6/4/21

Combustion
Initiators
ME134-2
Combustion Engineering
Lecture 3

Engr. Emmanuelle R. Biglete

School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Topic Outline
• Reciprocating Devices
• Four-stroke Spark Ignition System
• Carburetors vs EFIs
• Fuel Injection Systems

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Reciprocating Devices
The following are some terminologies that we need to understand for reciprocating
engines—typically piston-cylinder devices. Let’s look at the following figures for the
definitions of top dead center (TDC), bottom dead center (BDC), stroke, bore, intake valve,
exhaust valve, clearance volume, displacement volume, compression ratio, and mean
effective pressure.

Compression Ratio and MEP

The compression ratio rK of an engine is the ratio of the maximum volume to the minimum
volume formed in the cylinder.

V max VBDC
r= =
V min VTDC

The mean effective pressure (MEP) is a fictitious

pressure that, if it operated on the piston during
the entire power stroke, would produce the
same amount of net work as that produced
during the actual cycle.

Wnet wnet
MEP = =
Vmax - Vmin vmax - vmin

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4-stroke Spark-ignition Engine Cycle

Carburetors vs EFIs

Carburetor EFIs
Purely Based on
mechanical electronics
Affected by Uses a fuel pump
engine to create its own
temperature, pressure
pressure,
elevation, etc.
Cheaper but Expensive
easier to maintain
ECU Mapping More soot is Dynamic thus
produced more
environment
friendly

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ECU + TCU = PCM

Electronic Control Unit – controls the actuators in an ICE to ensure optimal engine
performance. It may control the air-fuel ratio (EEMS) – oxygen sensor, throttle position
sensor, air flow sensor, engine coolant temperature sensor. It also controls the idle speed
and valve timing.
Spark

Sensors ECU Actuators Fuel Valve

Injection Timing

Crankshaft
position
sensor

Transmission Control Unit – controls components in automobiles with automatic

transmissions. It calculates how and when to shift gears for optimum performance, smooth
shifting, and fuel economy.

Sensors TCU Transmission

Electronic Fuel Injection

Air mass
Gas pedal
sensor

Camshaft
Fuel Injectors sensor

Ignition Coil

Crankshaft
position
sensor

Injector

Ignition Coils

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Fuel Injection Systems

• Throttle Body Injection (TBI) or Single-point Injection – it consists of a single injector for
the entire engine where it is mounted above the throttle valve where fuel is injected like
a carburetor system.
• Multi-port Injection (MPI) – it consists of separate injector for each cylinder mounted in
the inlet port.
a) Central port injection - all the injector valves release at the same time
b) Sequential fuel injection - each injector valve open-up in time with its
corresponding intake valve. The injector timing is controlled by the ECU much like
ignition spark timing.
• Direct Injection (GDI) – fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. GDI engines can use
very lean fuel-air mixes when the engine is under light load. More carbon buildup.

Carburetors vs EFIs

Advantages of Carburetors:
• Cheaper, Simple in operation and easy to replace (not integrated into the engine)
• Can be tuned based on requirements
Disadvantages:
• Not efficient
• There is a slight lag which results to slow throttle response
• Air-fuel mixture fluctuates

Advantages of EFI:
• Optimized air-fuel mixture for efficient combustion
• Sharper throttle response
• Better fuel efficiency and more power delivered
• Maintenance free

Disadvantages:
• Substantially expensive than carburetors
• Cannot be easily customized (ECU remapping/tuning)

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4-stroke Spark-ignition Engine Cycle

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