Fuel Pump: Working Principle Simplified

Written by:  • Edited by: Lamar Stonecypher
Updated Aug 19, 2009

Get to know your fuel pump and its internal nitty-gritty

Introduction

We have been talking about various components of a marine engine right from the bedplate to the piston, connecting rod and so forth. In this article we will learn about one very important component which is necessary for engine operation. As you know the engine requires fuel to run, and the same needs to be supplied under pressure. This is necessary to ensure smooth running and efficient operation of the engine. The component which fulfills this purpose is known as the fuel pump.

The purpose of the fuel pump is to convey the fuel reaching from its fuel tank into the individual cylinders, under the requisite high pressure in order to ensure good atomisation and good combustion. Troubleshooting fuel pump problems is an important part of a marine engineer's job and it is easier to carry out the same once the working of the same is understood in a proper manner. In the subsequent sections we will take a detailed look at how it works

Fuel Pump

Fuel pumps come in various shapes and sizes and of various types. But if you understand the working principle of at least one of the pumps, others should follow suit. In this article I will explain the working of a typical valve controlled fuel pump. You will be in a better position to understand the text below if you correlate it with the adjacent diagram.

Fuel Pump Construction
click to enlarge

The pump plunger is moved upwards by the two piece cam through the roller and the guide plunger. A spring forces the guide plunger with the roller down on to the cam, while a second spring presses the pump plunger on to the guide plunger, returning the latter.The suction valve is controlled by spring loaded pins. Pins, which is of adjustable length, obtains motion from the guide plunger through the lever with unequal arms, which rests on the eccentric of the regulating shaft.

When the roller lies on the base circle of the cam, the pump plunger is in its bottom position and the suction valve is closed. As the roller runs up on the cam the guide plunger, pump plunger and the control pins move upwards. As the suction valve is closed, the fuel is forced through the automatic discharge, non return valve and discharge pipe into the fuel valve, from where it is injected into the cylinder. As the plunger stroke increases, the control pins also move downwards, finally lifting the suction valve from its seat. Discharge ceases at this moment and injection into the cylinder is terminated. The plunger now conveys the fuel back into the suction space. On the downward motion of the plunger the space which becomes free gets filled with fuel through the suction valve, this fuel flowing into the pump under pressure (either static pressure or pressure from the fuel transfer pump)

The distance travelled by the pump plunger from the moment discharge commences until the end of discharge with the lifting of the suction valve is called the effective delivery stroke.

Rotation of the regulating shaft alters the height of the fulcrum of the liner with unequal arms, resulting in the suction valve opening earlier or later. This in turn causes all the pumps to deliver greater or lesser quantity. the engine load which corresponds to discharge quantity can be read off from the load indicator. At a particular setting of the load indicator all the pumps of an engine are adjusted to exactly the same effective delivery stroke by means of adjustable control pins

Please note....I am currently in the process of drawing the diagrams on tigercad...so will be uploading images soon..

Image Credits

Pallas, J.L. (2006) Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance and Repair Manual. New York: Sheridan House Inc


Comments

Showing all 15 comments
 
Rudolfgupta Nov 15, 2011 4:26 PM
RE: Fuel Pump: Working Principle Simplified
Dear Sir, <br> I would like to know how does the governor cover of EDC pump<br>functions, i know what it works but how does it works? How does the positioner works?And how do <br>measure the back current of it. <br> Thanking you
Rudolfgupta Nov 15, 2011 4:25 PM
RE: Fuel Pump: Working Principle Simplified
Dear Sir, <br> I would like to know how does the governor cover functions, i know what it works but how does it works? And how do measure the back current of it. <br> Thanking you
bello imamudeen May 22, 2011 1:39 PM
automobile
pls can you xplain how you can carry out repairs on fuel pump.
shahryar Jul 19, 2010 11:54 PM
Troubleshooting
Sir,
There is nothing I can find about troubleshooting in this article.
vik Jun 25, 2010 12:40 PM
marine engine
Can u plz explin and tell how to take lead of MAN BNW engine .
Timing of sulzer with VIT arrangement ?
Don Robinson Jun 4, 2010 1:16 AM
fuel pump pressure specs
what is the fuel pump pressure for a 1994 GMC sierra 1500 1500 350 engine
Ravi Shekhar May 5, 2010 3:31 AM
Main Engine Manouvering diagram
Please explain me how to interlink the manouvering diagram.
Rajesh Jan 23, 2010 3:38 AM
common rail troubleshooting
pls. troubleshooting methods needed urgently, I have a car and it has stalled since 3 months. injectors blocked and high pressure pump pressure showing low.
ravikrishnak Oct 28, 2009 5:20 AM
can you please explain how to calculate the fresh water transfer pump calc.
can you please explain how to calculate the fresh water transfer pump calc.

daisy pangaliman Oct 21, 2009 9:16 AM
rotary pumps
what are the applications of rotary pumps to Marine Environment.??
Kuber Sep 14, 2009 10:40 PM
fuel pump buffer unit
dear sir i need how ME fuel pump buffer unit is working
Kashif Raza Sep 9, 2009 7:32 AM
Stresses acting on different moving parts
Dear Sir,
Kindly tell me what are the different stresse acting on the moving parts & how they originate in Main Engine?
The other question is How to adjust the timing of a fuel pump of a main engine?
MARINER SRI Sep 7, 2009 11:12 PM
fuel pump
sir,what about the helix type plunger fuel pump ..... why it is common in all the field .............how to repair the fuel orifice.....................
Tushar Sep 7, 2009 5:37 AM
Marine Engines
Where would I find a video showing the internal parts of a marine diesel engine, when in operation showing up/down movement of piston and other parts like conrod, crankshaft, camshaft and associated attached components like fuel booster pump, cooloing water SW, FW pumps,etc.
This can be in an animated version, suitable for training purpose.
mohamed Sep 1, 2009 8:26 PM
RE: Fuel Pump: Working Principle Simplified
I naed viedo for full pump
 
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