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The performance characteristics of naturally aspirated 4-stroke cycle engines are influenced by the through-flow or exchange of fresh charge for exhaust gas during the valve overlap period. During this gas exchange period the influence of unsteady wave effects in both inlet and exhaust systems are most important. Pressure-time histories were measured at various tract locations for four inlet/exhaust configurations to demonstrate the effects of wave action on performance. The good correlation shown between measured and predicted pressure-time histories suggested that the theoretical technique may be used in further design analyses with a high degree of confidence.

Previous publications from The Queen's University of Belfast have described the unsteady gas flow through a naturally aspirated two-cycle engine and the most recent of these have detailed the scavenge process, the combustion model and muffler design. It is thus now possible to predict the unsteady gas flow behaviour through and the performance and noise characteristics in this type of engine with a good degree of accuracy. This paper describes a mathematical model which has been formulated to simulate the action of the two-cycle engine fitted with a reed valve due to the unsteady gas dynamic behaviour in the inlet tract and makes comparisons with measurements. A complete simulation on the computer of a two-cycle engine fitted with a reed intake valve is thus now possible.

This paper attempts to illustrate some of the reflection characteristics of exhaust systems, suitable for piston ported, crankcase compression, naturally aspirated two-cycle engines. In particular, the application is even narrower, being concerned principally with those engines of the spark ignition, gasoline burning type where a high bmep is desirable. The two principal exhaust systems considered are the diffuser and the expansion chamber. Both are analyzed experimentally and theoretically and presented as measured and digitally computed pressure-time diagrams in simulated and actual engine exhaust systems. These are compared and discussed.

The theoretical modelling of the scavenge process for a naturally aspirated two-cycle engine is described and employed in conjunction with an unsteady gas dynamic analysis of flow in the engine ducting. Programmed for a digital computer, the results of this theoretical study are shown in relation to a 250 cm3 engine with values of predicted charging efficiency, scavenging efficiency, and delivery ratio given as a function of engine speed. These are compared with measured values of scavenging efficiency and the usual performance characteristics of power, mean effective pressure, delivery ratio, and specific fuel consumption. Also compared are the measured and predicted pressure diagrams taken in the cylinder, the crankcase, and the exhaust and inlet ducts. The design of a somewhat unique cylinder gas sampling valve of the mechanical type is described and its usage discussed both theoretically and practically.

Measurement of pressure-time histories in the exhaust system of a naturally aspirated internal combustion engine poses some difficult instrumentation problems. This paper describes an experimental and theoretical approach in tackling this research. The exhaust system is simulated by pulses of compressed air at a frequency of up to 4000 pulses/minute, that is, a 1 cyl 4 stroke cycle engine running at 8000 rpm. The pressure-time histories are calculated by digital computer in terms of the cylinder, exhaust valve, and pipe friction characteristics and compared with the experimental pressure-transducer records at various positions in the exhaust system.

The study of scavenge flow in two-cycle engines is of great importance in the development of that type of internal combustion engine and has been extensively covered by numerous researchers over the last half -century. Alfred Jante in SAE paper 680468 suggested an indirect and comparative test for the assessment of scavenge flow which he, and others, have shown to be both a simple and extremely relevant technique. The acquisition and reduction of data for this experimental method proved to be laborious and time consuming, and it is the purpose of this paper to show that it is possible to eliminate these tedious aspects by automation of both data recording and processing. This is described and examples of its usage are given.

A computer program has been developed which predicts the sound pressure level and the frequency spectrum produced by simple engine exhaust systems. The program utilizes unsteady flow gas dynamic theory to predict the pressure-time history in the exhaust system and the velocity-time history at the open end of the system. Acoustic theory is then used to predict the sound pressure levels and frequency spectrum in free space. The work was carried out on a twin-cylinder four-cycle engine, but the theory can be applied to any internal combustion engine.

