Did you know that diesel engines don’t have spark plugs? Thecycle that diesel engines undergo involves adiabaticallycompressing the air in the cylinder, then injecting some fuel. Whenthe fuel is injected it ignites if the temperature of the air inthe cylinder is above the fuel’s flashpoint. Most diesel engineshave a compression ratio (the ratio of the maximum to minimumvolume) between 14:1 and 25:1.
a) For the given range of compression ratios, what is the rangeof maximum temperature (in oC) of the air in the cylinder, assumingthe air is taken into the cylinder at 20oC?
b) Most gasoline engines today have compression ratios of 8:1.Explain why a diesel engine requires a better more efficientcooling system than a gasoline engine.
