AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 3 (JA301)

CHAPTER 2
AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM
(CLO2)
BY

MOHD SAHRIL MOHD FOUZI

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
UNGKU OMAR POLYTECHNIC
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Air Induction System

The whole purpose of the air induction system is to supply, filter, meter, and
measure intake air flow into the engine. The air enters into the system
through the special holes created in front of the car. The first step is to
clean the air, removing the unwanted air born particles with the help of an
air cleaner. The amount of air entering the engine is a function of engine
load.

The things are pretty simple for an engine equipped with a carburetor,
because here will be the air mixed with the fuel without too many
adjustments. The most advanced part of the system is an Air Temperature
Sensor in the air intake, used to measure the air temperature, in order to
command a flap which allows cool air to enter through a heated pipe, so as
to prevent carburetor icing. On the other hand, we have now fuel-injected
cars, which is a more advanced system.
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Air is drawn in through the air intake; a long plastic tube which has the
main purpose to guide the air into a fairly steady stream until the air filter
housing. After the filter, the air will go, in order, through an Air Flow
Meter, Throttle Body with an Air Valve, then Air Intake Chamber, Intake
Manifold, and finally will get to the Cylinders.

Figure; Air Induction System

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 3 (JA301)
Air Induction System Components

Air Cleaner
The air cleaner actually contains an air filter which removes solid particles
such as dust, pollen, and mold from air that enters the engine. Air enters the
engine through the air intake or air induction system. The grit and dust
particles in this air must be removed before it enters the engine. If not,
engine wear and damage can result.

The intake air passes through air cleaner before entering the engine. The air
cleaner has a ring or panel of filter paper or other material. This traps dust
and dirt as the air passes through.

Some engines mount the air cleaner directly on the carburetor or throttle
body. Other engines use a remote – mounted air cleaner. It mounts
elsewhere ant connects by a hose or tube to the carburetor or throttle body.
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 3 (JA301)

The air cleaner also muffles induction noise. This noise is caused by the
intake air as the intake valves open and close. Some air cleaners have a
tuning venture inside the housing to reduce induction noise. Others
connected to a resonator.

This is a tube or chamber that generates sound waves which cancel out
the noise. This system is called a tuned induction system. The air cleaner
also acts as a flame arrestor if the engine backfires through the air intake
systems. The flame could erupt into the engine compartment and cause a
fire without the air cleaner in place.

Ram air cleaner

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 3 (JA301)
Some high performance cars have used a ram air cleaner. A vacuum
motors opens the ram air valve under open throttle or heavy load
conditions. This scoops additional air into the air cleaner for improved
engine performance.

Thermostatic Air Cleaner

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The thermostatic air cleaner is used with carburetor fuel systems and
throttle body fuel injection. It is purpose to improve engine performance and
driveability when engine is cold. The system heats the air entering the
throttle body or carburetor during cold engine operation. This allows the
engine run on a leaner air fuel mixture during warm up.
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY 3 (JA301)
Type of Air filter

Filter paper
Pleated paper filter elements are the most common air cleaners nowadays,
because they are efficient, easy to service, and inexpensive. One drawback
can be the fact that those paper filters sacrifice the air flow, but as long as a
pleated paper is sized appropriately for the airflow volumes needed, this will
not be a real issue until the filter become significantly clogged with dirt.

Type of filter element

•Ring type filter element
•Panel type filter element

Foam Oil
A wetted polyurethane foam element was in the past used in small engines
on power equipments and lawnmowers, but paper filter supplanted oil-
wetted foam in these applications. Nowadays, those are preferred in off-
road rallying and other motorsport competition, because, depending on the
grade and thickness of the foam employed, can offer very high dirt capacity.
Also, it can be washable and reusable.
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Cotton
In the past, oiled cotton gauze saw limited use in original-equipment
automotive air filters. Oiled cotton gauze is employed in a small number of
aftermarket automotive air filters nowadays, marketed as high-performance
items. It also can be washable and reusable.

Oil Bath
The general principle of an oil bath air cleaner is that incoming air is
sucked through the system towards a bowl containing a pool of oil, and
forced to make an vertical U-turn near the surface of the oil. Larger and
heavier air born particles cannot make the turn due to their inertia, so they
fall onto the pool of oil.

