By Automotive Online on September 15, 2008 7:13 AM

 
The fuel supply system for internal combustion engines typically comprise a fuel delivery pipe to which fuel injectors are mounted through connectors, which lead to a fuel tank through a fuel pipe. Further, the connectors of the injectors extend upward to open at an upper portion in the delivery pipe. When the vehicle starts and the air and fuel vapor is produced in the fuel supply system, it is gradually introduced into the delivery pipe and rapidly injected through the connectors and the injectors into the combustion chamber of an engine.



The fuel supply system of an automobile comes into play when the person driving the automobile steps on the gas. The gas pedal is linked to a throttle valve which opens and closes depending upon how much the gas pedal has been pressed. The harder the press, more is the fuel supplied to the engine.

All of this is accomplished with the help of a valve called the fuel injector. The injector is capable of opening and closing many times each second as well as atomizing the fuel when it sprays it into the combustion chamber.

Automobile Filters

Automobile filter or an air filter is a device which purifies the air supplied to the engine by removing dust and other particulates from it. Air filters are essential because the air supplied to an engine needs to be free of pollutants, lest it damages the engine, contaminates the oil or causes it to malfunction. Most of today's automobiles using fuel injection technology utilize a pleated paper filter element in the form of a flat panel. The filter is positioned inside a plastic box linked to the throttle body.

Carburetor

The carburetor is an automotive component that mixes air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. Invented by Karl Benz before 1885, it's colloquially known as carb in North America and the UK. The construction of a typical carburetor entails a "barrel" through which the air rushes into the inlet manifold of the engine. The shape of the barrel causes the airflow to increase in speed at the narrowest part. Fuel is introduced into the air stream through small holes located at narrowest part of the barrel. This operation mixes air and fuel before it is reaches the cylinder through the fuel injector.

Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are an electrochemical conversion devices, which produce electricity from fuel and an oxidant, when they react in the presence of an electrolyte. These cells continue to produce electricity as long as the reactants flow into the cell and the by-products flow out of it. Fuel cells can continue operation continuously till the necessary flows of electrolytes and reactants are maintained.

Fuel Injection System

Fuel injection system refers to the set of automotive part which mix fuel with air in an internal combustion engine. The primary component of this system is the fuel injector, which is a computer controlled valve. When pressurized fuel is supplied to it, it delivers fine droplets of fuel and air mixture into the combustion chamber of the engine. It's a sophisticated piece of machinery and can open and close multiple times within a second. The quantity of the fuel supplied to the engine is determined by amount time the fuel injector stays open. This function is electronically controlled. The system also makes use of a lot of sensors to ensure that the right amount of fuel is sprayed into the cylinders.

Fuel Pump

The fuel pump is a vacuum device controlled mechanically or electrically to draw gasoline fromthe tank and supply it to the carburetor or the fuel injector. A fuel pump is an essential component of automobiles. Carburetor and fuel injected engines make use of different kinds of fuel pumps. While carbureted engines utilize low pressure mechanical pumps mounted outside the fuel tank, the fuel injected engines use electric fuel pumps that are mounted inside the fuel tank. At other times fuel injected engines have two pumps: one meant for low pressure/high volume supply and the other for high pressure/low volume supply.

Fuel Tank

The fuel tank is that part of an automobile engine, which stores the fuel supplied into the engine. Depending upon the type of automobile and fuels, fuel tanks vary in sizes, types and complexity of designs.

Buying Tips for Fuel Supply System Components

You can ensure quality automotive part supplies through the following buying tips.

1. Always prefer new auto parts instead of used ones.

2. Choose your suppliers carefully, establish a reasonable level of trust towards a supplier, through referrals, testimonial, or certifications.

3. Be wary of suppliers offering products at extraordinarily low prices.

4. Ensure the specifics of the products you require from the supplier, before placing the order, a sample inspection is often the best way to do it.

5. You need to understand the terms and conditions including warranties and guarantees associated with the supplies you order.

Industry Overview

The growth of the automobile fuel supply system industry is directly linked to the growth of the automobile industry as a whole. While at present the auto industry is going through a downturn in North America and Europe, other markets such as China and Russia are amongst the emerging markets.

Off late, plastics have been replacing steel as the material for the manufacture of fuel tanks. Estimates conclude that about 348,000 tonnes of steel was lost in 2006 and by 2013 about 419,000 tonnes of steel could be lost to plastic. The trend is expected to continue till the market is saturated. The increasing popularity of plastics is attributed to their being non-corrosive, lighter and more flexible than metal.

On another front the market potential for fuel-injection systems is also looking up owing to increasing environmental concerns. In fact reduction in exhaust emissions have already been witnessed due to the improvements in diesel engine design in Europe. The newer designs while lead to decreased emissions, enhance the automobile engine's performance.

Furthermore, technologies such as hybrid and electric cars are fast becoming popular around the world, which also require different fuel-injection systems. Also, fuel cells are expected to power these vehicles. On the whole the outlook for automobile fuel supply systems is promising.