Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

AUTE 3450U Combustion and Engines

Laboratory 3

Performance Characteristics of a Two-stroke

Spark-Ignition Engine

Lab Instructor: Qi Shi

Winter 2017
1. Objective

The objective is to obtain operating and performance characteristics of a two-stroke spark-ignition engine
and study the relationships between various engine parameters.

2. Introduction

The performance of an engine is characterized by determining the output power P (or 𝑊𝑊̇𝑏𝑏 ) , torque M (or
τ) and specific fuel consumption (or sfc) be as a function of speed. These results are then often plotted to
yield the characteristic curves of the engine as shown in Fig.1. The performance of an engine can be
characterized under full-load or partial load. Full-load is the load that an engine can overcome without a
reduction in speed. The engine is operated with fully open throttle and the necessary fuel is made
available. The values determined over the entire speed range under different loads are the basis for the
curve progression of torque, output power and specific fuel consumption. Engines are rarely operated at
full load. Thus, measurements under partial load are also important. In this case, measurements are
carried out at constant speed and under various loads on the engine. With sufficient data it is possible to
establish performance characteristics for the engine using the partial load curves.

Fig. 1. Full load curves of a four-stroke spark ignition engine.

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3. Experimental setup and procedure

The experimental facility consists of a CT159 combustion engine basic module, an HM 365 universal
brake and drive unit and an experiment engine. A computer sampling system records the output of the
sensors on the engine and dynamometer (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Fully functioning experimental set-up

The CT153 engine in this experiment is an air-cooled single-cylinder 2-stroke engine with a membrane
carburettor. The engine is started with a recoil starter. The engine is mounted on a base plate using
vibration suppression devices to reduce the vibrations when the engine is in operation.

The engine has a membrane carburetor. The fuel to the engine is fed through a measurement tube that can
be used to measure the fuel consumption rate either manually or electronically. The measurement system
is filled using a standard fuel pump. The fuel is then fed to the engine through an interlock with a
connection for engines with a fuel return line. The temperature of the fuel is measured using a sensor.

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 Fig. 3. Layout of Two-Stroke Gasoline Engine

Fig. 4. Top View of Four-Stroke Gasoline Engine

The air drawn in by the engine first flows through a filter and then through a settling chamber with an
orifice to measure the flow rate. The flow then enters the engine through the air hose. The temperature of
the air was measured with a sensor. The air exiting the engine goes through the muffler before entering a
hose to the exhaust. The temperature of the exhaust gas was measured using a sensor.

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The engine was connected to an electric brake unit that acts as the dynamometer. The engine has been
equipped with a special adapter as it releases its power via a centrifugal clutch. A pulley is used to couple
the engine to the dynamometer. The brake is mounted on bearings. The torque is measured using a lever
arm that stops the brake from rotating. A photoelectric proximity switch on the motor shaft is used to
measure the shaft speed.

The outputs from the sensors are recorded using a data acquisition system. The software displays
measured parameters and parameters computed from the measurements, including the fuel consumption
rate.

Safety instructions

The equipment manual [1] includes the following safety warnings:

Personal safety

 Do not operate motor without attached exhaust hose. The end of the exhaust hose must be
fed to the outside at all times! Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and
fatal poisonous gas!
 Do not touch hot exhaust muffler or exhaust hose when motor is in operation! Risk of
burns. Allow motor to cool before carrying out repair or maintenance work.
 Never touch moving or rotating parts! “Risk of serious injury.”

Risks for unit and function

 Do not start the motor if petrol has escaped or if there is a strong petrol odour! Ventilate
room and remove any fuel spills! Check motor and fuel lines for leaks!
 Do not manipulate controller springs, rods or other parts to increase the speed.
 The flywheel cover is also used during operation to guide the air required for cooling the
motor! Do not remove the cover, as this will cause the motor to overheat!’

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4. Analysis

A number of operating parameters can be measured or calculated by testing the internal

combustion engine. These include:

1) The average piston speed 𝑈𝑈𝑝𝑝 :

𝑈𝑈𝑝𝑝 = 2𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 (m/s) (1)

where N is the engine speed (rev/min, rpm) and S is the stroke length (m).

2) The Displacement Volume 𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑 : the volume displace by the piston as it travels from BDC
to TDC;

𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑 = 𝑉𝑉𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 − 𝑉𝑉𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 (2)

For engine with Nc cylinders, we can calculate the displacement volume:

𝜋𝜋
𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑 = 𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐 ( 4 )𝐵𝐵2 𝑆𝑆 (3)

Where: B = cylinder bore (m)

S = stroke length (m)

Nc = number of engine cylinders

3) Air-Fuel Ratio(AF) and Fuel-Air Ratio(FA):

Air-Fuel Ratio and Fuel-Air Ratio are parameters used to describe the mixture ratio:
𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚̇
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 = 𝑚𝑚̇𝑎𝑎 (4)
𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓

𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚̇ 1
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 𝑚𝑚𝑓𝑓 = 𝑚𝑚̇𝑓𝑓 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (5)
𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎

Where: m a = mass of air

𝑚𝑚̇𝑎𝑎 = mass flow rate of air

m f = mass of fuel

𝑚𝑚̇𝑓𝑓 = mass flow rate of fuel

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4) Equivalence Ratio is defined as the actual ratio of fuel-air to ideal or stoichiometric fuel-
air
(𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹)𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠ℎ
Φ = (𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹) = (6)
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠ℎ (𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴)𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