This paper presents a single-cycle gas simulation of the scavenging process in a two-stroke cycle engine. The apparatus used is described in the most detailed fashion and the experimental procedure is covered completely. On the apparatus is placed some eleven differing cylinders of a Yamaha 250 motorcycle engine and the scavenging efficiency - scavenge ratio characteristics of each determined experimentally. The results of these experiments are compared with the known performance characteristics of the same eleven cylinders which were obtained under firing conditions for variations of power, torque, air-flow, fuel consumption and scavenging efficiency at several speeds and throttle positions. The correlation, between the ranking of the several cylinders determined on the scavenging simulation apparatus with the performance characteristics obtained under firing conditions, is very good.

The paper describes and lists the performance characteristics of a 400 cm3 single-cylinder two-stroke cycle engine with natural-aspiration, spark-ignition and carburetter control of gasoline fuel. The engine features an uncomplicated and unique system of stratified-charging which helps reduce the short-circuited loss of fuel during scavenging. With an untuned exhaust system the engine produces a peak power of 13 kW at 5500 rev/min and a brake specific fuel consumption which has a minimum of 0.265 kg/kWh but, more importantly, virtually the entire speed and load range is below 0.34 kg/kWh (0.55 lb/hp. hr). All performance characteristics at several throttle openings are presented at various engine speeds as a function of air/fuel ratio.

The emissions produced from a simple carburetted crankcase scavenged two-stroke cycle engine primarily arise due to losses of fresh charge from the exhaust port during the scavenging process. These losses lead to inferior fuel consumption and a negative impact on the environment. Pressure on exhaust emissions and fuel consumption has reduced the number of applications of the two-stroke cycle engine over the years, however the attributes of simplicity, high power density and potential low manufacturing costs have ensured its continuing use for mopeds and motorcycles, small outboard engines and small utility engines. Even these last bastions of the simple two-stroke engine are being challenged by the four stroke alternative as emissions legislation becomes tighter and is newly formulated for many categories of engines. A simple solution is described which reduces short circuit and scavenge losses in a cost effective way.

An experimental and theoretical investigation to minimise the hydrocarbon emissions from a 25 cm3 two-stroke engine with finger transfer ports is described. Finger ports have the side of each passage closest to the cylinder axis open to the cylinder bore making it possible to produce high-pressure die castings with the simplest of dies. Cylinders utilising this type of porting are believed to have inferior scavenging characteristics compared to those using closed or cup-handle porting. The effects of cylinder scavenging characteristics and port optimisation on engine performance were examined using a computer simulation. It is concluded that there is potential for a 70% reduction in exhaust hydrocarbon emissions through scavenging efficiency improvements and port optimisation, provided the cylinder scavenging can be developed to match that of the best existing unconventional crossflow scavenged designs.

At the 1999 SETC meeting, a paper presented a simple, tuned and silenced exhaust system for a two-stroke engine which theoretically reduced both noise and exhaust emissions and increased engine power and fuel efficiency. In this paper that design concept is applied to a small 56 cc industrial engine and experimentally shown to deliver the projected behaviour which was predicted in that earlier publication. Experimental test results are presented for power output, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions to illustrate these statements. An accurate engine simulation software package (VIRTUAL 2-STROKE) is employed to model the entire two-stroke engine and to demonstrate not only its effectiveness as a design tool in this area but also that it can accurately predict the above-mentioned performance and emission characteristics.

Previous papers published by the author have described unsteady gas flow through a naturally aspirated two-cycle engine and the most recent of these publications details a theoretical modelling of the gas exchange or scavenge process for the cylinder of this type of power unit. This results in the ability to predict the trapped charge state, mass, and purity characteristics. With such information it becomes sensible to apply a closed cycle thermodynamic analysis to it and to further predict directly power, torque, and fuel consumption characteristics. This paper describes such a simple closed cycle analysis and compares the theoretical results of power, mean effective pressure, specific fuel consumption, and cylinder pressure diagrams with corresponding measured data from two engines.

From a theoretical analysis of the unsteady efflux from the open end of a simulated reciprocating internal combustion engine exhaust system a prediction of overall and one-third octave sound pressure levels in space, due to this gas flow, is produced. The predictions are compared with measured levels and show a high degree of correlation.

