4/19/2013

Crank Effort Diagrams

Crank Effort Diagrams

Variation of torque of an engine crankshaft

The torque on an engine crankshaft varies considerably throughout
the working cycle, due to variations in the crank position, the pressure

Transformation Elements

in the cylinder and the inertia of the moving parts.

Crank Effort Diagram

Mean Torque

If the crankshaft torque is plotted against the crank angle, a turning

moment or crank effort diagram is obtained.

The net area of the diagram, shown shaded, represents the work done
during the cycle and the average height represents the mean torque
exerted (line AE).

Crank effort
diagram for a
single-cylinder
four-stroke
engine.

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Mean Torque

Mean Torque

If the resisting torque is uniform, this is equal to the mean engine torque if
the mean speed is to remain constant.

Engine torque > resisting torque (AB)

Engine torque < resisting torque (BC)

Engine speeds up;

Engine slows down;

At points of intersection (A, B C etc), Engine torque = resisting torque no

acceleration or deceleration:
speed is max. or min. at these points

A turning moment diagram for a four stroke cycle internal combustion

engine: In a four stroke cycle internal combustion engine, there is one
working stroke after the crank has turned through two revolutions, i.e.
720 (or 4 radians).

Note:
Since the pressure inside the engine cylinder is less than the
atmospheric pressure during the suction stroke, therefore a
negative loop is formed;
During the compression stroke, the work is done on the gases,
therefore a higher negative loop is obtained;

Turning Moment Diagram for a Multi-cylinder Engine

Note:
During the expansion or working stroke, the fuel burns and the
gases expand, therefore a large positive loop is obtained. In this
stroke, the work is done by the gases.

Turning moment diagram for a compound steam engine having three

cylinders and the resultant turning moment diagram:

During exhaust stroke, the work is done on the gases, therefore a

negative loop is formed.

The resultant turning moment diagram is the sum of the turning moment
diagrams for the three cylinders.

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Fluctuation of speed and energy

Fluctuation of speed and energy

The horizontal line AG represents the mean torque line. Let a1, a3,
a5 be the areas above the mean torque line and a2, a4 and a6 be
the areas below the mean torque line.

To keep the fluctuation of speed due to the variation of net

torque within acceptable limits, a flywheel is fitted to the engine
or machine shaft; its function is to act as a reservoir, absorbing
energy as speed increases and releasing energy as speed falls.

These areas represent some quantity of energy which is either added or

subtracted from the energy of the moving parts of the engine.

Fluctuation of speed and energy

Fluctuation of speed and energy

The excess energy available between the points of minimum and
maximum speeds is called the fluctuation of energy and this represents
the difference between the kinetic energies of the system at these
points.

Fluctuation of speed and energy

Coefficient of fluctuation of energy, CE

The work done per cycle is represented by the area of the rectangle
below the mean torque line and the ratio of fluctuation of energy to
work done per cycle is called the coefficient of fluctuation of energy.

If the maximum fluctuation of energy is U and 1 and 2 are the

maximum and minimum speeds respectively between the cycle, then

1
1
U I 12 - I 22
2
2

1
I ( 12 - 22 )
2

1
I (1 - 2 ) (1 2 )
2

where I is the moment of Inertia of the rotating parts.

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Coefficient of fluctuation of energy

The fluctuation of speeds, 1 - 2, is small in comparison with the mean
speed and, assuming that the variations above and below the mean
speed are equal,

1 2 2

Coefficient of fluctuation of speed

The ratio (1 - 2)/, is called the coefficient of fluctuation of speed.
Hence

(1 2 )
U
2

1
I x 2 (1 2 )
2

U I ( 1 2 )

Radius of Gyration, k
All rotating machinery such as pumps, engines and turbines have a
moment of inertia. The radius of gyration (k) is the radius at which we

Mean Kinetic Energy Stored in a Flywheel

Mean kinetic energy of flywheel

consider the mass (M) to rotate such that the moment of inertia (I) is

1 2
I
2

given by

I Mk

The crank effort diagram of an engine is shown below. A1 = 400 J; A2 = 800 J; A3 = 550 J;
A4 = 150 J. The speed range is 410 to 416 rev/min.
Calculate the following:
i. Coefficient of fluctuation of speed;
ii. Moment of inertia of the flywheel that would keep the speed between the given
range .
iii. Find the mass of the flywheel if the radius of gyration is 0.5 m.

1
Mk 2 2
2

The torque-angle diagram for a four stroke petrol engine is shown

below. The speed of the shaft must be maintained between 490
and 510 rev/min. Calculate the following:
(i)
moment of inertia of a suitable flywheel;
(ii)
mass of flywheel required if the radius of gyration is
to be 0.3 m.