The Basics of Internal Combustion Engines e-Seminar

In this e-seminar, Dr. William Mark McVea covers the most relevant topics related to internal combustion engines - ranging from the chemistry of combustion to the kinematics of modern internal components. You will gain a practical, thorough approach to the basics of most common designs of internal combustion engines as they apply to the gaseous cycles, thermodynamics and heat transfer to the major components, and the design theories that embody these concepts.

The more than ten hour e-seminar is broken into ten modules including insights into two- and four-stroke cycles, principle operational differences of various fuels, timing and working relationships among internal components, limitations to current designs, and the evaluation of new designs.

Major topics include:

• Fundamental Operating Procedures[Total Run Time: 57 minutes]
  • Discuss and effectively differentiate between the basic differences and similarities of the two most common combustion cycle circuits
  • Correctly apply the various combustion/ignition technologies
  • Describe the function, purpose and design issues regarding the hardware and components that support the energy conversion scheme from fast burn combustion, to linear motion, and finally to rotating power source
• Engine Technology Development[Total Run Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes]
  • Apply the various operating cycles (i.e. 4-Stroke, 2-Stroke, etc.) correctly through selection of an engine technology appropriate for the intended application
  • Discuss the basic differences between spark ignition versus compression ignition technologies and correctly apply them to a given application
  • Explain the concept of 'fast burn' versus 'explosion' and define the difference between ignition and combustion
  • Describe the limitation of each of the operating cycle technologies and/or the combustion/ ignition systems
  • Explain in terms of specifications and appropriateness the fundamental differences and benefits between the stroked engine technology and the rotary eccentric cycle
• Fuel Delivery Systems[Total Run Time: 2 hours, 48 minutes]
  • Apply combustion theory and the use of the stoichiometric ratio as it applies to internal combustion, hydrocarbon based engines
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the fundamental principles of fluid dynamics as they apply to liquid/air flow regimes within a closed channel
  • Discuss the economics of emissions as this concept applies to the concept of 'Air/Fuel Ratio'
  • Discuss the principles, properties and value of fluid flow through a venturi and how it provides the motive force to pull liquids into a flow stream, and then to cause mixing within that flow stream
  • Correctly identify components within a carbureted fuel/air management system, and define their function and/or contribution to fuel management functions
  • Provide the same knowledge discourse on fuel injection systems and components
  • Realize the causes of emission production, due to the effects of design, operation and components of an engine
• Valve Train[Total Run Time: 50 minutes]
  • Describe all components associated with and adjacent to the valve systems within the modern internal combustion engine
  • Detail all of the relevant operational characteristics of the camshaft, which includes a technical description of its:
    • Function
    • Design
    • Benefits of various configurations
    • Use as an emission control device
• Component and Event Timing [Total Run Time: 29 minutes]
  • Define the relationship between camshaft and crankshaft positions
  • Explain the relative position of camshaft lobes
    • Theoretically
    • Volumetrically
    • Practical
  • Describe Valve Actuation Timing and its design compromise
    • Low engine rotational speed
    • High engine rotational speed
• Fuels and Combustion [Total Run Time: 53 minutes]
  • Knowledgeably discuss the chemical composition of hydrocarbon based fuels, specifically the:
    • Chemical constituents, chemical formula, the formulation process, the heat value and the expected potential energy of gasoline and diesel
    • Meaning and method of derivation of the 'Pump Number' rating for gasoline, and the difference between 'Pump Number' and 'Octane' as it is typically incorrectly applied
    • Value and use of 'Research Octane Number' and 'Motor Octane Number' as they apply to gasoline
    • Meaning and method of derivation of the 'Cetane' rating for diesel, its use as a measure of fuel heating value, and its application when selecting fuel grades as a function of environmental conditions (i.e. primarily temperature)< /li>
    • Main by-products of combustion of gasoline and diesel with standard air
  • Give a general description of the expected by-products of hydrocarbon based combustion
  • Describe the beneficial properties associated with the fluid dynamics of laminar flow regime and its effect on flame propagation rates
  • Define the concept of compression ratio and its effect on combustion efficiency and potential energy release from the fuel
  • Discuss the relationship between compression ratio and typical combustion head configurations, design guidelines, and interrelated effects
• Ignition[Total Run Time: 30 minutes]
  • Provide a comparison of spark ignition versus compression ignition
  • Give a general description of the spark ignition systems and components
  • Review the developmental history of ignition systems, their relative improvements and beneficial effect on emission reductions
  • Discuss authoritatively ignition theory, with specificity regarding the concepts of:
    • Normal ignition
    • Pre-ignition
    • Pre-detonation
  • Compare and contrast the benefits and detractors of the various heat ranges of spark plugs
  • Explain the need for and effect of ignition timing
• Emissions and Controls[Total Run Time: 51 minutes]
  • Provide a brief narrative of the formation and levels of emissions produced within an internal combustion engine
  • Explain the functional aspect of all components related to the control of the amount of emissions produced, specifically the control systems used:
  • Passive
  • Active
  • Prior to formation
  • After treatment
  • Contribute to a discussion of the developmental examinations of:
  • Valve timing as an emission control system
  • Variable camshaft actuation
  • Variable valve actuation
  • Appreciate the functional meaning of thermodynamics as a means to quantify efficiency measures
• Thermodynamics[Total Run Time: 5 minutes]
  • Understand the thermodynamic principles and definitions of some of the more practical commonly employed cycles:
    • Otto Cycle
    • Diesel Cycle
    • Mixed Cycle
    • Atkinson Cycle
  • Appreciate the applicability of the fundamentals of thermal management, as well as the use of these concepts as a means to predict performance
• Energy Conversion Kinematics and Mechanisms [Total Run Time: 42 minutes]
  • Explain the various components of hardware of the bottom half of a motor
  • Define the movable parts of the cylinder:
  • Pistons
  • Connecting Rod
  • Crankshaft
  • Balancer
  • Define balancing theory

