MEEN421-501 Homework Assignment #3

Due: Sunday, Sept. 17th at 11:59PM on eCampus as single PDF document (see Homework
Guidelines and class syllabus)
Topic: Dual cycle

Introduction: One of the best-selling cars in the United States is the Ford F-150 truck. One of the
popular engines options for this vehicle is a four-stroke, eight-cylinder gasoline engine (V8 5.0L Vi-TCT,
video: http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/features/Feature12/#page=Feature12). In this homework we will
develop a thermodynamic model for the vehicle and engine and compare fuel economy when cruising at
60 miles per hour on a level highway with manufacturers specifications for highway fuel economy.

Ford V8 5.0L Vi-VTC Engine (http://assets.forddirect.fordvehicles.com/assets/2013_Ford_F-

150_J1/NGBS/Nameplate_SpecificationLiteDoc/Nameplate_SpecificationLiteDoc_8801F25B-0086-D9E0-2D80-
8A872D808A87.pdf)

Problem #1: We must first develop a model for the forces acting on the vehicle. We will assume the total
force is the sum of the aerodynamic drag, and rolling resistance using the following values:

Cruising Speed: 60 miles per hour

Crankshaft Speed: 2400 RPM
Drag Coefficient (CD): 0.39
Frontal Area (Af): 35.1 ft2
Vehicle Weight: 5,000 lbf
Coef. Of Rolling Friction (): 0.01
Mechanical Transmission Efficiency 90%

Using this information, estimate a) the total force resisting motion of the vehicle (lbf), b) the engine power
required to maintain constant speed of 60 mph (hp).

Problem #2 (Basic Model): For the simplest model of the engine, we will assume an ideal Otto cycle with
constant specific heat at standard temperature, and that gasoline has a heating value of 18,600 Btu/lbm
(heat produced per unit mass of fuel burned in combustion). Using these assumptions, determine the
highway fuel economy of the vehicle (miles-per-gallon, mpg).
Problem #3 (Dual cycle combustion process): We will now consider the dynamic effects of the
combustion stroke. We will assume combustion begins at TDC and occurs as part isometric, and part
isobaric. For the isobaric portion, we will assume combustion ends when the flame has spread from the
center of bore to the cylinder wall with a flame speed for air-gasoline vapor mixture of 20 m/s. From this
information determine: a) the time required for the flame to travel from the center to the edge of the bore,
b) the degrees of crankshaft rotation from TDC for the time found in part a, c) the cutoff ratio
corresponding to the crankshaft advance found in part b.

Problem #4 (Dual cycle vehicle model with friction). We will now model the engine using a non-ideal
dual cycle with a cutoff ratio as determined above. The power and compression strokes each have an
efficiency of 85%, but you may neglect irreversibility during the combustion stroke (has negligible effect
on the result). Using this advanced model, determine the fuel economy in mpg.