PDF Document PDF

AUTOMOTIVE
CONTROLS
MEng-141n
Engine Efficiencies
Aside from expressing engine performance

in terms of power, it is also essential to
express in terms of efficiencies. Most of the
efficiencies have already been discussed in
various chapters. Generally, these
efficiencies are expressed in percentage or
decimal fractions.
MEng – 141n |Automotive Controls| Lesson 2.3: Engine Efficiencies
Lesson 2.2: Introduction

Aside from expressing engine performance in terms of power, it is also essential to express in terms of efficiencies.
Most of the efficiencies have already been discussed in various chapters. Generally, these efficiencies are expressed
in percentage or decimal fractions.
Learning Outcomes
1. Calculate and compare the different engine efficiencies.

DISCUSSION
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Apart from expressing engine performance in terms of power, it is also essential to express in terms of
efficiencies. Various engine efficiencies are:
i. Air-standard efficiency
ii. Brake thermal efficiency
iii. Indicated thermal efficiency
iv. Mechanical efficiency
v. Relative efficiency
vi. Volumetric efficiency
vii. Charge efficiency
viii. Combustion efficiency
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Air-Standard Efficiency
Also known as thermodynamic efficiency. It is mainly a function of compression ratio and other
parameters. It gives the upper limit of the efficiency obtainable from the engine.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Indicated and Brake Thermal Efficiencies
The indicated and brake thermal efficiencies are based on 𝐼𝑃 and B𝑃 of the engine respectively.
These efficiencies give an idea of the output generated by the engine with respect to heat
supplied in the form of fuel. In modern engines an indicated thermal efficiency of almost 28% is
obtainable with gas and gasoline spark-ignition engines having a moderate compression ratio
and as high as 36% or even more with high compression ratio oil engines.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Mechanical Efficiency
Mechanical efficiency takes into account the mechanical losses in an engine. Mechanical losses
of an engine may be further subdivided into the following groups:
i. Friction losses as in case of pistons, bearings, gears, valve mechanisms. With the
development in bearing design and materials, improvements in gears etc., these losses are
usually limited from 7 to 9 percent of the indicated output.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
ii. Power is absorbed by engine auxiliaries such as fuel pump, lubricating oil pump, water
circulating pump, radiator, magneto and distributor, electric generator for battery charging,
radiator fan, etc. These losses may account for 3 to 8 percent of the indicated output.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
iii. Ventilating action of the flywheel. This loss is usually below 4 percent of the indicated
output.
iv. Work of charging the cylinder with fresh charge and discharging the exhaust gases during
the exhaust stroke. These losses may account for 2 to 6 percent of the indicated output. In
general, mechanical efficiency of engine varies from 65 to 86%.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Relative Efficiency
The relative efficiency ratio as it is sometime called is the ratio of the actual efficiency obtained
from an engine to the theoretical efficiency of the engine. Hence,
Relative efficiency for most of the engines varies from 75 to 95% with theoretical air and
decreases rapidly with insufficient air to about 75% with 90% air.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Volumetric Efficiency
Volumetric efficiency is defined as the ratio of the actual mass of air drawn into the engine
during a given period of time to the theoretical mass which should have been drawn in during
the same period of time, based upon the total piston displacement of the engine, and the
temperature and pressure of the surrounding atmosphere.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Where 𝑛 is the number of intake strokes per minute. For a four-stroke engine 𝑛=𝑁/2 and for a
two-stroke engine 𝑛=𝑁, where 𝑁 is the speed of the engine in rev/min. The actual mass is a
measured quantity. The theoretical mass is computed from the geometry of the cylinder, the
number of cylinders, and the speed of the engine, in conjunction with the density of the
surrounding atmosphere.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
Combustion Efficiency
Combustion efficiency is the ratio of the heat liberated to the theoretical heat in the fuel. The
amount of heat liberated to the theoretical heat in the fuel. The amount of heat liberated is
less than the theoretical value because of incomplete combustion either due to dissociation or
due to lack of available oxygen. Combustion efficiency in a well adjusted engine varies from
92% to 97%.
EXAMPLES
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 1
A four-stroke gas engine has a bore of 20 cm and stroke of 30 cm and runs at 300 rpm firing
every cycle. If air-fuel ratio is 4:1 by volume and volumetric efficiency on NTP basis is 80%,
determine the volume of gas used per minute. If the calorific value of the gas is 8 MJ/m 3 at NTP
and the brake thermal efficiency is 25%, determine the brake power of the engine.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 1
A four-stroke gas engine has a bore of 20 cm and