The smaller and lighter particles are retained by the filtration media in the
insert, wetted by oil droplets aspirated by normal airflow. Prior to 1960s, it
was the most common type of air filter used in automotive and small-
engine applications, until the adoption of the pleated, disposable paper
filters. Today, such air cleaners are found in application where very high
levels of dust are encountered, because oil bath cleaners can retain a
great deal of dirt.
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Air Ionizers

An air ionizer is a device that uses high voltage to ionize air molecules. Air
ionizers use fibers or elements with a static electric charge, which attract
airborne dust particles in an effect similar to static electricity.
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Air Flow Meter
An Air Flow Meter is a device that measures the amount of air flowing
through a tube. These devices convert the amount of air drawn by
engine into an electrical signal send to the Electronic Control Unit. The
ECU needs to know intake air volume to calculate how much fuel to inject
into the cylinders in order to provide
optimum combustion and low emissions.

Types of air flow meters:

1. The vane type – (Vane air flow sensor)

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This type has a flap that is pushed by the income air. The more air
coming in, the more the flap is pushed backed. There is a potentiometer
attached to the flap that sends a voltage signal to the Power train
Control Module (PCM).

There is also a second vane behind the main vane that fits into a closed
camber that dampens the movement of the vane giving a more accurate
measurement. There is also an Air Temperature Sensor built into AFM
and works exactly as it did in carburetor engine.
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A Vane Air Flow Meter (or sensor) monitors the volume of air entering the
engine by means of a spring-loaded mechanical flap. Vane Air Flow Meters
consist of the following components: Measuring Plate, Compensation Plate,
Return Spring, Potentiometer, Bypass Air Passage, Idle Mixture Screw, and
Switch for Fuel Pump, Intake Air Temperature Sensor.

2. The hot wire AFM – (hot wire sensor)

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It uses a series of wires strung in the air stream. The resistance of the wire
at normal operating temperature is a known constant and will allow a set
voltage through it. As the air passes the hot wire, it cools.

As it cools, the resistance of the wire decreases allowing more voltage to

pass through it. This voltage signal then goes to the main EFI computer
and allows the adjustment of the fuel mixture. From the AFM it goes to the
throttle chamber.
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3. The Cold Wire Type – (Cold Wire MAF sensor)

The cold wire MAF sensor uses thin metal strips that vibrate as the air
passes by. This vibration changes the inductance of a tiny sensor which
is part of an oscillator circuit. In that way, the frequency
is related to the amount of air passing over. This oscillating electrical signal
is then sent to the engine’s ECU.
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4. Kármán Vortex Air Flow Meter

This air flow meter provides the same type of information (intake air
volume) as the Vane Air Flow Meter. It consists of the following
components: Vortex Generator, Mirror, Photo Coupler, and Intake Air
Temperature Sensor.

The principle is based on a swirling effect to the air downstream created by

the vortex generator. This vortex is sensed by a photo coupler and a
mirror. The resulting signal is converted into a voltage signal which is
interpreted by the ECU.
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HOW IT WORKS

This type of airflow sensor is named after the Karman-Vortex principle that
says turbulent swirls or "vortices" will form behind an object if it is placed in
the path of a moving stream or column of air. As the air bumps into the
object and passes around it, little swirls form behind the object much like
the wake behind a boat. The number or frequency of these vortices will vary
in proportion to the velocity of the airflow.
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Throttle body

The amount of air that enters a spark ignition engine is primarily controlled
by the driver moving the accelerator pedal. The foot-operated pedal
connects through linkage or cable to the throttle valve in the throttle body.
This is air-control device for all spark ignition engines – carburetor and fuel
injected.

Depressing the accelerator pedal opens the throttle valve. This allows
fresh air from the air cleaner to enter the intake manifold. With a
carburetor, the throttle valve controls the amount of air-fuel mixtures that
enters. The throttle valve controls only air if the engine has port (multipoint)
or throttle body injection.

Instead of a mechanically-operated throttle valve, some cars have an

electronic throttle control or drive-by-wire system. A sensor on the
accelerator pedal signals its position to the electronic control module
(ECM). The ECM computes the proper opening of the throttle valves.
Signals then are sent to small motors on the throttle body which open and
close the throttle valves as required. This prevents wheel spin during hard
acceleration.
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Intake Manifold
The primary function of the intake manifold is to evenly distribute the
combustion mixture (or just air in a direct injection engine) to each intake
port in the cylinder head(s).

Even distribution is important to optimize the efficiency and performance of

the engine. It may also serve as a mount for the carburetor, throttle body,
fuel injectors and other components of the engine.

The Intake manifold connects to the throttle body with the intake ports in the
cylinder head. The manifold has a set of passages of runners through
which air or air-fuel mixture flows.

With port fuel injection, only air flows through. Fuel is injected into the air as
it flows through the intake ports. With a carburetor or throttle body injection,
fuel mixed with the air as it enters the intake manifold.