The application of in-cylinder multi-dimensional modelling to the scavenging process within the cylinder of a two-stroke cycle engine requires a prior knowledge of the flow entering that cylinder. Without this information, assumptions must be made which limit the accuracy of the theoretical simulation. This paper describes laser doppler anemometry measurements of transfer port efflux flow for a two-port loop scavenged test cylinder motored at 200 rev/min. The cylinder was externally blown to ensure scavenge flow into the cylinder over the entire transfer port open period. The test results indicate that the flow does not enter the cylinder in the port design direction, but varies as a function of port height during both port opening and closing. Comparison of motoring results with those obtained under steady flow testing of the same cylinder, shows adequate correlation, thereby justifying the use of steady flow information for dynamic simulation.

This paper describes a unique and uncomplicated method of stratified-charging a two-stroke cycle engine which assists in reducing the short-circuited loss of fuel during scavenging. Performance characteristics as presented were acquired from tests conducted on a 400 cm3 naturally aspirated, single cylinder, spark ignition two-stroke engine with carburettor control of gasoline fuel, the design and construction of the engine also being done at The Queen's University of Belfast. Using a tuned exhaust pipe, the engine produces a peak power of 16 kW at 5000 rev/min and has a minimum brake specific fuel consumption of 0.275 kg/kWh. Moreover, for the tests presented at full and quarter throttle openings, virtually all of the brake specific fuel consumption values are below 0.36 kg/kWh. Most of the performance characteristics shown at various engine speeds are as a function of air/fuel ratio. This paper is a continuation of that presented as SAE 830093.

This paper describes a theoretical and experimental investigation of the noise characteristics of some basic internal combustion engine exhaust systems. On the basis of a one-dimensional analysis of the unsteady internal flow, the treatment is extended to consider the noise radiated by the efflux of gas from the atmospheric termination of the tail pipe. Using a rotary valve exhaust simulator, experimental pressure-time histories and one-third octave noise spectrograms were obtained. These are compared with those calculated.

In 1968 Professor Alfred Jante published an SAE paper detailing a method of assessing the scavenging behaviour of a two-cycle engine. It was a simple technique involving motoring the engine and measuring the (cylinder head removed) velocity contours at the cylinder head level using pitot tubes. It attracted wide attention in industry, but with varying degrees of acceptance and results. This paper attempts to establish in a logical manner and with a considerable’ volume of experimental data that the method proposed by Jante has real relevance, but to obtain acceptable accuracy in terms of predicting good and bad scavenging for particular engine cylinders the results have to be analysed rather more carefully and completely than the approach adopted by Jante.

This paper reports on the use of mathematical modelling by the GPB method of pressure wave propagation through finite systems, for the design of prototype exhaust systems and silencers for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The motorcycle engine is the classic 1340 cm3 45° V-twin power unit. The design objectives were to gain mid-range power and torque without loss of performance at either end of the speed range and to design silencers which would enhance the performance and the noise image of the machine. The Queen's University of Belfast (QUB) (3)* employed their unsteady gas flow modelling techniques to the design of the system and its silencers to complement a new camshaft design from Crane Cams. The results of the use of these computer based design techniques are reported as performance characteristics of power and torque for the new design by comparison with the stock system.

This paper presents confirmation of the accuracy of prediction of an engine simulation model. The experimental data used to compare with the output of the simulation model are from a single cylinder four-stroke cycle engine and from a single-cylinder two-stroke cycle engine; both engines are naturally aspirated and use spark- ignition. In addition, for the two-stroke cycle engine, the experimental data includes two cylinders with different scavenging characteristics which induce variations of performance characteristics of up to 20%. The fundamentals of the theoretical approach have been presented before to SAE (1)* and this paper extends that theory by providing a detailed discussion on the inclusion of measured scavenging characteristics to enable the simulation model to predict the mechanism of the in-cylinder gas exchange process.