Module 2 – Heat Engines, Electric Vehicles & Power

Transmission
Answers to Q.3 (a, b, c) and Q.4 (a, b) — 10 Marks Each

Q.3 (a) Working of a Four-Stroke Diesel Engine with P–V Diagram

A four-stroke diesel engine works on the Diesel cycle, also called the constant pressure cycle. In this
engine, only air is compressed during the compression stroke, and fuel is injected into the hot
compressed air near the end of the stroke through a fuel injector. Since the fuel ignites purely due to the
heat of the compressed air (and not by a spark), diesel engines are also known as Compression
Ignition (CI) engines. The engine completes one working cycle in four strokes of the piston,
corresponding to two revolutions (720°) of the crankshaft.

Fig: The four strokes of a diesel engine

The four strokes are described below:

1. Suction Stroke
The piston moves from TDC to BDC. The inlet valve opens and the exhaust valve remains closed. The
downward motion of the piston creates a suction effect and draws in pure atmospheric air (not a fuel-air
mixture) through the inlet valve into the cylinder. When the piston reaches BDC, the inlet valve closes
and the suction stroke ends.

2. Compression Stroke
The piston moves from BDC to TDC with both valves closed. The air trapped in the cylinder is
compressed adiabatically to a high pressure and temperature. The compression ratio used is very high,
typically in the range of 15:1 to 22:1. At the end of this stroke, the fuel injector sprays a fine mist of
diesel fuel into the hot compressed air, and combustion begins at (approximately) constant pressure.

3. Power Stroke (Expansion Stroke)

Both valves remain closed. The burning fuel-air charge expands and exerts a large force on the piston,
pushing it from TDC to BDC. This is the only stroke that produces useful work, which is transmitted
through the connecting rod to the crankshaft, causing it to rotate. The expansion of the gases is
adiabatic in nature. Near the end of the stroke, the exhaust valve opens and pressure falls at constant
volume.

4. Exhaust Stroke
The piston moves from BDC to TDC with the inlet valve closed and the exhaust valve open. The upward
motion of the piston pushes the burnt gases out of the cylinder through the exhaust valve. When the
 piston reaches TDC, the exhaust valve closes and the cycle repeats. Thus four operations (suction,
compression, power, exhaust) are completed in two revolutions of the crankshaft, with only one power
stroke per cycle.

Fig: P–V diagram of the Diesel (constant pressure) cycle

Representation on the P–V diagram:

• 1–2 (Adiabatic compression): Air is compressed from BDC to TDC; pressure and temperature rise
sharply, volume decreases.

• 2–3 (Constant pressure heat addition): Fuel is injected and burns at constant pressure; volume
increases as the piston starts moving down.

• 3–4 (Adiabatic expansion): The hot gases expand and push the piston to BDC — this is the power
stroke.

• 4–1 (Constant volume heat rejection): The exhaust valve opens and pressure drops suddenly at
constant volume.

• Line at atmospheric pressure: Represents the suction stroke (intake of air) and the exhaust stroke
(expulsion of burnt gases).
 Q.3 (b) Basic Layout of an Electric Vehicle (EV)
An Electric Vehicle (EV) uses one or more electric motors for propulsion, drawing energy stored in an
on-board battery pack instead of burning fuel in an IC engine. The basic layout and the function of each
component is shown below.

Fig: Basic layout of an Electric Vehicle showing component connections

Components and their functions:

• Charge Port: The socket through which the vehicle connects to an external charging grid to charge
the battery.

• Battery Charger: Converts the AC supply received from the charge port into DC to charge the battery
pack.

• Battery Pack: The main energy storage source of the EV; stores electrical energy as DC (commonly
Li-ion cells) arranged in series/parallel combinations.

• Battery Management System (BMS): An electronic system that monitors and protects the battery —
tracking its state, controlling its operating environment, and performing cell balancing.

• Power Converter (DC-DC): Steps the DC voltage from the battery up or down to the levels needed by
different vehicle systems.

• Power Inverter: Converts DC from the battery into AC to drive the electric motor; during regenerative
braking it converts AC back to DC to recharge the battery.

• Electric Motor: Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the wheels through the
transmission.

