Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 1

Scavenging (Two-stroke engines)

The distinguishing feature of the two-stroke method of operation is

that every outward stroke of the piston is a working, or expansion
stroke. Such operation is made possible by the fact that the pumping
function is not carried out in the working cylinder but is accomplished
in a separate mechanism called a scavenging pump.
In all commercial two-stroke engines air, or fuel-air mixture, is
supplied to the inlet ports at a pressure higher than exhaust system
pressure by means of a scavenging pump. The operation of clearing
the cylinder of exhaust gases and filling it more or less completely
with fresh mixture is called scavenging.

Fig. 1: Two-stroke operation (Ref: Paul Dempsey).

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 2

Fig. 2: Two-stroke engine (http://www.howacarworks.com/)

Crankcase Roots Centrifugal

compression blower compressor

Fig. 3: Scavenging pump types (Ref: Heywood).

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 3

Types of scavenging:
1) Cross-scavenged

Fig. 4: Cross scavenging (Ref: Heywood).

2) Loop-scavenged
(a) Conventional
(b) Reverse

(a) Conventional (b) Reverse

Fig. 5: Loop scavenging (Ref: Heywood).

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 4

3) Uniflow-scavenged

Fig. 6: Uniflow scavenging (Ref: Heywood).

The scavenging process:

Scavenging

Compression

Blowdown
Crank angle

After the exhaust-ports open, the cylinder pressure falls rapidly in the
blowdown process. The blowdown angle is defined as the crank angle
from exhaust-port opening to the point at which cylinder pressure
equals exhaust pressure.
After the blowdown process the cylinder pressure usually falls below
exhaust pressure for a few degrees because of the inertia of the gases.

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 5

Soon after the exhaust ports begin to open the inlet ports are open,
and as soon as the cylinder pressure falls below the scavenging
pressure, fresh mixture flows into the cylinder. This flow continues as
long as the inlet ports are open and the inlet total pressure exceeds the
pressure in the cylinder. The crank angle during which both inlet and
exhaust ports are open is called the scavenging angle, and the
corresponding time is the scavenging period.
Exhaust port opening: The exhaust ports must open well before
bottom centre in order that the cylinder pressure be substantially equal
to the exhaust-system pressure before the piston reaches bottom
center and so that excessive blow back of burned gases into the inlet
system can be avoided.

Ideal scavenging processes

⇒ The fresh mixture would push the residual gases before it without
mixing or exchanging heat with them, and this process continues until
all the burned gases had been replaced with fresh mixture.
⇒ The ideal process fills the cylinder at bottom center with fresh
mixture at inlet temperature and exhaust pressure.
⇒ No fresh mixture escapes through the exhaust ports.

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 6

Actual scavenging processes

⇒ Fresh mixture mixes and exchanges heat with the residual gases.
⇒ Some portion of the fresh mixture is usually lost through the
exhaust ports.

Compression ratio
Compression ratio for two stroke engine,
maximum cylinder volume
rc = ←
minimum cylinder volume
cylinder volume at port closing
also, rc =
cylinder volume at top center
Scavenging ratio (Rs)
Scavenging ratio is the ratio of mass of fresh mixture supplied to the
ideal mass supplied.
Mass of fresh mixture or air supplied
Rs =
Ideal mass supplied
The mass of fresh mixture supplied in the ideal scavenging process
would be that which would just fill the cylinder at bottom center with
fresh mixture at inlet temperature and exhaust pressure.
mi
Rs =
N
  Vcyl ρ i
 60 
pe p M
ρi = = ~e i
R i Ti RTi
ρi = inlet mixture density at pe and Ti, kg/m3
m i = mass of fresh mixture, kg/sec
Vcyl = cylinder volume, m3
N = speed, rpm

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 7

pe = exhaust pressure, N/m2

Ti = inlet temperature
Mi = molecular weight of fresh mixture
R = gas constant
~
R = Universal gas constant = 8314.3 J/Kgmole.K
Subscript i = fresh mixture

m 
m
Now i = a (same volume)
ρi ρs
 a = mass flow of dry air per sec
m
ρs = density of dry air in the inlet mixture at Ti and pe.
mi ma
∴Rs = = (1)
N N
  Vcyl ρ i   Vcyl ρs
 60   60 
Now, pe = pa + pf + pw
ma
pa pa Ma 1
= = =
p e p a + p f + p w m a + m f + m w 1 + F ⋅ 29 + 1.6 ω
i
Ma Mf M w Mf