stroke of 30 cm and runs at 300 rpm firing every
cycle. If air-fuel ratio is 4:1 by volume and
volumetric efficiency on NTP basis is 80%,
determine the volume of gas used per minute. If
the calorific value of the gas is 8 MJ/m3 at NTP and
the brake thermal efficiency is 25%, determine the
brake power of the engine.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 2
The following observations have been made from the test of a four cylinder, two-stroke
gasoline engine. Diameter = 10 cm; stroke = 15 cm; speed = 1600 rpm; Area of the positive loop
of the indicator diagram = 5.75 sq. cm; Area of the negative loop of the indicator diagram =
0.25 sq. cm; Length of the indicator diagram = 55 mm; Spring constant = 2.5 bar/cm; Find the
indicated power of the engine.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 2
The following observations have been

made from the test of a four cylinder,
two-stroke gasoline engine. Diameter =
10 cm; stroke = 15 cm; speed = 1600
rpm; Area of the positive loop of the
indicator diagram = 5.75 sq. cm; Area of
the negative loop of the indicator
diagram = 0.25 sq. cm; Length of the
indicator diagram = 55 mm; Spring
constant = 2.5 bar/cm; Find the
indicated power of the engine.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 3
A six-cylinder gasoline engine operates on the four-stroke cycle. The bore of each cylinder is 80
mm and the stroke 100 mm. The clearance volume per cylinder is 70 cc. At a speed of 4000
rpm the fuel consumption is 20 kg/hr and the torque developed is 150 Nm. Calculate (i) the
brake power (ii) the brake mean effective pressure (iii) brake thermal efficiency if the calorific
value of the fuel is 43000 kJ/kg and (iv) the relative efficiency on a brake power basis assuming
the engine works on the constant volume cycle. k = 1.4 for air.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 3
A six-cylinder gasoline engine operates on the

four-stroke cycle. The bore of each cylinder is 80
mm and the stroke 100 mm. The clearance
volume per cylinder is 70 cc. At a speed of 4000
rpm the fuel consumption is 20 kg/hr and the
torque developed is 150 Nm. Calculate (i) the
brake power (ii) the brake mean effective
pressure (iii) brake thermal efficiency if the
calorific value of the fuel is 43000 kJ/kg and (iv)
the relative efficiency on a brake power basis
assuming the engine works on the constant
volume cycle. k = 1.4 for air.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 3
A six-cylinder gasoline engine operates on the

four-stroke cycle. The bore of each cylinder is 80
mm and the stroke 100 mm. The clearance
volume per cylinder is 70 cc. At a speed of 4000
rpm the fuel consumption is 20 kg/hr and the
torque developed is 150 Nm. Calculate (i) the
brake power (ii) the brake mean effective
pressure (iii) brake thermal efficiency if the
calorific value of the fuel is 43000 kJ/kg and (iv)
the relative efficiency on a brake power basis
assuming the engine works on the constant
volume cycle. k = 1.4 for air.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 4
A four cylinder engine running at 1200 rpm delivers 20 kW. The average torque when one
cylinder was cut is 110 Nm. Find the indicated thermal efficiency if the calorific value of the fuel
is 43 MJ/kg and the engine uses 360 grams of gasoline per kW-h.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 4
A four cylinder engine running at

1200 rpm delivers 20 kW. The
average torque when one cylinder
was cut is 110 Nm. Find the
indicated thermal efficiency if the
calorific value of the fuel is 43
MJ/kg and the engine uses 360
grams of gasoline per kW-h.
ENGINE EFFICIENCIES
EXAMPLE 4
A four cylinder engine running at

1200 rpm delivers 20 kW. The
average torque when one cylinder
was cut is 110 Nm. Find the indicated
thermal efficiency if the calorific
value of the fuel is 43 MJ/kg and the
engine uses 360 grams of gasoline
per kW-h.
END

PDF Document PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PDF Document PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PDF Document PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

AUTOMOTIVE

Aside from expressing engine performance

Lesson 2.2: Introduction

1. Calculate and compare the different engine efficiencies.

A four-stroke gas engine has a bore of 20 cm and

The following observations have been

A six-cylinder gasoline engine operates on the

A six-cylinder gasoline engine operates on the

A four cylinder engine running at

A four cylinder engine running at

You might also like