Four Stroke Cycle

In 1892 Rudolph Diesel invented the

compression ignition engine named after
him. The first engine was built at
Augsburg Maschinenfabrik (now part of
MAN-B&W group) in 1897.The single
cylinder engine was used to power
stationery machinery. It weighed 5 tons
and produced 20 horse power at 172
rpm. The engine operated at 26.2%
efficiency, a significant improvement
upon 20% efficiency of best petrol
engine of its time.
• The four stroke cycle is so called
because it takes four stroke of the
piston to complete the processes
needed to convert the energy in the
fuel to work. Because the engine is
reciprocating, this means that the
piston must move up and down the
cylinder twice, therefore the
crankshaft must revolve twice.
• The four stroke of the piston are
induction stroke, compression stroke,
power stroke and exhaust stroke.
 1. Induction
The crankshaft is rotating clockwise
and the piston is moving downwards.
The inlet valve is open and the air is
being drawn in or being pushed into
the cylinder by the turbocharger.
 2. Compression
The inlet valve has closed and the charged
air is compressed as the piston is moving
up. Because the energy is being
transferred to the air, its temperature and
pressure increases. By the time the piston
approaches the top of the cylinder (known
as top dead centre or TDC), its pressure is
over 100 bar and temperature is over 500
degree C.
 3. Power
Just before TDC, fuel is injected into the cylinder
by fuel injector. The fuel is atomized into small
droplets. Because they are very small, these
droplets are heated very quickly and their
temperature is above its self ignition
temperature. The fuel starts to burn as the piston
is passing over TDC. This raises the pressure and
temperature of the air above the piston. This
forces the piston down the cylinder and forces the
crankshaft to rotate. It is during this stroke that
work energy is being given to the engine, in the
other three strokes of the piston, the engine has
to do the work.
 4. Exhaust
• As the piston approaches the bottom of
the cylinder (known as Bottom Dead
Centre or BDC), the exhaust valve starts
to open. As the piston starts to go up the
cylinder, the hot gases (mainly consisting
of nitrogen, carbon di-oxide, water vapour
and unused oxygen) are pushed out into
the exhaust manifold.
• As the piston approaches TDC again, the
inlet valve opens again and the cycle
repeats itself.