Compressed air for starting and injection is generally supplied by a three stage air compressor or a compressor in which the pressure is built up in three different steps, the second cylinder taking the air from the discharge of the first, and the third cylinder taking the air from the second, and compressing it to about 250 pounds above the compression pressure of the engine. Perfect scavenging is possible with this engine because of the large excess of air supplied during the suction stroke and the period of injection. On the marine type the air pumps and water circulating pumps occupy about the same amount of space as the condenser and circulating pumps of a steam engine having the same outputs. In a recent test made with an Atlas-Diesel engine it was found that 11 per cent of the output was lost in driving the air pumps or more than 50 per cent of the total loss by friction and impact.
Fig. 67. Cross-Section Through the Working Cylinders of the M. S. Monte Penado Two Stroke Cycle Diesel Engine. From the Motor Ship, London.
Unlike the ordinary gasoline engine in which an increase of speed increases the output in an almost direct proportion, the output of the Diesel engine decreases when the speed rises beyond a certain limit due to imperfect combustion at speeds much over 350 revolutions per minute. Because of this fact it has been practically impossible to apply the type to automobile service which ordinarily requires a speed of from 400 to 800 revolutions per minute under ordinary conditions. In addition to the speed limitations, the Diesel engine weighs approximately 70 pounds per horse-power against an average weight of 17 pounds per horse-power with the ordinary type of gasoline automobile motor. Of course these objections may be overcome in time, as the engine is only in its infancy, and the two stroke cycle Diesel has not yet been fully developed, but at the present time it does not seem probable that this engine will ever be an active competitor of the gasoline automobile motor, at least from the standpoint of flexibility.
As the Diesel engine depends entirely upon compression for its operation, it is necessary that all of the parts such as the pistons, valves, etc., shall be perfectly fitted and air tight under extremely high pressures. The careful workmanship required for such fitting and the adjustments make the Diesel much more expensive to build than the ordinary type of gas engine, and for this reason the first cost and overhead charges cut into the fuel item to a considerable extent. A description of the Diesel engines will be found in the chapter devoted to oil engines.
(63) Diesel Engine (Marine Type).
As a practical example of a Diesel engine, which was described in Chapter III, we will give a brief description of the two 850 horse-power Diesel engines installed in the cargo vessel “M. S. Monte Penedo,” which were built by Sulzer Brothers of Winterthur, Switzerland. We are indebted to the Motor Ship, London, for the details.
The engines are of the two stroke cycle, single acting type, with four working cylinders, a double acting scavenging pump cylinder, and a three stage ignition compressor cylinder. The bore of the working cylinders is 18.8 inches, and the stroke 27 inches. While the crank case is of the enclosed type, there are two sets of covers which can be easily removed for inspection while the engine is running, for as the scavenging pump performs the work of the crank case of the ordinary two stroke cycle engine there is no need of a tight case to retain the compression.
Fig. 68. Cross-Section Through the Air Cylinders of the Two Stroke Diesel Motors on the M. S. Monte Penado.