Investigating the Effects of Variable Valve Timing on Spark Ignition Engine Performance

In this study, a prototype four-stroke spark ignition engine with four cylinders (two valves per cylinder), with and without turbocharger, as well as variable valve timing system to adjustment of variable valve duration has been investigated. This study covers the effects of intake valve opening (IVO), Intake valve closing (IVC), exhaust valve opening (EVO) and exhaust valve closing (EVC) angles on engine performances and fuel economy. The calculations of engine performance were carried out using the 1-Dimensional simulation with AVL BOOST software. The effects of different valve timing strategies and a combination of them from simulations were analyzed and compared with the reference fixed valve timing cases. It was shown that substantial improvements in fuel consumption and performance can be achieved. The improvements of Indicated Specific Fuel Consumption (ISFC) are remarkable in turbocharged models. Furthermore, we can see the noticeable improvements in torque and power in the naturally aspirated engine.