 
 
pa p a M a 29 p a 29  1 
ρs = = ~ = ~ = ~ pe (2)
R a Ti RTi RTi RTi  29 
 1 + Fi + 1 . 6 ω 
 Mf 
Fi = mass ratio of gaseous fuel to dry air upstream from the inlet
ports.
ω = mass fraction of water vapor in the inlet air.
⇒ For injection engines Fi = 0
⇒ For carbureted engine using a liquid petroleum fuel, the
correction factor is between 0.95 to 0.99.
⇒ Usually taken as unity.

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 8

~
ma ma RTi
∴Rs = ≅ ×
(N 60) Vcyl ρs (N 60) Vcyl 29 p e
Scavenging efficiency (ηs)
Scavenging efficiency (ηs) is defined as the ratio of mass of fresh
mixture retained to the ideal mass retained.
Mass of fresh mixture or air retained
ηs =
Ideal mass retained
m ′a
=
(N 60) Vcyl ρs
Scavenging efficiency indicates to what extent the residual gases in
the cylinder have been replaced with fresh air.

Trapping efficiency (ηT)

Mass of supplied mixture or air retained
ηT =
Mass of fresh mixture (or air) supplied
It indicates what fraction of the air (or mixture) supplied to the
cylinder is retained in the cylinder.

Ideal mass supplied =

ηs = η T ⋅ R s
(3) ideal mass retained

Power and mean effective pressure

ma
Rs =
Power, (N 60) Vcyl ρ s
 a (F Q HV η th ) = Rs (N/60) Vcyl ρs (F QHV ηth)
P=m (4)
Using Eq. (3)
ηs
= (N 60) Vcyl ρs (F Q HV η th )
ηT
Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 9

P = ηs (N 60 ) Vcyl ρs (F′ Q HV η′th ) (5)

F = Fuel-air ratio based on fuel and air supplied to the engine.

F′ = Fuel-air ratio based on fuel and air trapped (retained) in the
cylinder.
= F for engines scavenged with fuel-air mixture (SIE).
F
= for engines scavenged with air only (CIE).
ηT
ηth = Thermal efficiency based on fuel supplied.
η′th = Thermal efficiency based on fuel retained.
η
= th for engines scavenged with fuel-air mixture (SIE).
ηT
= ηth for engines scavenged with air only (CIE).

Mean effective pressure,

P P
mep = =
LA P N NVD / 60
60
Vcyl = VD + Vc VD = displacement volm., Vc = clearance volm.
Compression ratio, rc = Vcyl/Vc
 1 
 
 V   V V   rc 
= VD 1 + c  = VD 1 + c cyl  = VD 1 + 
 VD   VD Vcyl  Vcyl − Vc
 
 Vcyl 
 1   1 
   
 = V 1 + rc   1   r 
= VD 1 +
rc
= VD 1 +  = VD  c 
 1 D
 rc − 1   rc − 1   rc −1 
 1 −  
 rc   rc 

 r −1
∴ VD = Vcyl  c  (6)
 rc 
Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 10

P
mep =
NVD /60
Using Eq. (6),
P rc
∴ mep =
(N 60)Vcyl (rc − 1)
Using Eq. (4),
R s (N 60 )Vcyl ρs (FQ HV ηth ) rc
= P = Rs(N/60)Vcylρs(FQHVηth)
(N 60)Vcyl (rc − 1)
 r  η  r 
= R s ρs F Q HV ηth  c  = s ρs F Q HV ηth  c 
 rc − 1  ηT  rc − 1 
 r 
∴ mep = ηs ρs F′ Q HV η′th  c  (7)
 rc − 1 

Relationship of scavenging ratio (Rs) and scavenging efficiency (ηs)

ηs
ηs
ηT
ηs

(a) Perfect scavenging / ideal scavenging

(b) Perfect mixing (ηs)
(c) Perfect mixing (ηT)
(d) Complete short circuiting
Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 11

(a) Perfect scavenging:

⇒ No mixing and heat transfer of fresh mixture with residual gas.
⇒ No fresh mixture escapes from the cylinder. (ηT = 1).
∴ηs = Rs
Trapping efficiency always 1, i.e. for any value of scavenging ratio,
Rs.
Maximum value of Rs will be 1.

