bounce’
on its seat. (Also the cam contours should be so designed as to produce gradual
and smooth changes in directional acceleration). Thus the valve opening and
closing periods are spread over a considerable number of crankshaft degrees. As
a result, the opening of the valve must commence ahead of the time at which it
is fully opened (i.e., before dead centers).
b) Dynamic factor;
Besides the mechanical factor of opening and closing of valves, the actual valve
timing is set taking into consideration the dynamic effects of gas flow.
Theoretical valve timing diagram :
1. Theoretical valve timing diagram for four-stroke cycle engine

The theoretical valve timing diagram for a four-stroke cycle engine is shown In
this diagram, the inlet valve opens at A and the suction takes place from A to B.
The crankshaft revolves through 180º and the piston moves from T.D.C. to
B.D.C. At B, the inlet valve closes and the compression takes place from B to
C.
The crankshaft revolves through 180º and the piston moves from B.D. C. to
T.D. C. At C, the fuel is fired and the expansion takes place from C to D.
The crankshaft revolves through 180º and the piston again moves from T.D.C.
to B.D.C. At D, the exhaust valve opens and the exhaust takes place from D to
E. The crankshaft again revolves through 180º and the piston moves back to
T.D.C.
 2. Theoretical valve timing diagram for the two-stroke cycle engine.

The theoretical valve timing diagram for a two-stroke cycle engine is shown. In
this diagram, the fuel is fired at A and the expansion of gases takes place from
A to B.
The crankshaft revolves through approximately 120º and the piston moves from
T.D.C. towards B.D.C. At B, the valves open, and suction, as well as exhaust,
take place from B to C.
The crankshaft revolves through approximately 120º and the piston moves first
to B.D.C and then little upwards. At C. both the valves close and compression
takes place from C to A. The crankshaft revolves through approximately 120º
and the piston moves to T.D.C
Actual Valve Timing Diagram For Four Stroke petrol Engine

Or we can represent valve timing as shown in below,

The valve timing diagram, as shown we see that the inlet valve opens before the
piston reaches TDC or in other words, while the piston is still moving up before
the beginning of the suction stroke.
Now the piston reaches the TDC and the suction stroke starts. The piston
reaches the BDC and then starts moving up. The inlet valve closes, when the
crank has moved a little beyond the BDC This is done as the incoming charge
continues to flow into the cylinder although the piston is moving upwards from
BDC Now the charge is compressed (with both valves closed) and then and
temperature) push the piston downwards with full force and the expansion or
working stroke takes place.
Now the exhaust valve opens before the piston again reaches BDC and the burnt
gases start leaving the engine cylinder. Now the piston reaches BDC and then
starts moving up, thus performing the exhaust stroke.
The inlet valve opens before the piston reaches TDC to start suction stroke. This
is done as the fresh incoming charge helps in pushing out the burnt gases.
Now the piston again reaches TDC, and the suction stroke starts. The exit valve
closes after the crank has moved a little beyond the TDC. This is done as the
burnt gases continue to leave the engine cylinder although the piston is moving
downwards. It may be noted that for a small fraction of a crank revolution, both
the inlet and outlet valves are open. This is known as valve overlap.
Valve Timing Diagram For A Four Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine :
In the valve timing diagram as shown we see that the inlet valve opens before
the piston reaches TDC; or in other words while the piston is still moving up
before the beginning of the suction stroke.
Now the piston reaches the TDC and the suction stroke starts. The piston
reaches the BDC and then starts moving up. The inlet valve closes, when the
crank has moved a little beyond the BDC.
valve timing diagram for 4 stroke CI Engine

valve timing diagram for 4 stroke CI Engine

This is done as the incoming air continues to flow into the cylinder although the
piston is moving upwards from BDC. Now the air is compressed with both
valves closed. The fuel valve opens a little before the piston reaches the TDC.
Now the fuel is injected in the form of very fine spray, into the engine cylinder,
which gets ignited due to the high temperature of the compressed air. The fuel
valve closes after the piston has come down a little from the TDC. This is done
as the required quantity of fuel is injected into the engine cylinder. The burnt
gases (under high pressure and temperature) push the piston downwards, and
the expansion or working stroke takes place.
Now the exhaust valve opens before the piston again reaches BDC and the burnt
gases start leaving the engine cylinder.
Now the piston reaches BDC and then starts moving up thus performing the
exhaust stroke. The inlet valve opens before the piston reaches TDC to start
suction stroke. This is done as the fresh air helps in pushing out the burnt gases.
Now the piston again reaches TDC, and the suction starts. The exhaust valve
closes when the crank has moved a little beyond the TDC. This is done as the
burnt gases continue to leave the engine cylinder although the piston is moving
downwards.
Valve timing Diagram For Two Stroke Petrol / SI Engine : ( Port Timing
Diagram For SI Engine )
In the valve timing diagram, as shown we see that the expansion of the charge
(after ignition) starts as the piston moves from TDC towards BDC.
Valve timing diagram for 2 stroke petrol engine

