Course Details

Course Information Package

Course Unit TitleINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FUNDAMENTALS
Course Unit CodeAMEE431
Course Unit Details
Number of ECTS credits allocated5
Learning Outcomes of the course unitBy the end of the course, the students should be able to:
  1. Describe the geometry and operation of four-stroke and two-stroke internal combustion engines (ICE). Explain the differences in geometrical parameters and operation of spark-ignition (SI) and compression ignition (CI) engines.
  2. Describe the engine performance parameters and calculate engine performance characteristics. Explain factors that influence the engine performance and use engine performance graphs. Describe the experimental characterisation of the performance of an ICE and explain special classic and modern techniques for the characterisation of engine performance.
  3. Define the volumetric efficiency of the engine and identify how it is affected by technical and operation parameters of the engine. Describe the engine timing mechanism, and flow characteristics through the inlet and exhaust valves of four stroke engines.
  4. Use energy balance in internal combustion engines and explain the relevant losses due to friction and gas flow losses. Compare the internal combustion engines real cycles with the ideal thermodynamic cycles and explain the losses and differences in efficiency.
  5. Distinguish the combustion initiation for Spark Ignition (SI) and Compression Ignition (CI). Characterise combustion according to mixture composition either premixed or homogeneous or stratified. Use chemical formulas of fuels and chemical equations and define the stoichiometric air-fuel composition and air-fuel ratio.
  6. Describe the various types of fuel injection systems including indirect injectors for port-fuel injection (PFI), and direct gasoline injector systems for SI engines. Explain supercharging technologies and compare turbochargers and mechanical compressors. Describe developments in internal combustion engines and explain alternative types of internal combustion engines.
  7. Design and carry out engine measurements and analyse the measurements. Compare experimental data with theory.
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
PrerequisitesAMEE200,AMEE202Co-requisitesNONE
Recommended optional program componentsNONE
Course Contents

Factors influencing performance: size of cylinder, speed, load, ignition timing, compression ratio, air-fuel ratio, fuel injection, engine cooling, supercharging

Real cycles and the air standard cycle: air standard cycles, fuel-air cycles, actual cycles and their losses

Properties of fuels and combustion process: fuels for SI engines, knock rating of SI engines, Octane number requirement, Diesel fuels, Cetane number requirement, combustion process and flame development

Alternative forms of IC engines: the Wankel rotary combustion engine, the variable compression ratio engine

Developments in IC engines: fuel injection, supercharging

Laboratory Work: Individual or small group experiments performed with the use of common vehicle engines and or single cylinder engines under certain loading conditions will be investigated. These results will be compared with engines manufacturer specifications and/or theoretical performance data.  A selection from the following experiments is performed during the course:

Air and fuel consumption in ICE and estimation of the volumetric efficiency and air-fuel ratio.

Measurements of cylinder pressure history of ICE and construction of p-V and p-θ engine diagrams

Measurements of brake power and indicated power and estimation of the mechanical efficiency and thermal efficiency of an ICE

Cylinder pressure and torque measurements of an ICE and construction of performance graphs and consumption loop

Emissions measurements of a SI ICE engine

Emissions measurements of a Diesel ICE engine

Demonstration of dynamometer for ICE of light vehicles

Recommended and/or required reading:
Textbooks
  • Colin Ferguson, Allan Kirkpatrick Internal Combustion Engines, John Wiley and Sons, 2000.
  • Richard Stone Introduction to Internal Combustion Engines, Palgrave Macmillan, 1999
  • John L. Lumley, W. C. Reynolds Engines: An Introduction, Cambridge Univ 1999
  • Willard W. Pulkrabek Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engine, Prentice Hall, 1997
References
    Planned learning activities and teaching methodsThe course is delivered to the students by means of lectures, conducted with the help of computer presentations, as well as demonstrations of ICE and ICE section models and components in the ICE Laboratory. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the textbooks.
    Assessment methods and criteria
    Assignments10%
    Laboratory10%
    Tests20%
    Final Exam60%
    Language of instructionEnglish
    Work placement(s)NO

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