Q.3 (c) Advantages of Electric Vehicles

• Environment-friendly: No combustion of fuel means zero tailpipe emissions, helping reduce air
pollution.

• Renewable energy source: Runs on electricity, which can be generated from renewable sources,
unlike fossil fuels which are depleting.

• Cost-effective: Electricity is cheaper than petrol/diesel, and running cost is lower, especially when
charged using solar power.
• Low maintenance: Fewer moving parts than an IC engine, resulting in less wear and simpler, cheaper
repairs.

• Less noise and smoother motion: Absence of reciprocating engine parts gives a quiet and smooth
driving experience.

• Government support: Tax credits and subsidies are offered in many countries to encourage EV
adoption as part of go-green initiatives.
Q.4 (a) Gear Train and Working of a Compound Gear Train
Gear Train:
When two or more gears are made to mesh with one another to transmit power from one shaft to
another, the complete arrangement is called a gear train. The number of gears used, and the manner
in which they are connected, depends on the desired velocity ratio and the relative position of the shaft
axes. Gear trains are broadly classified as: Simple gear train, Compound gear train, Reverted gear
train, and Epicyclic gear train.

Compound Gear Train:

A compound gear train is one in which each intermediate shaft carries two or more gears (as
against a simple gear train where each shaft carries only one gear). Compound gear trains are used
whenever the distance between the driving and driven shafts is large and, at the same time, a large
speed reduction (or increase) is required, since a simple train with idler gears cannot change the overall
velocity ratio.

Fig: Compound gear train — Gear 2 and Gear 3 are keyed to the same shaft b

Working:
Gear 1 (on shaft a, the driver) meshes with Gear 2 (on shaft b). Gear 3 is keyed rigidly to the same shaft
b as Gear 2, so Gear 2 and Gear 3 always rotate at the same speed (N2 = N3). Gear 3 in turn meshes
with Gear 4 (on shaft c, the driven/output shaft). Power thus flows: Gear 1 → Gear 2 → (same shaft) →
Gear 3 → Gear 4.

Let N1, N2, N3, N4 = speeds and T1, T2, T3, T4 = number of teeth of gears 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively.

Gear 1 drives Gear 2: N2 / N1 = T1 / T2 ......(i)

Gear 3 drives Gear 4: N4 / N3 = T3 / T4 ......(ii)

Multiplying (i) and (ii), and using N2 = N3 (same shaft):

N4 / N1 = (T1 × T3) / (T2 × T4)

Speed ratio = Speed of driven / Speed of driver = (Product of teeth on driver gears) / (Product of
teeth on driven gears)
Thus, unlike idler gears in a simple gear train (which do not affect the velocity ratio), the intermediate
compound gears do change the overall velocity ratio, allowing large speed reductions/increases to be
obtained in a compact space.
 Q.4 (b) Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)
A Hybrid Electric Vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to run —
typically a conventional IC engine (petrol or diesel) combined with an electric battery and motor. An
ordinary vehicle derives power only from the IC engine, whereas a hybrid vehicle can draw power from
the IC engine, the electric motor, or both together. The two power sources may be arranged in series
(engine drives a generator that charges the battery which powers the motor) or in parallel (both the
engine and the motor can drive the wheels directly).

Fig: Main components of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Main components:
• IC Engine (Petrol/Diesel): Acts as the main source of power in most hybrid vehicles.
• Electric Motor: Converts electrical energy from the battery into mechanical energy to drive the
wheels.

• Electric Battery: Stores electrical energy and supplies it to the motor when required.
• Inverter: Converts DC stored in the battery to AC, since most hybrid vehicle motors run on AC.
• Electric Generator (used in series & series-parallel hybrids): Produces electricity when driven by the
IC engine, which is then used to charge the battery.

• Control Module: The most important component; it synchronizes and controls all the power sources
of the vehicle.

Key advantages:
• A smaller, more efficient IC engine can be used since the electric motor assists during acceleration.
• At low speeds the IC engine can be shut off completely and the electric motor alone drives the vehicle,
improving efficiency.

• Provides regenerative braking, which recovers energy during braking and stores it back in the battery.
• Results in lower emissions and better fuel mileage compared to a conventional IC-engine-only vehicle.