Inside Knowledge about Diesel Engines

[jonathon arquette]

One of the most reliable internal combustion engines around is the
diesel engine. In many industrial installations, diesel engines are
used as prime movers for the generation of electricity and for
emergency air compressors.
It's true that they are rugged, but one of the most important
advantages of these engines is the fact that they can be started by
manual cranking. In remote areas, diesel engines can be counted upon
for starting up from scratch.
Once a small diesel engine is started, it can be used to drive a small
electrical generator that can then be used to produce electrical
supply for driving other machines like pumps, compressors, and for
lighting.
How does a diesel engine work?
First there must be combustion of fuel. As we have discussed in our
previous articles, combustion or burning of fuel occurs whenever there
is sufficient heat, fuel and oxygen. When conditions are just right,
combustion can be very rapid. Rapid combustion causes an explosion in
an enclosed area. This is because of the rapid built-up of hot gases
during the process.
In an internal combustion engine like a diesel engine, this rapid
combustion, and built-up of hot gas pressure is used to push a piston
away from the enclosed combustion space.
The piston is attached to a crankshaft through a connecting rod.
Because of this, the engine is able to convert the linear movement of
a piston to a rotating movement of a crankshaft.
The outward movement of the piston turns the crankshaft. However, the
momentum of the turning crankshaft forces the piston back again
towards the engine combustion space in a reciprocating movement.
Once the piston moves away from the combustion space, the pressure
drops. The next stage of operation depends on the design of the
engine. These can be either 2-stroke or 4-stroke designs.
Regardless of the type of design, the spent exhaust gas is first
driven out, and then new fresh air is drawn back into the combustion
chamber.
After this, the rotating crankshaft drives the piston to compress the
fresh air inside the combustion chamber. The piston acts as a
reciprocating compressor at this stage.
The compression of the air causes the latter to become hot - hot
enough to ignite finely distributed fuel particles.
At this moment, fuel is sprayed in at high pressure. The tiny sprayed
fuel particles form a mist inside the combustion chamber.
What do think will happen when you have heat, fuel and oxygen? A fire!
Each tiny particle of the fuel burns rapidly, and an explosion occurs.
The cycle starts again, and the crankshaft turns continuously, the
pistons move continuously, and the engine runs.
How does the engine know when to spray fuel, let in air, compress the
air, and exhaust the spent combustion product?
Well folks, start your engines.
Until next time...
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