FUEL & FUEL SYSTEM
PROPERTIES OF FUEL
Fuel is a substance consumed by the engine to produce energy. The common fuels for
internal combustion engines are:
1. Petrol
2. Power kerosene
3. High speed diesel oil
4. Light diesel oil.
The important properties of these fuels are given below:
[Link] Name of fuel oil A. P. I. Specific Calorific value
degree Gravity kcal/kg B.T.U./lb
(i) Light diesel oil (L.D.O.) 22 0.920 10300 18600
(ii) High speed diesel oil (HSD) 31 0.820 10550 19000
(iii) Power kerosene 40 0.827 10850 19500
(iv) Petrol 63 0.730 11100 20000
QUALITY OF FUEL
The quality of the fuel mainly depends upon the following properties:
1. Volatility of the fuel
2. Calorific value of the fuel
3. Ignition quality of the fuel
Volatility: Volatility of fuel has considerable effect on the performance of the engine by
affecting the following:
(i) Ease of starting the engine.
(ii) Degree of crankcase oil dilution,
(iii) Formation of vapour lock in the fuel system,
(iv) Accelerating characteristics of the engine,
(v) Distribution of fuel in multi-cylinder engine.
In I. C. engine, all the liquid fuel must be converted into vapour fuel before burning.
High speed diesel oil is most difficult to vapourise. Vapourising temperature of high
speed diesel oil is higher than that of the petrol, hence the petrol vapourises quicker than
diesel oil in the engine cylinder. This helps in easy starting of petrol engines.
Calorific value: The heat liberated by combustion of a fuel is known as calorific value or
heat value of the fuel. It is expressed in kcal /kg of the fuel. The heat value of a fuel is an
important measure of its worth, since this is the heat which enables the engine to do the
work.
Ignition quality: Ignition quality refers to ease of burning the oil in the combustion
chamber. Octane number and cetane number are the measures of ignition quality of the
fuel.
(a) Octane number: Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability. The higher the octane
number, the more resistant the gasoline mixture is to knock. Improve performance and
mileage and even reduce carbon dioxide emission.
(b) Cetane number: The higher the cetane numbers the better the ignition quality of the
diesel fuel. The commercial diesel fuels have got cetane rating varying from 30 to
[Link] the fuel. More power, more miles/gallons, a longer engine life.
Detonation (Knocking): Detonation or engine knocking refers to violent noises, heard in
an engine, giving a pinging sound during the process of combustion. It occurs during
the process of combustion of the mixture within the cylinder after the ignition has taken
place. It is an undesirable combustion and results in sudden rise in pressure, a loss of
power and overheating of the engine. It is caused by improper combustion chamber, high
compression pressure, early ignition timing, improper fuel and inadequate cooling
arrangement.
Pre-ignition: Burning of air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber before the piston
has reached the top dead centre is called pre-ignition. Pre-ignition occurs when the charge
is fired too far ahead of the top dead centre of the piston due to excessive spark advance
or excessive heat in the cylinder.
FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM IN SPARK IGNITION ENGINE
The fuel supply system of spark ignition engine consists of:
(i) Fuel tank
(ii) Fuel filter
(iii) Sediment bowl
(iv) Fuel lift pump
(v) Carburettor
(vi) Fuel pipes
(vii) Inlet manifold
In some spark ignition engine, the fuel tank is placed above the level of the carburettor.
The fuel flows from the fuel tank to the carburettor under the action of gravity. There are
one or two filters between the fuel tank and the carburettor. A transparent sediment bowl
is also provided to hold the dust and dirt of the fuel. If the tank is below the level of the
carburettor, a lift pump is provided in between the tank and the carburettor for forcing
fuel from the tank to the carburettor of the engine. The fuel comes from the fuel tank to
the sediment bowl and then to the lift pump. From there the fuel goes to the carburettor
through suitable pipe. From the carburettor, the fuel goes to the engine cylinder, through
the inlet manifold of the engine.
Fuel system of spark ignition
engine.
CARBURETTOR:
The process of preparing an air-fuel mixture away from the cylinders of an engine is called
carburetion and the device in which this process take place is called carburettor.
