Engines - Fuel, Induction, Ignition and Starting Systems Flashcards
Out of gasoline, natural gas, propane and diesel, which fuel has the highest heat value?
diesel
What effect does the heat content of a fuel have on the power of an engine?
heat content ↑ = power ↑
True or false:
1 calorie is the amount of heat required to heat 100g of water 1℃.
false;
to heat 1g of water 1℃
True or false:
1 BTU is the amount of heat required to heat 1 lb of water by 10℉.
false;
1 lb of water 1℉
On what types of engines is octane rating important?
spark ignition engines
The _______________ rating of fuel refers to the ability of the fuel to resist ignition due to compression.
octane
low octane number = easier to ignite due to compression
The _______________ (lower/higher) the octane number, the more the fuel can resist self-ignition.
higher
What effect does a high octane rating have on a fuels burn rate?
octane rating ↑ = burn rate ↓
octane ratings give an indication of how well the fuel resists combustion
What type of fuel has an octane rating of 100?
propane
What type of fuel has octane ratings of between 86 to 91?
gasoline
What type of fuel has octane rating over 100?
natural gas
The _______________ rating of fuel is the ability of a fuel to ignite easily under compression.
cetane
What type of engines is cetane rating important?
compression ignition engines
The higher the cetane rating, the easier the fuel ignites under compression.
The _______________ (lower/higher) the cetane rating of fuel, the easier it is to ignite under compression.
higher
low cetane number = harder to ignite under pressure
In engines, what is flame propagation?
how the flame travels through the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber
*this is the key to correct ignition timing
What effect does ignition delay have on ignition timing in engines?
it dictates how much BTDC the ignition needs to happen;
this is done so that peak pressure rise in the cylinder occurs just as the piston reaches TDC
What effect does octane rating have on ignition timing?
octane rating ↑ = greater ignition delay = greater the ignition advances from TDC
octane rating indicates how well the fuel will resist burning ⟶ the more time it will take for the flame front to propagate out and burn all of the fuel
When is it desirable for the flame front inside an engine to burn rapidly and create peak pressure inside the cylinder?
TDC;
this allows most of the pressure to be used on the power stroke
_________________ (advancing/retarding) timing moves ignition further ahead of TDC.
advancing
_________________ (advancing/retarding) timing moves ignition closer to TDC.
retarding
With this type of SI engine combustion, there is a slight delay, followed by ignition, which starts from the plug and travels to the opposite side of the combustion chamber until combustion is complete.
normal combustion
With this type of SI engine combustion, a second ignition occurs in the combustion chamber before the primary spark, resulting in two flame fronts that cause a very fast burn of the fuel, leading to an abnormal pressure rise in the combustion chamber and subsequent knocking.
pre-ignition
What causes pre-ignition in an engine?
hot spots in the combustion chamber
What three things commonly cause hot spots in an SI engine?
- spark plugs with the wrong heat range
- glowing carbon deposits
- sharp edges ⟶ these do not cool well
- What effect does pre-ignition have on an engine?
- Why is this?
- part breakage and loss of power
- the burn tries to drive the piston back to BTDC
With this type of SI engine combustion, a normal ignition occurs, but the pressure on the opposite side of the combustion chamber becomes high enough to cause self-ignition of the fuel, resulting in two flame fronts in the combustion chamber and an excessive pressure rise in the cylinder.
detonation
With SI engines, does detonation occur before or after normal ignition of the air-fuel mixture?
after;
its caused by excessive pressures on the side of the cylinder opposite of the ignition, causing self-ignition of the fuel in that area
What are the four main causes of detonation in an engine?
- low octane fuels
- lean mixtures
- overheating of the engine
- initial timing set too early
In gasoline fuel systems, the liquid fuel must be metered, atomized, and mixed with air before it enters the engine cylinders. What are two methods of doing this?
- carburetor
- electronic fuel injection
True or false:
The average mixture for gasoline engines (by weight) is from 14 to 16 parts of air to 1 part of fuel.
true
What are the four basic parts of a carburetor fuel system?
