Using a Diesel Car? Here's How the Diesel Fuel System Works
Vehicle owners must understand that the diesel fuel system is slightly different from gasoline engines, as this engine requires an injection process before the fuel is processed in its combustion chamber. Along with the development of time, several types of combustion systems have emerged in diesel engines. Here is the review.
Viewed From the Injection Method
There are two types of systems used in its engine injection model, namely Direct Injection System and Indirect Injection System. Both injection systems have different advantages and disadvantages. In the DI method (Direct Injection System), for example, the injector points directly into the combustion chamber on the surface of the piston.
The piston in its fuel system has a cavity on its upper surface. This serves as a combustion chamber, where this cavity allows the fuel to be processed in an atomized manner or known as the mist system. There are several advantages that can be obtained when using this injection method.
Some of these advantages include the power generated from the combustion process being quite large, a simple and compact injection model, low emissions produced, good thermal efficiency, and the absence of a glow plug mechanism. Unfortunately, this injection method requires quite high fuel pressure and requires special injectors.
The next diesel fuel system using the injection method is IDI (Indirect Injection System). This system was widely applied by diesel engines produced from the 80s to the early 90s. With the advancement of technology, this old system is no longer applied, as its efficiency is much worse compared to the DI injection method.
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Uniquely, IDI is equipped with a special chamber called the pre combustion chamber. This special chamber consists of two types, namely the central chamber and the face chamber. Both types of pre-combustion play a role in regulating the injected turbulence, so that the fuel used can mix homogeneously with the air.
Like the first injection method, IDI also has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages of IDI are that the fuel pressure required is not too high and it is suitable for use in small-capacity engines. Unfortunately, this injection method produces poor emissions, lower thermal efficiency, and the power generated feels lacking.
Viewed From the Injection Mechanism
Based on the injection mechanism, the diesel fuel system is divided into three types, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These three types consist of Common Rail System, Rotary Fuel System, and Inline Fuel System.
Common Rail System is a combustion mechanism that has been automatically controlled by the ECU. This is because its engine pump uses a vane type, where this component can continuously pump fuel before it is distributed to the fuel rail. The fuel rail itself consists of several channels that will be distributed to each injector.
In contrast to the Rotary Fuel System, which only has one element (plunger) in its injection pump. Although it only has one plunger, its pump can distribute fuel to four cylinders alternately. In other words, this diesel fuel system rotates and provides fuel distribution depending on the injection timing.
Based on the brief explanation above, it can be concluded that each type of system has different advantages and disadvantages. As a vehicle owner, you must know the basic information because each type has its own strengths and weaknesses.