Principle of carburettor: The basic principle of all carburettor design that when air
flows over the end of a narrow tube or jet containing liquid, some liquid is drawn into the
air stream. The quantity of liquid drawn into the air stream increases as the speed of air
flow over the jet increases and also the quantity is greater if the jet is made larger.
Function of Carburettor: The main functions of the carburettor are:
(i) To mix the air and fuel thoroughly
(ii) To atomise the fuel
(iii) To regulate the air-fuel ratio at different speeds and loads and
(iv) To supply correct amount of mixture at different speeds and loads.
FUEL SYSTEM OF DIESEL ENGINE
Fuel supply system of diesel engine consists of the following components
1. Fuel tank
2. Fuel lift pump or fuel feed pump
3. Fuel filter
4. Fuel injection pump
5. High pressure pipe
6. Over flow valve
7. Fuel injector
Fuel is drawn from fuel tank by fuel feed pump and forced to injection
pump through fuel filter. The injection pump supplies high pressure fuel to
injection nozzles through delivery valves and high pressure pipes. Fuel is
injected into the combustion chamber through injection nozzles. The fuel that
leaks out from the injection nozzles passes out through leakage pipe and returns to
the fuel tank through the over flow pipe. Over flow valve installed at the top of
the filter keeps the feed pressure under specified limit. If the feed pressure
exceeds the specified limit , the over flow valve opens and then the excess fuel
returns to fuel tank through over flow pipe.
Fuel tank
It is a storage tank for diesel. A wire gauge strainer is provided under the cap to
prevent foreign particles entering the tank
Fuel lift pump
It transfers fuel from fuel tank to inlet gallery of fuel injection pump
Preliminary filter (sediment bowl assembly)
This filter is mostly fitted on fuel lkift pump. It prevents foreign materials from
reaching inside he fuel line. It consists of a glass cap with a gasket.
Fuel filter
Mostly two stage filters are used in diesel engines
1. Primary filter 2. Secondary filter
Primary filter removes coarse materials, water and dust. Secondary filter removes fine
dust particles.
Fuel injection pump
It is a high pressure pump which supplies fuel to the injectors according to
the firing order of the engine. It is used to create pressure varying from 120 kg/cm 2 to
300 kg/cm2. It supplies the required quantity of fuel to each cylinder at appropriate time
Air venting of fuel system
When air has entered the fuel lines or suction chamber of the injection pump, venting
should be done properly.. Air is removed by the priming pump through the bleeding holes
of the injection pump.
Fuel injector
It is the component which delivers finely atomized fuel under high pressure to
combustion chamber of the engine. Modern tractor engines use fuel injectors
which have multiple holes. Main parts of injectors are nozzle body, and needle valve.
The needle valve is pressed against a conical seat in the nozzle body by a spring. The
injection pressure is adjusted by adjusting a screw. In operation, fuel from injection pump
enters the nozzle body through high pressure pipe. When fuel pressure becomes so high
that it exceeds the set spring pressure, the needle valve lifts off its seat. The fuel is forced
out of the nozzle spray holes into the combustion chamber.
During engine operation, the fuel is supplied by gravity from fuel tank to the
primary filter where coarse impurities are removed. From the primary filter, the fuel is
drawn by fuel transfer pump and is delivered to fuel injection pump through second fuel
filter. The fuel injection pump supplies fuel under high pressure to the injectors through
high pressure pipes. The injectors atomise the fuel and inject it into the combustion
chamber of the engine. The fuel injection pump is fed with fuel in abundance. The excess
fuel is by-passed to the intake side of the fuel transfer pump through a relief valve.
The main components of the fuel system in diesel engine are: (1) fuel filter (2) fuel lift
pump (3) fuel injection pump (4) atomisers and (5) high pressure pipe.
Two conditions are essential for efficient operation of fuel system: (i) The fuel oil should be
clean, free from water, suspended dirt, sand or other foreign matter, (ii) The fuel injection pump
should create proper pressure, so that diesel fuel may be perfectly atomised by injectors and be
injected in proper time and in proper quantity in the engine cylinder. Fuel should be filtered
before filling the tank also. If these precautions are followed, ninety per cent of diesel engine
troubles are eliminated.