- carburetor
- fuel pump
- fuel tank
- fuel filter
The __________________ atomizes fuel from the storage tank and mixes it with air in the proper ratio.
carburetor
The _______________ _______________ (2 words) is where the air enters the carburetor.
air horn
The _______________ maintains the correct level of fuel in the float bowl of a carburetor.
float (with needle valve and seat)
The ________________ _______________ ______________ (3 words) allows fuel to be drawn from the float bowl into the air horn of a carburetor.
main discharge tube
The _______________ is a restriction in the air horn that creates a low-pressure area in a carburetor, causing gasoline to travel up the discharge tube into the airstream.
venturi
The ____________ ____________ (2 words) is a hole or holes in the discharge tube of a carburetor that adds air to the gasoline so that the gas stream is broken up into smaller droplets for easier vaporization in the air horn.
air bleed
The ____________ ____________ ___________ (3 words) controls the amount of fuel that can go up the discharge tube of a carburetor.
metering jet size
The ______________ _____________ (2 words) is the speed control mechanism for the engine with a carburetor, controlling the amount of air and fuel that enters the cylinders.
throttle valve (butterfly valve)
The _______________ is used to block off the air horn of a carburetor, increasing the amount of fuel that enters the air horn to create a richer air-fuel mixture.
choke
What component of a carburetor determines how much of the air-fuel mixture enters the engine, directly affecting the speed and load the engine carries?
the throttle valve
This type of fuel injection system sprays the fuel directly into the engine intake system in a cone-shaped pattern for maximum distribution and atomization.
computer controlled electronic fuel injection
What are the two basic methods for metering the fuel in electronic fuel injections systems?
- continuous injection with varying fuel pressures
- opening in the injector in pulses
The _____________ _______________ is the computer that gathers information from all the sensors in a fuel injection system, determining the amount of fuel to be delivered by the injector.
control module (microprocessor)
The ______________ _______________ (2 words) contains the butterfly valve that determines the amount of air allowed in the system of an electronic fuel injection system.
throttle body
What controls the throttle body on a stationary electronic fuel injection system?
the governor
What controls the throttle body on a mobile application electronic fuel injection system?
the operator
*think gas pedal
The ______________ _______________ ______________ (3 words) tells the computer the position of the throttle butterfly valve, and is an indication of the amount of air coming into an electronic fuel injection system.
throttle position sensor
The ______________ ________________ ______________ (3 words) determines the fuel manifold or injection pressure in an electronic fuel injection system.
fuel pressure regulator
In an electronic fuel injection system, the _______________ admits fuel into the air stream as the engine is running, and is done by a steady, cone shaped stream or by pules, depending on the system.
injectors
In an electronic fuel injection system, the ______________ _______________ _______________ sensor tells the computer what the absolute pressure is in the manifold (vacuum) and is a direct indication of engine load.
manifold absolute pressure sensor
What does the manifold absolute pressure indicate on an electronic fuel injection system?
engine load
This electronic fuel injection system component has a heater attached to it so it can indicate oxygen content in the exhaust manifold sooner than the non-heated sensor.
heated oxygen sensor (exhaust gas)
This electronic fuel injection system component is attached to the block or the head to indicate whether there is pre-ignition or detonation.
knock sensor
In a continuous fuel injection system, what changes the amount of fuel that is being injected?
the pressure in the fuel rail;
this is varied depending on engine requirements
With a pulse fuel injection system, where is the fuel injected into?
the engine manifold;
remember with SI engines, the intake valve allows an air-fuel mixture, so the fuel must be mixed before this point
With a continuous fuel injection system, where is the fuel injected into?
the intake manifold or the intake port (port injection)
What is a wideband oxygen sensor?
an oxygen sensor that measures oxygen-to-fuel ratios over a wider band (lean to rich)
What are the two classifications of natural gas fuel systems found on engines?
- carbureted
- fuel injected
- Which type of fuel system is not common on natural gas engines?
- Why is this?
- fuel injected
- natural gas is already in a gaseous state
What determines the type of natural gas filtering required for each engine?
the source of the fuel
On a natural gas engine system, where is the filtering system placed?
before the regulating or metering components
Why is it critical to follow natural gas carburetor linkage set-ups, even when the final linkage may look like it has too many odd angles (2 reasons)?
- the governor has a specific range of travel
- throttle response;
there is a greater response to a change in throttle position from idle to half throttle than there is from half throttle to full throttle
With natural gas carburetor linkages, the linkages is set up so that there is a greater response to a change in the throttle position from idle to half throttle than from half throttle to full throttle. Why is this?
to prevent the governor from over-correcting for engine and load speed changes (hunting)
*small movements when at running speeds and loads will result in small movements on the throttle
**high gain at the beginning followed by changing to a low gain at over half speed
- How should the carburetor linkages be tested for balance on natural gas V-type engines after they have been set?
