Design of a Pressure Relief Valve for the Lubrication System of an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

The mechanical losses in an internal combustion engine cause a significant decrease in the engine's overall efficiency. Wherever friction work is dissipated a heat load will inevitably appear. This heat load has to be taken care of in some way, usually with both the water cooling and the lubrication system. Despite its name, one of the major tasks of the latter one is, to draw out heat from between lubricated surfaces. In contrast to the water cooling system, which is primarily designed for cooling the cylinder block, the lubrication system is mainly required for cooling the crankshaft and piston rod bearings.A lubrication system for today's automotive engines consists of several components, i.e. an oil pump, a pressure relief valve and an oil filter. This study focuses on the dynamic characteristics of a pressure relief valve and how the system temperature is affected by the critical design parameters of the valve.