ME – 6020/ IC Engine Combustion and Pollution

Term Paper

Name – Debarpan Saha

 OBJECTIVES OF LEARNING FROM THE
PRESENTATION:
1. The effect of flame propagation on Engine performance

2. The engine parameters affecting flame pr0pagation

EFFECT OF FLAME SPEED ON ENGINE
PERFORMANCE

1. So, our primary objective is to increase the flame speed and minimize the
combustion time. But the above limitations restrict us to a certain value.
2. The negative effects are eliminated somewhat by experimentally optimizing
spark timing.
 ENGINE PARAMETERS AFFECTING FLAME
PROPAGATION
40 FUEL: GASOLENE

LAMINAR BURNING
VELOCITY (cm/s)
35

MIXTURE COMPOSITION 30

25

1. More the heat evolved during reaction, more 20

the flame speed. 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5
FUEL/ AIR EQUIVALENCE RATIO φ
2. Maximum Flame velocity occurs at almost
φ = 1.1 for all hydrocarbon fuels. 1.2

LAMINAR FLAME SPEED (DIM

FUEL: GASOLENE
1
3. At leaner side as well as at more richer side
0.8
the flame speed diminishes.

LESS)
0.6
4. The flame speed decreases with increase in
0.4
mole fraction diluent.
0.2

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
Mole fraction diluent = burned gas mole MOLE FRACTION DILUENT
fraction in unburned mixture = x
Non dimensional fl sp. = (flame sp. at x / Source of data points: Heywood John B., “Internal
Combustion Engine Fundamentals”
flame sp. at x=0)
INTAKE PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE

Higher p and T at intake

Higher p and T after compression for same CR FUEL: GASOLENE

EQUIVALENCE RATIO = 1
Higher flame speed N = 1160 R.P.M.
20 IG = -26 BTDC

FLAME VELOCITY (m/s)

18

16

COMPRESSION RATIO 14

12

Higher the compression ratio 10

4.7 5.7 6.7 7.7
COMPRESSION RATIO (CR)
Ref: Ali R. and Ahmad N., “Turbulent flame velocity model
Higher p and T after compression for SI engine”
and lower residual fraction

Higher flame speed

 TURBULENCE

• Turbulence intensifies mixing and increases heat transfer rate between burned and
unburned mixture.

Turbulent flame speed

K (Degree of Turbulence of the mix.)
Laminar flame speed at same condition

Source of information: Mathur M.L. and Sharma R.P., “ Internal Combustion Engines”

• We can not simply go on increasing the turbulence intensity beyond certain limit. It has
be close to the optimized value.
 FUEL: GASOLENE
EQUIVALENCE RATIO = 0.7
7.8 CR = 7.0
ENGINE SPEED IG = -26 BTDC

FLAME VELOCITY (m/s)

7.6
7.4
7.2
• Flame speed increases almost linearly (1.2 to 2.0 times) with 7
engine speed because of increased turbulence. 6.8
6.6
6.4
6.2
580 630 680 730 780
The engine speed thus affects the total combustion time ENGINE SPEED, N (R.P.M.)
which can be explained from the following rough estimates Ref: Ali R. and Ahmad N., “Turbulent flame velocity
model for SI engine”

Thus, spark timing has to be advanced more with increase in speed

 ENGINE SIZE
Generally similar engines run at same piston speed. Deg. of Turb. are same Same flame speed

We know that,

Piston speed is proportional to ( stroke length * rpm )

Larger engine has more milliseconds of combustion but both have same CA of combustion.

ENGINE LOAD

Higher load Higher imep Higher p and T after compression Higher flame speed

Part load more throttle p and T after comp. decreases and more dilution Lower flame sp.

DEPENDENCE OF FLAME SPEED ON DIFFERENT

ENGINE PARAMETERS IN DECREASING ORDER

Mixture composition Turbulence Speed Compression ratio

Engine size Intake p and T Engine load

 REFERENCES

1. Heywood John B., “Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals”, McGraw.Hill,1988

2. Pundir B.P., “IC Engines: Combustion and Emissions”,1st Edition, Narosa Publishing House,
2010

3. Mathur M.L. and Sharma R.P., “ Internal Combustion Engines”, Fully Revised Edition, Dhanpat
Rai Publications (P) Ltd.,1994
THANK YOU