The Influence of the Piston Head Shape on the Performance of a Single Cylinder Diesel Engine: An Experimental Study

Air pollution due to motor vehicles encouraged this research to develop proper combustion in the combustion chamber. The combustion in motor vehicles produces not only environmentally friendly combustion but also better engine performance. In a diesel engine, diesel fuel is put into the combustion chamber using injection through a nozzle. This fuel spray is subjected to break up and atomization before getting mixed with air and experiencing combustion in the combustion chamber. Diesel engine combustion chamber with different piston head will affect the combustion process and eventually affect the diesel engine performance. This research used the experimental method with the piston head shapes being tested were a low standard, semi-spherical, and multispherical. While the engine performance sought as a result of changes in the piston head shape are power (N), the use of specific fuel (Sfc), and thermal efficiency (ηth).