Combustion is a chemical reaction in which certain

elements of the fuel like hydrogen and carbon combine with oxygen liberating heat energy and causing an increase in temperature of the gases. The conditions necessary for combustion are the presence of combustible mixture and some means of initiating the process. The process of combustion in engines generally takes place either in a homogeneous or a heterogeneous fuel vapourair mixture depending on the type of engine.

HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURE In spark ignition engines a nearly homogeneous mixture of air and fuel is formed in the carburettor . Homogeneous mixture is thus formed outside the engine cylinder and the combustion is initiated inside the cylinder at a particular instant towards the end of the compression stroke. HETEROGENEOUS MIXTURE In a heterogeneous mixture the rate of combustion is determined by the velocity of mutual diffusion of fuel vapours and air and the rate of chemical reaction is of minor importance.

Combustion in spark-ignition engines

STAGES OF COMBUSTION IN SI ENGINES

IGNITION LAG 2. FLAME PROPAGATION 3. AFTER BURNING
1.

IGNITION LAG
The first stage of combustion is referred to as the ignition

lag or preparation phase in which growth and development of a self propagating nucleus of flame takes place.

It is a chemical process depending upon both temperature

and pressure, the nature of the fuel and the proportion of the exhaust residual gas.

FACTORS AFFECTING IGNITION LAG PERIOD

Air-fuel ratio
Compression ratio Cooling water temperature

Type of fuel
Amount of fuel

FLAME PROPAGATION
It is a physical process.
It is concerned with the spread of the flame

throughout the combustion chamber. The starting point of the second stage is where the first measurable rise of pressure is seen on the indicator diagram. This can be seen from the deviation from the motoring curve.

FACTORS AFFECTING FLAME PROPAGATION

Air-fuel ratio

Engine speed
Compression ratio

AFTER BURNING
The starting point of the third stage is

usually taken as the instant at which the maximum pressure is reached on the indicator diagram. The flame velocity decreases during this stage. No pressure rise during this stage.

MASS FRACTION BURNT

 MASS FRACTION BURNT=

(Heat released in 1 degree crank angle)/(Total heat released) At completion of flame propagation mass fraction burnt= 0.65

KNOCKING IN SI ENGINE
Due to pressure difference between burnt and unburnt mixture,

unburned mixture will be compressed and heat exchange will take place, mixture will reach to its self ignition temperature. If the temperature of the unburned mixture exceeds the self ignition temp. of the fuel and remains at or above this temperature during the period of preflame reactions, it will result in knocking.

TO REDUCE KNOCK IN SI ENGINES

TWIN SPARK PLUG
SMALL DIAMETER OF CYLINDER HIGHER OCTANE NUMBER FUEL REDUCING HOT SPOTS USE OF LEAD IN PETROL

COMBUSTION IN COMPRESSIONIGNITION ENGINES

STAGES OF COMBUSTION IN CI ENGINES

IGNITION DELAY 2. UNCONTROLLED COMBUSTION 3. CONTROLLED COMBUSTION 4. AFTER BURNING
1.

IGNITION DELAY
The ignition delay period is also called the preparatory

phase period during which some fuel has already been admitted but has not yet ignited. It is counted from the start of injection to the point where the pressure-time curve separates from the motoring curve. PHYSICAL DELAY-It is the time between the beginning of injection and the attainment of chemical reaction conditions. CHEMICAL DELAY-During the chemical delay, reactions start slowly and then accelerate until ignition takes place.

UNCONTROLLED COMBUSTION
It is also known as the period of rapid combustion.
It is that phase in which pressure rise is rapid. The period of rapid combustion is counted from end

of delay period to the point of maximum pressure on the indicator diagram. The rate of heat release is maximum during this period. Pressure reached during uncontrolled combustion will depend on the duration of delay period.

CONTROLLED COMBUSTION
3rd Stage of combustion.
Rate at which fuel is entering the

cylinder is burned at the same rate. The period of controlled combustion is assumed to end at maximum cycle temperature.

AFTER BURNING
Last stage of combustion.
The unburnt and partially burnt fuel particles left in

the combustion chamber start burning during this stage. It starts from the point of maximum cycle temperature and continues over a part of the expansion stroke.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DELAY PERIOD

COMPRESSION RATIO
ENGINE SPEED INJECTION TIMING

QUALITY OF FUEL
INTAKE PRESSURE

KNOCKING IN CI ENGINE
Too long ignition delay, results in the accumulation of

large amount of fuel so that the rate of pressure rise is almost instantaneous when actual burning commences. Resulting in a jamming of forces against the piston and rough engine operation. Knocking occurs in the beginning of combustion in CI engine. To decrease the tendency of knock it is necessary to decrease the ignition delay.

TO REDUCE KNOCK IN CI ENGINES

SELF IGNITION TEMPERATURE
HIGH CETANE NUMBER HIGH COMPRESSION RATIO

HIGH INLET TEMPERATURE

COMPARISON OF KNOCK IN SI AND CI ENGINES

 In SI engines knocking is most likely near the end of

combustion while in CI engines knocking is at the start of combustion. Intensity of knocking or the rate of pressure rise in SI engines is likely to be more than that in CI engines. Long ignition delay period reduces knocking in SI engines while short ignition delay period reduces knocking in CI engines.