Parts of Transformer - Electrical Diary

What is diesel engine?

A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel to power the engine. It works on the principle of compression ignition, where the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and ignited by the heat generated from the compression of the air in the chamber. The compressed air in the chamber causes the diesel fuel to ignite, generating power.

Diesel engines are known for their high efficiency and durability. They are commonly used in vehicles, construction equipment, generators, and ships. They are also used in some trains and power plants. Diesel engines are known for their high torque and low-end power, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications.

One of the main advantages of diesel engines is their high thermal efficiency, which means they convert a large percentage of the energy in the fuel into useful work. They also produce fewer emissions than petrol engines and are more fuel-efficient.

On the other hand, Diesel engines are usually more expensive to purchase and maintain than gasoline engines. They also tend to be louder and produce more vibration than gasoline engines. They also require a specific type of fuel, diesel, that may not be readily available in certain areas.

Working of Diesel Engine

A diesel engine works on the principle of compression ignition, where the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and ignited by the heat generated from the compression of the air in the chamber. The compressed air in the chamber causes the diesel fuel to ignite, generating power. The four-stroke diesel engine has four main parts: the intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. The intake stroke starts when the intake valve opens, allowing air to be drawn into the combustion chamber.

In the compression stroke, the air is compressed by the rising piston. The compression ratio of a diesel engine is typically much higher than that of a gasoline engine, typically between 14:1 to 25:1. This high compression ratio generates heat, and the temperature in the combustion chamber can reach 600-700 degrees Celsius.In the combustion stroke, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and ignited by the heat generated from compression. The fuel burns and generates power, pushing the piston down.

In the exhaust stroke, the exhaust valve opens, and the piston pushes the exhaust gases out of the combustion chamber and into the exhaust system. The power generated by the engine is transmitted to a crankshaft, which converts the linear motion of the pistons into rotary motion. This rotary motion is then used to power a generator, pump, or other mechanical devices. Diesel engines are known for their high efficiency and durability. They are also known for their high torque and low-end power, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications.

Types of Diesel Engine

There are several types of diesel engines, some of which are given below:

• Two-stroke diesel engine: This type of diesel engine completes a power cycle in two strokes of the piston. They are typically smaller and simpler in design than four-stroke diesel engines, but they are less efficient and produce more emissions.
• Four-stroke diesel engine: This type of diesel engine completes a power cycle in four strokes of the piston. This is the most common type of diesel engine and is used in a wide range of applications, including cars, trucks, and heavy equipment. They are more efficient and produce fewer emissions than two-stroke diesel engines.
• Compression-ignition diesel engine: This type of diesel engine uses compression to ignite the fuel, rather than spark ignition. It's the most common type of diesel engine and is used in a wide range of applications.
• Dual-fuel diesel engine: This type of diesel engine can run on both diesel and natural gas. They are used in heavy-duty vehicles and industrial equipment to reduce emissions and fuel costs.
• High-speed diesel engine: This type of diesel engine is designed to operate at high speeds and is used in applications such as ships, power plants, and large generators.
• Low-speed diesel engine: This type of diesel engine is designed to operate at low speeds and is used in applications such as marine propulsion and power generation.
• Inline diesel engine: This type of diesel engine has cylinders arranged in a line, parallel to the crankshaft. They are commonly used in cars and light trucks.
• V-type diesel engine: This type of diesel engine has the cylinders arranged in a "V" shape, with the angle of the "V" varying depending on the number of cylinders. They are commonly used in larger vehicles such as trucks and buses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Diesel Engine

Diesel engines have several advantages and disadvantages compared to other types of internal combustion engines, such as gasoline engines.

Advantages of diesel engines:

• Fuel efficiency: Diesel engines are more fuel efficient than gasoline engines. They can achieve fuel efficiency of around 30-40%, while gasoline engines are typically only 20-30% efficient.
• Torque: Diesel engines produce more torque at lower RPMs than gasoline engines, which makes them ideal for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses.
• Durability: Diesel engines are known for their durability and long service life. They can run for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance.
• Emissions: Diesel engines emit lower levels of certain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, than gasoline engines.

Disadvantages of diesel engines:

• Cost: Diesel engines are typically more expensive to manufacture than gasoline engines, which can make vehicles with diesel engines more expensive to purchase.
• NOx emissions: Diesel engines emit higher levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which can contribute to air pollution and smog.
• Cold weather issues: Diesel engines can have difficulty starting in cold weather, and may require special equipment such as block heaters to function properly in cold climates.
• Fuel availability: Diesel fuel is not as widely available as gasoline, which can make it more difficult to find in some areas.
• Recent emission regulation: Diesel engines have been heavily scrutinized in recent years due to emission cheating scandals by some manufacturers. This led to stricter emission regulations which can make diesel engines less appealing in the market.

It's important to note that advances in technology have led to the creation of cleaner diesel engines that emit fewer pollutants. Some diesel engines currently in production have much lower emissions of pollutants like Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) than their older counterparts.