DOE-HDBK-1018/1-93Diesel Engine FundamentalsFUNDAMENTALS OF THE DIESEL CYCLEFUNDAMENTALS OF THE DIESEL CYCLEDiesel engines operate under the principle of the internal combustion engine.There are two basic types of diesel engines, two-cycle and four-cycle. Anunderstanding of how each cycle operates is required to understand how tocorrectly operate and maintain a diesel engine.EO 1.3EXPLAIN how a diesel engine converts the chemical energystored in the diesel fuel into mechanical energy.EO 1.4EXPLAIN how the ignition process occurs in a diesel engine.EO 1.5EXPLAIN the operation of a 4-cycle diesel engine, includingwhen the following events occur during a cycle:a.Intakeb.Exhaustc.Fuel injectiond.Compressione.PowerEO 1.6EXPLAIN the operation of a 2-cycle diesel engine, includingwhen the following events occur during a cycle:a.Intakeb.Exhaustc.Fuel injectiond.Compressione.PowerTheBasicDieselCyclesA diesel engine is a type of heat engine that uses the internal combustion process to convert theenergy stored in the chemical bonds of the fuel into useful mechanical energy. This occurs intwo steps. First, the fuel reacts chemically (burns) and releases energy in the form of heat.Second the heat causes the gasses trapped in the cylinder to expand, and the expanding gases,being confined by the cylinder, must move the piston to expand. The reciprocating motion ofthe piston is then converted into rotational motion by the crankshaft.Rev. 0ME-01Page 21
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