(b)(c) Perfect mixing / complete mixing:

⇒ The fresh mixture mixes completely with residual gases
(instantaneously and uniformly).
⇒ Residual gases are at the same temperature and have the same
molecular weight as the fresh mixture.
Let, xv be the volumetric fraction of fresh mixture in the cylinder at
any instant.
v be the volume of fresh mixture which has flowed into the cylinder
up to that instant.
Vcyl is the maximum cylinder volume.
Cylinder pressure is assumed to be constant = exhaust pressure.

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 12

Now,
Volume increase in fresh mixture in the cylinder = volume of fresh
mixture flowed in – volume of fresh mixture escaped.
⇒ Vcyl.dxv = dv – xv.dv
dv = volume of fresh mixture flowed in
= volume escaped (fresh mixture + residual)

⇒ dx v =
(1 − x v )dv
Vcyl
dx v 1
⇒ = dv
1 − x v Vcyl

Integrating,
v v
− ln (1 − x v ) = ⇒ ln (1 − x v ) = −
Vcyl Vcyl
− v Vcyl
⇒ 1− xv = e
− v Vcyl
∴ xv = 1− e

xv = ηs
v/Vcyl = Rs
⇒ ηs = 1 − e − R s ηs = ηT ⋅ R s
⇒ ηT R s = 1 − e − R s
1 − e− Rs
⇒ ηT = (8)
Rs
(d) Short circuiting:
The short circuiting is when the fresh mixture flows through the
cylinder and out of the exhaust ports in a separate stream without
mixing with the residual gases or pushing them out.
⇒ A little fresh mixture would be trapped.
⇒ The scavenging efficiency (ηs) at any value of the scavenging ratio
(Rs) would be very low.

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 13

In this method, the fresh mixture initially displaces all the gases
within the path of short circuit and then simply flows into and out of
the cylinder along the path. Thus, initially scavenging (ηs) increases
with increase in scavenging ratio (Rs) and then remains constant once
the path has been displaced.

Power to scavenge (air)

Real compressor power,
 a (h 2 − h1 ) − Q
Pc = m
h1 and h2 = are the enthalpies measured before and after compression,
J/kg.
Q = Heat lost by the compressor per unit time, W
≈ 0 for high gas flow rates.
For perfect gas,
2 1
T 
 a c pa (T2 − T1 ) = m
Pc = m  a c pa T1  2 −1
 T1 
Ideal (adiabatic) compressor power,
 γ −1

  γ
 a c pa T1  2  − 1
p
Pca = m p2 = p i
 p1  
 
 γ −1

  γ
Let Yc =  2  − 1
p
 p1  
 
∴ Pca = m
 a c pa T1Yc

Adiabatic power Pca

Compressor efficiency, ηc = =
Actual power Pc

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 14

 a c pa T1Yc
m T1Yc
= =
 a c pa (T2 − T1 )
m (T2 − T1 )
T1Yc
∴ T2 − T1 =
ηc
T1Yc
 a c pa (T2 − T1 ) = m
Pc = m  a c pa
ηc
Using Eq. (1), ma
Rs =
(N 60) Vcyl ρs
R s N Vcyl ρs c pa T1Yc
Pc = (9)
60 × ηc
Engine mean effective pressure required to drive the compressor,
Pc
cmep =
NVD / 60
Using Eq. (9),
R s N Vcyl ρs c pa T1Yc R s Vcyl ρs c pa T1Yc
cmep = =
60 × ηc × (NVD 60 ) ηc × VD
Using Eq.(6),
R s ρs c pa T1Yc rc  r −1
cmep = ⋅ (10) VD = Vcyl  c 
ηc rc − 1  rc 
cmep = engine mean effective pressure required to drive the
compressor.
T1 = compressor inlet temperature (usually atmospheric).
p1 = compressor inlet pressure (atmospheric).
 γ −1

  γ
Yc =   − 1
p i
 p1  
 

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 15

pi = compressor outlet pressure

= cylinder inlet pressure.
# Prob 1
A single-cylinder two-stroke carbureted gasoline engine of 8.26 cm
bore and 11.43 cm stroke with compression ratio 8 is running at 2500
rpm when the following measurements are made:
Indicated power = 17.15 kW, fuel-air ratio = 0.08, engine inlet
temperature, Ti = 71oC, exhaust pressure, pe = 102 kPa, indicated
thermal efficiency based on fuel retained, η′thi = 0.288. Compute
scavenging efficiency, ηs. Heat of combustion of gasoline fuel, QHV =
~
44240 kJ/kg, molecular weight of gasoline fuel, Mf = 113, R = 8314.3
J/kg mole.K.
# Soln 1
π  8.26  11.43 3
2

