Course content

The main objective of the course is to give the students an introduction to internal combustion engines with emphasis on marine applications. The students will develop an understanding of the combustion processes, fuels used and emissions formed. There is an emphasis in the course on the environmental impacts alternative fuels in the marine sector may have.

The students will complete a "mini research project" using data collected on a lab engine. Students are expected to develop their own ideas in the mini project and develop their research and communication skills. Tasks during my project will include designing the research project, performing data collection, evaluating, reporting.

Learning outcome

The introduction to internal combustion engines and their environmental impacts is based on explaining processes and performance by application of first principles in:

• thermodynamics,
• combustion (chemistry, fuels, emissions),

This approach provides a basis for analyzing and understanding the complex interactions between subsystems and processes inside the engine system.

Upon completing the course, the student should be able to (Learning Outcomes): -

1. Describe and explain different types of reciprocating internal combustion engines (ICE), Lecture.
2. Their typical design features and performance characteristics. Lecture and project.
3. Describe and analyze the power cycle of internal combustion engines using ideal gas cycles, air cycles, and fuel-air cycles. Lecture.
4. Compute indicated power and thermal efficiency. Project.
5. Describe and explain the gas exchange process and power boosting by means of turbo charging. Lecture, Project.
6. Compute rate of heat release based on measured dynamic cylinder pressure. Project.
7. Explain the characteristic of homogeneous combustion in SI engines and spray combustion in CI engines. Lecture, Project.
8. Describe the basics of fossil derived hydrocarbons used in ICEs. Understand the fuel requirements of SI and CI engines. Lecture, Project.
9. Describe the main components of exhaust emissions and explain the mechanisms of emission formation. Project.
10. Describe methods for reducing exhaust emissions, and their relationships to fuel quality and engine performance. Project.
11. Describe some of the alternative fuels available for ICEs, where they are from and how they are made. Using the course learning outcomes on combustion, fuel requirements and emission formation start to build critical arguments for choosing different fuels in the real world. Lecture, Project

Lecture or Project denotes how this outcome will mostly be delivered.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures which should be attended physically.

Project work - mini research project

Compulsory assignments-Obligatory exercises/sessions

• There will be two lab sessions which are mandatory as this will be when the students learn how to operate the rig, which they will need to do to collect the data for their project. Students must submit notes from lab sessions, detail the rig, draw scheme, detail the parts and measurement techniques used.
• 5 exercise sessions - must be attended at least 4 out of the 5 followed by submission of exercises. This will be where students need to apply some of the thermodymnics theory and calculations.
• Experimental design session - this will be a session to develop a hypothesis which can be tested in the lab - such as impact on efficiency or emissions for different fuel or different operations. Experimental matrix will be developed in this time. Students must submit an experimental plan for the project.

Compulsory assignments

• Completion of 8 assignments

Recommended previous knowledge

TEP4120 Thermodynamics 1 or similar.

Course materials

Specified at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions