Sequence of Events

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 1
 Sequence of Events

What is it?
• A step by step approach that allows a better understanding of 4-stroke
cycle power cylinder operation under ideal conditions.

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 2
 Sequence of Events
Why is it important to know?
• Operations
• Troubleshooting
• Training
• Foundation for further learning

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 3
 Types of Internal Combustion
Engines
• Spark Ignited (SI)
– Uses heat energy from an electrical
ignition system.
• Compression Ignited (CI)
– Uses heat energy from the heat of
compression.

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 4
 Engine under Discussion

• Four Stroke-Cycle
• Spark Ignited
• 600 – 900 RPM
• Natural Gas for Fuel (Methane)
• Naturally Aspirated or
Turbocharged

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 5
 Combustion Characteristics
Ideal Combustion Requires
• Correct Ignition Timing and Spark Energy.
• Correct Compression pressure and
Temperature.
• Correct Fuel. (Dry Fuel)
• Correct Air to Fuel Ratio.

 If these conditions are not met,

combustion will be uncontrolled and
important engine parts could fail.
COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 6
 Proper Terminology is:
FOUR STROKE CYCLE ENGINE

• The invention and early development of the internal

combustion engine can credited to three Germans:
– Sir Nikolaus Otto who invented, patented, and
built the first engine in 1867. (Otto Cycle)
– Karl Benz built the first car to be powered by this
engine in 1885.
– Gottier Daimler created the first high speed
engine in 1892. (Phoenix Engine)

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 7
 Name the four strokes in order…

Power Exhaust Intake Compression

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 8
 Spark
Plug

Intake Exhaust
Valve Valve

Intake Exhaust

Piston

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 9
 Intake Stroke

• Intake valve open

– Mechanically timed event
• Piston moving down causing
an air pressure differential
(vacuum)
• Fresh charge of combustion
air enters chamber
• Quantity of air determines
how much fuel can be
added
– It takes about 16 pounds of air
to completely burn one pound
of fuel

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 10
 • Piston travel continues
downward
– Volume - increases
– Pressure - decreases
– Temperature - slight
decrease

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 11
 • BDC
– (bottom dead center)
• Volume - at maximum
• Pressure - at minimum
• Temperature - minimum
• Displacement determined
by…
– Stroke of piston in inches X
Area of piston (area = πr2)
(bore of the cylinder)
– Expressed in Cubic Inches
• Engine under discussion
– 825 (824.6)

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 12
 Compression Stroke

• Both valves shut

• Piston travels up

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 13
 • Volume
– decreasing
• Pressure
– Increasing
• Temperature
– Increasing
• (heat of compression)

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 14
 • Ignition spark occurs
– Timed event at some
point before TDC (top
dead center)
– Flame propagation

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 15
 • TDC
– Volume
• Minimum
– Pressure
• High and increasing
– Temperature
• High and increasing
• Ratio of compression?
– Volumetric comparison
• Volume at TDC
• Volume at BDC

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 • Peak Pressure
(peak firing pressure)
• When desired?
• Effects of:
– Early?
– Late?

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 17
 Force TDC

Volume
Increase
of Stroke
Distance

12º Crank
Rotation during
Crank Combustion
Connecting Rod
12º

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 18
 Power Stroke

• Power (Expansion)
– Volume
• Continues to increase
– Peak Pressure
• Approx. 12° ATDC
– Temperature
• Maximum
• High load effect
– More force (pressure) on
piston and connecting
rod
– Volume increases slower

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 19
• End of Power stroke
– Volume
• Increasing
– Pressure
• Used to produce HP
• Decreasing
– Temperature
• Results from burning fuel
• Decreasing

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 20
 • BDC (bottom dead
center)
– Volume
• maximum
– Temperature
• decreasing

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 21
 Exhaust Stroke

• Exhaust stroke
– Exhaust valve(s) open
• Mechanically timed event
– Pressure
• Rapidly decreasing
– Temperature
• Decreasing
– Cylinder volume
• Decreasing

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 • Volume
– Decreasing
• Pressure
– Decreasing
• Temperature
– Decreasing

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 23
 • Transition between
exhaust and intake stroke.
– Valve timing
– Valve overlap (Turbocharged Engines)
• Both intake and exhaust
valves open
• Better scavenging
• Possible unburned fuel in the
exhaust
– Valve clearance

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 Pressure vs. Time

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 25
 P
CYCLE EVENTS PER 2 CRANK REVOLUTIONS

Rotation

EC Atmospheric
Press. Line
T
BDC TDC BDC TDC BDC

Exhaust

Pressure vs. Time Diagram

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 26
 P

Rotation

EC IO IC Atmospheric
Press. Line
T

BDC TDC BDC TDC BDC

Intake

Exhaust
COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 27
 P

Rotation

Atmospheric

Press. Line
EC IO IC

T
BDC TDC BDC TDC BDC

Intake

Exhaust Compression
COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 28
 P

Rotation Point of Ignition

EC IO IC Atmospheric
Press. Line

T
BDC TDC BDC TDC
BDC
Intake

Exhaust Compression
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 P
12º - 18º

Peak Pressure
Rotation
Point of Ignition

EC IO IC Atmospheric
Press. Line
T
BDC TDC BDC TDC BDC

Exhaust Intake Compression

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 30
 P
12º - 18º

Rotation
Point of Ignition

EO
EC IO IC Atmospheric
Press. Line
T
BDC TDC BDC TDC BDC

Exhaust Intake Compression Power

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 Questions?

COMPRESSION SYSTEMS 32