Operating Characteristics Chapter 2

Sek. 2-8 Engine Efficienncies

use the inverse of this, with (L/100km) being a common unit. To decrease air pollution
and depletion of fossil fuels,laws have been requiring better vehicle fuel economy. Since
the early 1970s,when most automobiles got moss than 15 mpg (15.7 L/100km) using
gasoline, great strides have been made in improving fuel economy. Many modern
automobiles now get between 30 and 40 mpg (7.8 and 5.9 L/100km), with some small
vehicles as high as 60 mpg (3.9 L/100KM).

2-8 ENGINE EFFICENCIES

The time available for the combustion procces of an engine cycle is very brief, and not
all fuel molecules may find an oxygen molecule with wich to combine, or the local
temperature may not favor a reaction. Consequently, a small fraction of fuel does not
react and exits with the exshaust flow. A combustion efficiency ɳC is defined to account
for the fraction of fuel wich burns . ɳC typically has values in the range 0.95 to 0.98 when
an engine is operating properly . For one engine cycle in one cylinder, the heat added is:

Qin = mfQHVɳC (2-62)

For steady state:
¿ ¿

Q in = m f QHVɳC (2-
63)
and thermal efficiency is:
¿ ¿ ¿ ¿

ɳt = W/ Qin = W / Q in = W / m f mQHVɳC = ɳf / ɳC
where: W = work of one cycle
¿

W = power
mf = mass of fuel for one cycle
¿

m = mass flow rate of fuel

f
QHV = heating value of fuel
ɳf = fuel conversion efficiency (see Equation 2-66)
 Operating Characteristics Chapter 2
Thermal efficiency can be given as indicated or brake, depending on wether
indicated power or brake power is used on equation (2-64). It follows that engine
mechanical efficiency:

ɳm = (ɳt )b / (ɳt ) i (2-65)

Engines can have indicated thermal efficiencies in the range of 50% to 60%, with
brake thermal efficiency usually about 30%. Some large, slow CI engines can have brake
thermal efficiencies greater than 50%.
Fuel conversion efficiency is defined as:
¿ ¿

ɳf = W / mfQHV = W / m fmQHV (2-

66)

ɳf = 1 / (sfc) QHV (2-67)

For a single cycle of one cylinder the thermal efficiency can be written:

ɳt = W / mfQHVɳC (2-68)
This is the thermal efficiency introduced in basic thermodynamic textbooks,
sometimes called 

2-9 VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY

One of the most important processes that governs how much power and performance
can be obtained from an engine is getting the maximum amount of air into the cylinder
during each cycle. More air means more fuel can be burned and more energy can be
converted to output power. Getting the relatively small volume of liquid fuel into the
cylinder is much easier than getting the large volume of gaseous air needed to react
with the fuel. Ideally, a mass of air equal to the density of atmospheric air times the
displacement volume of the cylinder should be ingested for each cycle. However,
because of the short cycle time available and the flow restrictions presented by the air
cleaner, carburetor (if any), intake manifold, and intake valve(s), less than this ideal
amount of air enters the cylinder. Volumetric efficiency is defined as:

ɳv = ma / ρa Vd (2-69)
¿

ɳv = n m a / ρa Vd N (2-70)
 Operating Characteristics Chapter 2
where : ma = mass of air into the engine ( or cylinder ) for one cycle
¿

m a = steady-state flow of air into the engine

ρa = air density evaluated at atmospheric conditions outside the engine
Vd = displacement volume
N = engine speed
n = number of revolutions for cycle