VD =   × m = 6.11×10-4 m3
4  100  100
 r 
Vcyl = VD  c  = 6.98×10-4 m3
 rc − 1 
 
 
29  1 
Now, ρs = ~ p e
RTi  29 
 1 + F i + 1 . 6 ω 
 Mf 
ω = 0, Fi = F = F′ = 0.08 (gasoline engine).
 
29 × 102 × 1000  1 
ρs =   = 1.01 kg/m3
8314.3(273 + 71)  1 + 0.08 × 29 + 1.6 × 0 
 
 113 
Indicated power,
IP = ηs (N 60 ) Vcyl ρ s (F′ Q HV η′thi ) (5)
2500
⇒ 17.15(kW ) = ηs × × 6.98 × 10 −4 × 1.01 × 0.08 × 44240 × 0.288
60
⇒ ηs = 0.57 ◄
Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 16

# Prob 2
A two-stroke diesel engine of 12.7 cm bore, 15.24 cm stroke,
compression ratio 15 is running at 1800 rpm when the following
measurements are made:
Fuel flow = 7.26 kg/hr, inlet air temperature, Ti = 21oC, exhaust
pressure, pe = 103 kPa, trapped fuel-air ratio, F′ = 0.04. Compute the
scavenging efficiency.
# Soln 2
Fuel flow rate
 ′a =
The mass of air retained, m
Trapped fuel/air ratio
(Fuel flow = fuel trapped for diesel engine)
7.26
= = 181.5 kg/hr
0.04
π  12.7  15.24
2

Displacement volume, VD =   × = 1.93×10-3 m3

4  100  100

 r  15
Maximum volume, Vcyl = VD  c  = 1.93 × 10 −3 × = 2.07×10-3 m3
 rc − 1  14

 
 
29  1 
Now, ρs = ~ p e
RTi  1 + F 29 + 1.6ω 
 i 
 Mf 
ω = 0, Fi = 0 (diesel engine).
 
29 × 103 × 1000  1 
ρs =   = 1.22 kg/m3
8314.3(273 + 21)  1 + 0 × 29 + 1.6 × 0 
 
 113 
Mass of fresh mixture or air retained  ′a
m
Scavenging, ηs = =
Ideal mass retained (N / 60)Vcylρs
Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam
Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 17

1
181.5 ×
= 60 × 60 = 0.665 ◄
(1800 60)2.07 × 10 −3 × 1.22

# Prob 3
Compute the compressor mean effective pressure required for 2 stroke
diesel engine with compression ratio 17, inlet air temperature 49oC,
inlet pressure 136 kPa. Scavenging ratio is 1 and compressor
efficiency 0.75. cpa = 1005 J/kg.K, atmospheric temperature 15.6oC.
# Soln 3
rc = 17, Ti = 49oC, pi = 136 kPa, Rs = 1, ηc = 0.75, T1 = 15.6oC, p1 =
101325 N/m2, pe = 101325 N/m2.
R s ρs c pa T1Yc rc
cmep = ⋅ (10)
ηc rc − 1

 
 
29  1 
ρs = ~ p e
RTi  1 + F 29 + 1.6ω 
 i 
 Mf 
ω = 0, Fi = 0 (diesel engine).
29 29 × 101325
ρs = ~ p e = = 1.1 kg/m3
RTi 8314.3 × (273 + 49 )

 γ −1
  0.4

  pi  γ
  136000 
Yc =   − 1 =   − 1 = 0.088
1.4

 p1    101325  
   
1 × 1.1 × 1005(15.6 + 273)0.088 17
cmep = ⋅
0.75 16
= 39774 N/m2 ◄

Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam

Department of Mechanical Engineering, CUET 18

References
Heywood, John B., Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals, 1988, McGraw-Hill Book
Com., Singapore.
Taylor, C. Fayette and Taylor, Edward S., The Internal-Combustion Engine (Vol. 1), 1966,
International Textbook Company, Pennsylvania.

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Applied Thermodynamics (Scavenging) Dr. Bodius Salam