Fuel Systems

Topics for today :

1. Carburetor types
2. Fuel Pumps
1. Carburetor types

Carburetor designs have been made in many ways by
different automotive companies

Three variants of Carburetors are as below :
1. Solex Carburetor
2. Carter Carburetor
3. SU Carburetor
Solex Carburetor :
Four modes of operation :
1. Cold start and warm up
2. Acceleration (+ Maximum power)
3. Idling
4. Normal operation
Cold Start and warm up :

During cold start and warm up, fuel from the fuel bowl
flows into the Bi starter

The Bi-starter can be adjusted for different flow rates

The incoming air as seen in the picture flows through the Bi
starter duct and mixes with the fuel producing a mixture
Acceleration :

During acceleration the foot pedal operates the acceleration
pump along with the butterfly valve

This action forces the fuel into the Carburetor causing more
fuel to flow into it

The fuel mixture gets richer which is necessary for
acceleration
Idling :

During idling, the butterfly valve is closed and the
acceleration pump also does not operate

In order to avoid Engine shut down, there is an idling port
which allows air to continuously pass through the
carburetor

A fuel bypass line supplies fuel through the Idling port
where it mixes with air and creates a lean mixture just
necessary for idling of the engine
Normal operation :

At normal operation the butterfly valve is operated and
due to the venturi air flow is created

A negative pressure is created by the venturi causing fuel
particles to be sucked from the fuel bowl

The fuel breaks down into smaller particles and gets mixed
with air to form a homogeneous mixture before going to
the Engine cylinder
Carter Carburetor :

The Carter carburetor also handles four states of the
Engine
1. Cold Start
2. Idling
3. Acceleration
4. Normal operation
Cold Start :

During cold start the choke is closed and air forces itself
through the available space around the choke

Fuel flows from the fuel bowl to primary and secondary
venturis creating the necessary pressure difference

Fuel particles get mixed with the air particles and a rich
mixture is created during cold start and warm up
Idling :

During idling the butterfly valve is closed and the air
flows through idling port

Fuel also flows through the idle bypass and gets mixed
with the air that is coming in

This action creates a lean mixture necessary for keeping
the engine running during throttle close
Acceleration :

During acceleration the foot pedal operates a pump that
is responsible for pushing more fuel towards the venturi

Fuel is received from the acceleration pump as well as
the check valve on the left side

This action creates a richer mixture than normal, which
is necessary for acceleration
Normal Operation :

During normal operation the choke is opened and the
throttle is opened according to requirement

This operation generates an optimum mixture that is
necessary for the engine to generate required power
SU Carburetor :

The construction and principle of operation of the SU
carburetor is very similar to the other carburetors with one
difference however.

The venturi is a variable geometry venturi

To achieve variable geometry a light piston is used inside a
cylinder

The pressure difference created during operation lifts the
piston creating a difference in the cross section of the venturi
resulting in variations in the Air-Fuel mixture
2. Fuel Pumps

Fuel pumps are necessary in order to transfer the fuel from
the main fuel tank to the carburetor

It is responsible for keeping the carburetor tank filled
irrespective of varying speeds of the engine

Fuel Pumps are of two types :

1. Mechanical fuel pump
2. Electrical fuel pump
Mechanical Fuel pump

The mechanical fuel pump
has a mechanism that is
operated by a Cam

The cam shaft receives its
rotations from the crankshaft

The came operates a
mechanism that basically
pushes a diaphragm up and
down

The downward movement of the diaphragm creates a

negative pressure inside the chamber and the fuel is taken
inside

The upward movement of the diaphragm creates a positive
pressure and forces the fuel outside through the outlet valve

Valves are properly timed with the diaphragm to open and
close at the right time
Electrical Fuel pump

The Electrical fuel pump
also operates using a
diaphragm

The difference is that, the
diaphragm movement is
caused by an
electromechanical motion

When electric current is supplied to the coil it pushes the

diaphragm leftwards and creates a negative pressure inside the
chamber, thus pulling the fuel inside

When the diaphragm is pulled it breaks the electrical contact
and no current flow thereby stopping the coil

A spring pushes the diaphragm back and now the electrical
circuit is again completed pushing the diaphragm to the left
again. The cycle continues
Questions