5) Brake Power

𝑊𝑊̇𝑏𝑏 = 2𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋 (7)

Where 𝜏𝜏 is the torque (N.m)

6) Brake Thermal Efficiency

𝑊𝑊̇ 𝑊𝑊̇𝑏𝑏
𝜂𝜂𝑡𝑡ℎ,𝑏𝑏 = 𝑄𝑄̇ 𝑏𝑏 = 𝑚𝑚̇ (8)
𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑓𝑓 𝑞𝑞𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 𝜂𝜂𝑐𝑐

Where 𝑞𝑞𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 is heating value of fuel (for this experiment, we will use lower heating value)
R

(kJ/kg), 𝜂𝜂𝑐𝑐 is combustion efficiency (Here we assume η c =100%).

7) Brake Specific Fuel Consumption

𝑚𝑚̇
𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 = 𝑊𝑊̇𝑓𝑓 (9)
𝑏𝑏

8) Volumetric Efficiency
𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑎 𝑛𝑛𝑚𝑚̇𝑎𝑎
𝜂𝜂𝑣𝑣 = 𝜌𝜌 = 𝜌𝜌 (10)
𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑 𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑 𝑁𝑁

Where 𝜌𝜌𝑎𝑎 is air density evaluated at atmospheric conditions outside the engine (ρ = 1.181
kg/m3 at standard atmosphere conditions). For two-stroke engine, n = 1.

9) Specific Power
𝑊𝑊̇𝑏𝑏
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = (11)
𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝

Where 𝐴𝐴𝑝𝑝 is piston face area

10) Output per Displacement

𝑊𝑊̇𝑏𝑏
𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂𝑂 = (12)
𝑉𝑉𝑑𝑑

11) Specific Volume

𝑉𝑉
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝑊𝑊̇𝑑𝑑 (13)
𝑏𝑏

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 12) Specific Weight

𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊𝑊ℎ𝑡𝑡
𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 = 𝑊𝑊̇ 𝑏𝑏
(kg/kW) (14)

5. Engine technical data

The engine technical data from the equipment manual are:

Air-cooled one-cylinder spark ignition engine with external carburation

Weight approx. = 8 kg
Dimensions: 430 x 355 x 310 mm
Bore = 41.5 mm
Stroke = 32 mm
Output (approx.) = 1.32 kW @ 7000 rpm
Heating value of fuel = 44,000 kJ/kg
Stoichiometric air-fuel ratio for gasoline = 15.27

6. Lab Report, Calculations, Worksheet

Use the lab template for the lab report. Record various measurements using the Worksheet.

1) Using the data recorded and the appropriate equations, determine the unknown
parameters. Show all details in your calculations.
2) Create following plots: (a) Torque vs. engine speed, (b) Power vs. engine speed, (c)
Specific fuel consumption vs. engine speed, (d) Thermal efficiency vs. engine speed.
Engine speed should be in the horizontal axis.
3) Discuss the calculation results and the trends in plots.

7. References

1) Experiment Instructions, Equipment for Engineering Education, Gunt Hamburg.

2) Internal Combustion Engines: Applied Thermosciences, by C.R. Ferguson, A. T.
Kirkpatrick, Wiley, New York (2001).
3) Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engines, by W. W. Pulkrabek, 2nd
edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River (2004).
4) Thermodynamics: an Engineering Approach, by Y.A.Cengel, M.A.Boles 7th Edition,
McGraw-Hill (2011).

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WORKSHEET FOR TWO-STROKE GASOLINE ENGINE EXPERIMENT

Measured parameters Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5

Engine Speed N (rpm)
Torque τ (N.m)
Fuel Temperature Tfuel (°C)
Intake Air TemperatureTair (°C)
Intake Air Pressure Pair (kPa)
Volumetric Air Flow 𝑚𝑚̇ 𝑎𝑎 (L/min)
Fuel Consumption 𝑚𝑚̇𝑓𝑓 (kg/s)
Exhaust Gas Temperature Texh (°C)

Parameters to be calculated
Average Piston Speed, Up (m/s) Eq.(1)
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Displacement Volume, V d (m ) Eq.(3)
Air-Fuel Ratio, AF Eq.(4)
Fuel-Air Ratio, FA Eq.(5)
Equivalence Ratio, φ Eq.(6)
̇
Brake Power, 𝑊𝑊𝑏𝑏 (kw) Eq.(7)
Brake Thermal Efficiency, ηth,b (%) Eq.(8)
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption,
bsfc (g/kWh) Eq.(9)
Volumetric Efficiency, ηv (%) Eq.(10)
Specific Power, SP (kW/m2) Eq.(11)
Output per Displacement, OPD (kW/L) Eq.(12)
Specific Volume, SV (L/kW) Eq.(13)
Specific Weight, SW (kg/kW) Eq.(14)

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 Data for plotting

Brake Specific fuel

Engine Speed, Torque, Brake Power Consumption, Brake Thermal
N (rpm) τ (N.m) (kW) bsfc (g/kWh) Efficiency, ηth,b (%)

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