- Why is this critical on V-type engines?
- with a manometer attached to the manifold
- V-type engines have two manifolds ⟶ if not equal, one bank of cylinders will constantly overload
*balancing the engine ensures that all cylinder carry and equal amount of load
What effect does a leaking throttle shaft seal have on a natural gas engine?
it allows unfiltered air into the engine;
this can wear engine rings and liners, along with leaning out the air-fuel mixture
Due to the expansion rate of propane, it is mandatory to not fill propane tanks more than _____% of capacity.
80%
On a LPG engine system, this component only allows fuel to the engine once engine vacuum is high enough or when the solenoid in the fuel valve is supplied with power.
fuel lock and filter
On a LPG engine system, where is the fuel lock and filter located within the system?
between the storage tank and the converter
On a LPG engine system, this component prevents fuel from flowing if the engine has stopped, stalled, or in the event of an accident.
fuel lock and filter
On a LPG engine system, this component is used to reduce the high-pressure (tank pressure) liquid propane to a low-pressure vapour.
converter/regulator
On a LPG engine system, what is a vaporizer?
same as a converter/regulator
What are the three chambers of an LPG converter/regulator and what are their purposes?
- primary chamber ⟶ emits propane into the component
- secondary chamber ⟶ creates the pressure drop between the primary and secondary chamber needed to change the propane into a vapour
- heat exchanger ⟶ used to heat up the propane and component to prevent freezing
How is the heat exchanger on an LPG converter/regulator heated?
with engine coolant;
without this heat, the converter/regulator would freeze up and transmit liquid flow through the unit to the mixer
What happens to the LPG if the heat exchanger on a converter/regulator freezes up?
liquid propane is supplied to the carburetor (mixer) rather than a gas
What are the two types of carburetors (mixers) found on LPG engines?
- air valve carburetors
- spray bar carburetors
Which type of LPG fuel component is similar to a natural gas carburetor?
the air valve mixer
A LPG spray bar mixer uses a metering valve and throttle plate simultaneously. What does the:
- metering valve control?
- the throttle plate control?
- metering valve ⟶ amount of fuel entering the air stream
- throttle plate ⟶ amount of air entering the engine intake
*this are connected through a linkage, so they open and close together
What causes the delay in ignition in CI engines?
once the fuel is injected into the cylinder, the fuel must first both vaporize and mix with the air before it can begin to burn
Why is there no throttle valve in diesel fuel systems?
air is always present in diesel systems, rather power is throttled by controlling the fuel amount;
throttle valve ⟶ controls the amount of air emitted into the cylinder
True or false:
The fuel must be injected into a CI engine at the precisely right time and under high pressure to penetrate, atomize and mix the fuel in the compressed air.
true;
timing is more critical in a CI engine vs. an SI engine
This type of engine has an initial ignition delay, followed by a rapid uncontrolled combustion, and then finally a controlled combustion.
CI engines
This type of engine has an initial ignition delay, followed by a second stage of combustion.
SI engines
What effect does having a low compression have on a diesel engine?
they never achieve the heat required to cause the fuel to ignite;
higher compression = higher air temperatures
Why are starting aids required on diesel engines to start them in cold weather?
the cylinders absorb much of the heat generated from the compressing air;
without start aids, the engine wouldn’t heat up enough to allow for combustion
This component of a CI engine fuel system meters the fuel and brings the pressure necessary to overcome the injector’s set pressure.
the injection pump
*this is a precise, accurately built, expensive piece of equipment
This component of a CI engine fuel system delivers the high-pressure fuel into the combustion chamber, and must open and close precisely while being able to withstand the heat and pressures of combustion.
the injectors
What are the three fuel lines found on injection fuel systems and what are their purposes?
- low-pressure suction line ⟶ moves fuel from the tank to the transfer pump to the injection pump
- high-pressure fuel lines ⟶ move fuel from the injection pump to the injectors
- return line ⟶ injection pump or injectors back to the tank
What kind of engine has an injection fuel system?
CI engines;
these fuel systems are designed to inject the fuel at high pressures into the combustion chamber
What are normally operating pressures seen on the high-pressure fuel lines on injection fuel systems?