About the Instructor: William Mark McVea
Dr. William Mark McVea, P.E., is currently Chief Technology Officer for Torvec, Inc., an industry leader in the design and development of patented powertrain engineering technology used primarily in the automotive industry. He is also President and Principal Engineer of KBE⁺, Inc. where Dr. McVea and his team design and develop complete powertrains for automotive and off-highway vehicles. His prior positions include Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Powertrain Sciences in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology and adjunct professor at Purdue University in their Automotive Sciences Department. He was also formerly a manager of the CAE group within a tier-one powertrain supplier to global automotive markets, a consulting engineer in vehicle dynamics with Gear Consultants, Inc., and a project manager of traction systems for off-highway vehicles with Clark-Hurth International.

Dr. McVea has published extensively on the topics of transmission systems, automated design assistant systems, knowledge systems and knowledge based engineering in general. He also holds or is listed as co-inventor on numerous patents related to mechanical power transmissions. Dr. McVea holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in Design Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Is this e-Seminar for You?
If you are a powertrain engineer, component supplier, vehicle platform powertrain development specialist, or involved in the application, design and discussion of engines, this e-Seminar is for you. It is recommended that e-seminar viewers have an undergraduate engineering degree.

About e-Seminars
SAE "e-Seminars" are electronically delivered seminars featuring full-motion video illustrated with synchronized presentation slides. e-Seminars are based on some of SAE's most highly attended and rated classroom seminars.

Convenient & Portable Learning
Convenient and portable, SAE e-Seminars offer a new way to receive the same instruction as live classroom learning without the expense of travel and time away from the workplace. Using a laptop or PC with an Internet connection, you can view individual modules at your own pace, at times convenient to you.You can even e-mail your questions to SAE for instructor reply.

• 365 days of access (from date of purchase) to the 10 hour course
• Links to streaming video modules
• Course Handbook (downloadable, .pdf's, subject to DRM)
• Online Pre-test (self-test, immediate results)
• Online Post-test (submit to SAE)
• 1.0 CEUs*/Certificate of Achievement (with satisfactory post-test score)

Equipment Requirements

• Windows 2000, XP, 7 (Not currently supported by Windows Vista)
• Pentium III PC
• Minimum 128 MB RAM; recommended 256 MB RAM
• IE 6 & above browser recommended (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Unix/Linus based browsers are not currently supported)
• Adobe Flash Player 8.0 & above
• Broadband-128Kbps and above
• 1024 X 768 Screen Resolution
• Sound Card/Speakers

Available in Single-User packages. Quantity discounts for six or more students and Site License options also are available - complete a Corporate Learning Solutions Request Form for a quote.

For more detail, email CustomerService@sae.org; or call
1-877-606-7323 (U.S. and Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside US and Canada).