First of all, the exhaust port opens a fraction of the crank revolution, the transfer
port also opens and the fresh fuel-air mixture enters into the engine cylinder.
This is done as the fresh incoming charge helps in pushing out the burnt gases.
Now the piston reaches BDC and then starts moving upwards. As the crank
moves a little beyond BDC, first the transfer port closes and then the exhaust
port also closes. This is done to suck fresh charge through the transfer port and
to exhaust the burnt gases through the exhaust port simultaneously.
Now the charge is compressed with both ports closed and then ignited with the
help of a spark plug before the end of the compression stroke. This is done as
the charge requires some time to ignite. By the time the piston reaches TDC, the
burnt gases (under high pressure and temperature) push the piston downwards
with full force, and the expansion of the burnt gases takes place.
It may be noted that the exhaust and transfer ports open and close at equal
angles on either side of the BDC position.
Valve Timing Diagram For A Two-Stroke Diesel Engine : ( Port Timing
Diagram For CI Engine )

In the valve timing diagram, as shown, we see that the expansion of the charge
(after ignition) starts as the piston moves from TDC towards BDC. First of all,
the exhaust port opens before the piston reaches BDC and the burnt gases start
leaving the cylinder. After a small fraction of the crank revolution, the transfer
port also opens and the fresh air enters into the engine cylinder. This is done as
the fresh incoming air helps in pushing out the burnt gases.
Now the piston reaches BDC and then starts moving upwards. As the crank
moves a little beyond BDC, first the transfer port closes and then the exhaust
port also closes. This is done to suck fresh air through the transfer port and to
exhaust the burnt gases through the exhaust port simultaneously.
Now the charge is compressed with both the ports closed. The fuel valve opens
a little before the piston reaches the TDC.
Now the fuel is injected in the form of very fine spray into the engine cylinder,
which gets ignited due to the high temperature of the compressed air. The fuel
valve closes after the piston has come down a little from the TDC. ‘This is done
as the required quantity of fuel is injected into the engine cylinder.
Now the burnt gases (under high pressure and temperature) push the piston
downwards with full force and expansion of the gases takes place. It may be
noted that in a two-stroke cycle diesel engine, like a two-stroke petrol engine,
the exhaust and transfer ports open and close at equal angles on either side of
the BDC position.
 EXPERIMENT NO: 2

VALVE TIMING DIAGRAM

AIM:
The experiment is conducted to
• Determine the actual valve timing for a 4-stroke S.I engine and hence draw the
diagram.
DATA:ENGINE- Air cooled, 4-stroke, Single cylinder, OHC S.I engine,
6.15kW (8.36 Ps) @8000 rpm.

THEORY:
In a four stroke engine opening and closing of valves and Spark do not take
place exactly at the end of dead center positions. The valves open slightly
earlier and close after that respective dead center position. The Spark plug also
occurs prior to the full compression and the piston reaches the dead Centre
position. All the valves operated at some degree on either side in terms of crank
angles from dead center position.

INLET VALVE:
During the suction stroke the inlet valve must be open to admit charge into the
cylinder, the inlet valve opens slightly before the piston starts downward on the
suction stroke.
The reason that the inlet valve is open before the start of suction stroke is that
the valve is necessary to permit this valve to be open and close slowly to
provide quite operations under high speed condition.
INLET VALVE OPENS (IVO):
It is done at 10to 20 ̊ in advance of TDC position.
INLET VALVE CLOSES (IVC):
It is done at 30 to 40 ̊ after BDC position.
IGN Ignition (20 to 30 ̊ before TDC.
EXHAUST VALVE:
As the piston is forced out on the outstroke by the expanding gases, it has been
found necessary to open the exhaust valve before the piston reaches the end of
the stroke. By opening the exhaust valve before the piston reaches the end of its
own power stroke, the gases have an outlet for expansion and begin to rush out
of their own accord. This removes the greater part of the burnt gases reducing
the amount of work to be done by the piston on its return stroke.

EXHAUST VALVE OPENS (EVO):

It is done at 30 to 50 ̊ in advance of BDC position.
EXHAUST VALVE CLOSES (EVC):
It is done at 10 to 15 ̊ after the TDC position.

PROCEDURE:

1. Keep the decompression lever in vertical position.

2. Bring the TDC mark to the pointer level closed.
3. Rotate the flywheel till the inlet valves moves down i.e., opened.
4. Draw a line on the flywheel in front of the pointer and take the reading.
5. Continue to rotate the flywheel till the inlet valve goes down and comes
to horizontal position and take reading.
6. Continue to rotate the flywheel till the outlet valve opens, take the
reading.
7. Continue to rotate the flywheel till the exhaust valve gets closed and take
the reading.
4 Stroke S.I Engine
OBSERVATIONS:

Arc Length, S
Sl. No. Valve Position Angle ‘θ’indegrees
cm Mm
1 TDC – Inlet Valveopen
2 BDC – Inlet ValveClose
3 TDC – ExhaustValve Open
4
BDC – ExhaustValve Close

CALCULATIONS:
1. Diameter of the flywheel, D

D=
2. Angle ‘θ’ in degrees,

θ=

Where,
S = Arc length, mm

RESULT:

Valve Timing diagram is drawn