Measurement within the Internal Combustion Engine

Within the field of engine research many experimental techniques have been developed to take measurements within the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines. There are many different aspects to the combustion process, by studying these various aspects to develop a more detailed understanding of the combustion cycle, low emission more efficient engines may be developed. This website outlines the basic techniques that have been developed to study the combustion processes within internal combustion engines and the typical results that have been produced. The majority of combustion research centres around seven main areas of measurement within the combustion cycle:

Pressure | Temperature | Flow | Fuel injection spray | Combustion chemistry
Flame | Soot particulate

Lubrication measurements may also be considered but have not been included on this website. This is because although lubrication facilitates the combustion cycle, it is not generally directly involved in the combustion processes. Most measurement techniques are either intrusive or non-intrusive, often requiring some degree of modification to the engine for the various probes or for optical access. As a large proportion of measurement techniques are now optically based, this website also covers some of the methods that have been developed for optical access into the combustion chamber.