Automotive Vehicles
Combustion in S.I. Engines
Hemantha kumar
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Group
Combustion
What is combustion?
Combustion is a chemical reaction in which certain
elements of the fuel like hydrogen and carbon
combines with oxygen liberating heat energy and
causing an increase in temperature of the gases.
2
Combustion in Homogeneous mixture
In SI engines, homogeneous mixture of fuel with air is formed in
carburetor.
Combustion is initiated inside the cylinder at the end of
compression stroke.
Flame front spreads over a combustible mixture with certain
velocity
Flame propagation is caused by heat transfer and diffusion of
burning fuel molecules from the combustion zone to the adjacent
layers of the unburnt mixture
3
Combustion in Homogeneous mixture
Equivalence ratio of 1 to 1.2, flame speed approx.= 40 cm/s.
If equivalence ratio is out of this range, flame gets extinguished.
By introducing turbulence and incorporating proper air
movement, the flame speed can be increased in mixtures
outside the above range.
4
Combustion in Heterogeneous mixture
Rate of combustion is determined by the velocity of mutual
diffusion of fuel vapors and air, rate of chemical reaction is of minor
importance.
Self ignition temperature because of high compression ratio.
5
Combustion in Gasoline engine
Normal and Abnormal combustion
6
Combustion in S.I. Engine
1. Normal Combustion (Ideal)
7
Theoretical P-θ diagram
Stages of Combustion in SI Engine
1. Normal Combustion (Actual)
Point of pressure rise (B) Peak pressure (C)
Point of spark (A)
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Combustion
1. Normal Combustion (Actual)
I. First stage (AB)
• Ignition lag or Preparation phase
• Growth and development of a self propagating
nucleus of flame
• Depends on factors such as temperature, pressure,
nature of fuel and proportion of residual gas
9
Combustion
1. Normal Combustion (Actual)
2. Second stage (BC)
• Propagation of flame
• Starting point is where the first measurable rise of
pressure is seen
• Flame propagates at constant velocity
• Low heat transfer to the wall of the cylinder
• Rate of heat release depends mainly on turbulence
intensity and mixture composition 10
Combustion
1. Normal Combustion (Actual)
III. Third stage (CD)
• Starting point Maximum pressure
• Flame velocity decreases during this stage
• Rate of combustion is low, due to low flame velocity.
• Expansion stroke starts before this stage of
combustion
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Flame front propagation
Two important Factors that determine the rate of
movement of the flame front across combustion
chamber are_
1. Reaction rate : is the result of a purely chemical
combination process in which the flame eats its way
into the unburned charge
2. Transposition rate: due to the physical movement of
the flame front relative to the cylinder wall.
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Details of flame travel
Rate of flame propagation 13
Flame front propagation
I. Area I
• AB, flame front progress is relatively slow due to low
transposition rate and low turbulence.
• Small mass of charge is burned at the start. Low reaction
rate low flame speed
• Spark plug is located in quiescent zone, that is closed to
cylinder wall lack of turbulance
14
Flame front propagation
II. Area II
• As flame front leaves quiescent zone, proceeds in to
turbulent area consumes greater mass of mixture -
flame progresses rapidly, BC
III. Area III
• Volume of unburned charge is less
• Both transposition rate and reaction rate are low
• Low turbulence, C-D
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Factors influencing the flame speed
1. Turbulence: flame speed
is directly proportional to
turbulence. Turbulent
motion of the mixture
intensifies the processes
of heat transfer and mixing
of burned and unburned
portion of the mixture.
2. Fuel–Air Ratio: When the mixture is made leaner or enriched,
the velocity of flame diminishes 16
Factors influencing the flame speed
3. Temperature and Pressure: Increase in intake temperature
and pressure causes increase in flame speed
4. Compression Ratio: Speed of combustion increases with
increase of compression ratio
5. Engine speed: Flame speed increases almost linearly with
engine speed.
6. Engine Size: the number of crank degrees required for
flame travel will be about the same irrespective of engine
size. 17
Rate of pressure rise
Lower combustion rate of
combustion, longer time is
required for the completion
of combustion
Higher rate of pressure rise
produces higher peak
pressure at a point closer to
TDC. But disadvantages are
• Rough operation of engine
• Promotes Knocking
Compromised rate of
combustion should be Various combustion rates
chosen.
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Abnormal Combustion
Flame front which
separates the fresh
mixture from the products
of combustion travels from
the spark plug to the other
end of the combustion
chamber.
Heat released due to combustion increases the temperature and
consequently the pressure, of the burned part of the mixture
above those of the unburned part.
Burned part of the mixture will expand, and compress the
unburned mixture adiabatically, thereby increasing pressure and
temperature.
If temperature of unburnt mixture does not exceeds “auto
ignition temperature”, - Normal combustion 19
Abnormal Combustion
If temperature of unburnt
mixture exceeds “auto
ignition temperature” of the
fuel, - Spontaneous ignition
occurs or auto ignition occurs
at pin point locations
Because of auto ignition, another flame front starts travelling in
the opposite direction to the main flame front
When 2 flame front collide, a sever pressure pulse is generated.
Impact of knock on the engine components and structure can
cause engine failure and in addition the noise from engine
vibrations is always objectionable. 20
Effect of engine variables on Knock
• 3 major factors which can prevent/produce knock are
1. Density factor
2. Time factor
3. Composition factor
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Effect of engine variables on Knock
1. Density factor: Any factor reduces the density tend to reduce
knocking by providing lower energy release
Compression ratio
Mass of inducted charge
Inlet of temperature of the mixture
Temperature of combustion chamber walls
Retarding the spark timing
Power output of the engine
22
Effect of engine variables on Knock
2. Time factors: Increasing flame speed or increasing the
duration of the ignition lag or reducing the time of exposure of
the unburned mixture to auto ignition condition will tend to
reduce knocking
Turbulence
Engine speed
Flame travel distance
Engine size
Combustion chamber shape
Location of spark plug 23
Effect of engine variables on Knock
3. Composition factors
Fuel – Air ratio
Octane value of the fuel
24
Summary of variables affecting Knock
Combustion chambers in SI engines
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