Theoretical power generation and emissions, experimental validation, and educational application of an internal combustion engine

This thesis addresses the use of experimental means to validate the theoretical power generation and the resulting emissions of an internal combustion (IC) engine. The results of this work will be used to instruct undergraduate engineering students about IC engine theory and prove IC engine theory experimentally. A 2001 GM Saturn 1.9 Liter is the designated IC engine. Thermodynamic, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer calculations were performed based on engine geometry and laboratory environment to obtain theoretical power and emissions values. A test apparatus including a dynamometer, gas analyzers, and computer data acquisition systems was utilized to obtain experimental power and emissions data. The resulting experimental data show good correlation with the theoretical analysis. The error between the experimental data and the theoretical analysis was less than 2.7% for the maximum horsepower. The experimental data indicated the maximum horsepower was 0.32% greater than the published maximum horsepower according to Saturn [2]. The error between experimental emissions data and theoretical emissions values was 1.42%. The compiled data for multiple test parameters was used to create a laboratory for undergraduate engineering students. The laboratory will be used to calculate theoretical results, configure test apparatus, obtain experimental data, and compare theoretical results to experimental data