1000 to 5000 psi;
be wary of injection injuries
What are the two common types of fuel injection pumps/systems?
- mechanical injection/mechanical control
- mechanical injection/electronic control
This type of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel system has one high-pressure pump plunger that distributes and pumps fuel to a distribution head, which is then diverted to each of the injector nozzles at each cylinder.
distributor fuel injection
What type of engines are distributor fuel injection systems found on?
small industrial and automotive diesel engines
This type of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel injection system is a self-contained unit that has its own cam and plunger for each cylinder.
inline fuel injection systems
On an inline fuel injection system, what does the governor linkage control in order to change the amount of fuel delivered to the combustion chamber?
the fuel rack (control rack)
When the control rack on an inline fuel injection system is adjusted, what happens to the plunger pumps?
it rotates the position of the plunger in its bore, which changes the position of the plunger helix port for when fuel is delivered to the injector changes;
this is known as the port and helix metering method
This type of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel injection system is similar to an inline system, except that the engine cam drives the pumping element through a pushrod mechanism.
unit fuel injection system
What are the three mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel systems?
- distributor fuel injection
- inline fuel injection
- unit fuel injection
What type of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel system uses the camshaft to drive the pumping element through a pushrod mechanism.
unit fuel injection system
What type(s) of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel systems use fuel racks to control the amount of fuel entering the combustion chamber?
inline fuel injection and unit fuel injection
- What types of mechanical injection/mechanical control fuel systems can be converted to use electronically controlled valves?
- How is this done?
- inline fuel injection and unit fuel injection systems
- by timing the fuel delivery by electronically opening and closing the needle valve in the injectors
What should be done in order to depressurize a high pressure injection fuel system?
isolate the fuel pump and run the engine until it stalls from lack of fuel
this burns off most of the fuel pressure inside the engine
How long should a CI engine be cranked over in order to ensure that any remaining pressure is cleared from the system after the system has been isolated and run until stall?
20 to 30 seconds;
this clears most or all the remaining pressure
What is the function of the induction system on an engine?
supply clean air at the proper temperature and quantity
What effect does inadequate air supply have on an industrial engine?
excessive fuel consumption and a loss in power
What should the intake air temperature be at for maximum efficiency of an engine?
between 15℃ (60℉) and 32℃ (90℉)
What effect does air that is too hot have on an engine?
power drops off (air is less dense = lean mixture)
What effect does air that is too cold have on an engine?
reduced compression temperatures, which results in poor fuel ignition and thermal shock to the engine
This component of an engine induction system is installed before the air cleaner to increase the service intervals of the air cleaner.
pre-cleaners
What is the most common type of filter found on induction systems on engines?
dry air filters ⟶ these tend to use pleated paper as the filtering medium
What is the efficiency of dry air filters?
99%
This component of an engine induction system directs air so that it must take a sharp corner, at which point the air encounters oil, which catches the dirt particles in the air.
oil bath air cleaners
What is the efficiency of oil bath air cleaners?
95% to 98%
What effect does using the improper viscosity of oil have on an oil bath air cleaner?
the cleaning ability will be reduced
This engine induction system component doesn’t use an element, rather it uses the speed of the air passing through a tube with a spiral inside to throw the dirt particles to the outside edge, where they are collected and emptied by a Venturi mechanism into the exhaust stack.
spiral rotor air cleaners
What is the most accurate method of measuring air cleaner restriction?
water manometer
How can dry air cleaner elements be cleaned?
by blowing them out with compressed air
- What is the maximum amount of sludge that should be allowed to accumulate in an oil bath cleaner before cleaning the filter?
- How can oil bath air cleaners be cleaned?
- no more than 1/2 of an inch
- cleaning/replacing the oil
What effect does having an oil bath air cleaner that is too small for the engine have on the filter?
oil can pull over into the engine
What effect does having an oil bath air cleaner that is too larger for the engine have on the filter?
it does not filter well due to reduced velocity
What are the two types of U-tube manometers?
- water-filled
- mercury-filled
This type of engine induction method relies on atmospheric pressure to push air into the cylinders.
natural aspiration
VE = less than 100%
This type of engine induction method uses some sort of mechanical means to push air into the cylinder.
artificially aspiration
VE = over 100%
What does supercharging or boost pressure refer to on an engine?
charging the air in the cylinder to above atmospheric pressure