Diesel Engines

History of Diesel Engines

1890 Dr Rudolf Diesel had a theory that any fuel
could be ignited by the heat caused by high pressure

No spark plug or electric ignition system Early Diesel engines were big and less powerful than
spark ignition engines of the time

History of Diesel Engines cont.

1920 Robert Bosch developed a new type of
mechanical fuel-injection system

Cars, locomotives, and ocean liners Today new smaller light weight engines for use in
small lawn and garden tractors and other types of small equipment

Diesel Engine Construction

Mechanically similar to spark-ignition engines Diesel engines parts are heaver due to greater
pressures in the cylinder during combustion

Piston strokes occur in the same sequence

Difference between Diesel and Spark-Ignition Engines

Diesel engines can be 2 or 4 stroke engines most are
4 stroke

How the fuel is introduced into the cylinder How the resulting air fuel mixture is ignited

The Diesel Cycle

Intake: only air enters the cylinder (intake valve
open) Compression: air is compressed as piston moves up (intake and exhaust closed) Power: diesel fuel is injected as piston nears TDC (heat of compression ignites fuel) the resulting explosion pushes piston down (constant pressure combustion) Exhaust: piston moves up and pushes burned gasses out (intake valve closed exhaust open)

Heat of Compression

16-1 ratio creates 500psi Increases temperature 2 degrees per psi

All diesel engines are compression ignition engines

All diesel engines are over head valve engines

Pressure, temperature, and volume relationship in a cylinder.

Diesel Fuel
Light oil that helps to lubricate engine Must burn cleanly producing little ash

More Diesel Stuff

Fuel Injection pump

Injection nozzles
Glow plugs Pre-combustion chambers