Introduction To Internal Combustion Engine

Right after the invention of internal combustion engine, it is widely used as horse less cartridge. Internal combustion engine utilize the fuel and converts chemical energy in to mechanical energy. This mechanical engineering device has movable and immovable parts. An engine can have one or more mechanism of operation. Internal combustion engine has two types of mechanism called two strokes engine cycle and four stroke engine cycles. Most of the automobile is of four stroke engine where ignition of gasoline is converted in to motion. Depending on the type of fuel used, engine can be distinguished as diesel engine and or gasoline engine. Thermodynamic cycle of diesel engine is referred as diesel cycle and that of gasoline engine thermodynamic cycle is referred as Otto cycle. Fuel of diesel engine is diesel oil and gasoline engine is gasoline oil.

Parts of internal combustion engine

Heart of internal combustion engine is the cylinder that can move up and down.  Multi cylinder engine can be arranged in three ways such as inline, flat or V type. Other internal combustion engine parts are

• Spark plug: Helps in ignition of air fuel mixture
• Valves: Intake or release of air or fuel is through valves
• Piston: Metallic cylinder that can move up and down
• Piston rings: Piston rings provide sliding seal between both edges of cylinder
• Connecting rod: Piston connects to crank shaft through connecting rod
• Crank shaft: Crank turns the cylinder up and down
• Sump: It surrounds crank shaft

Principle of internal combustion engine

Piston of reciprocating internal combustion engine is coupled via connecting rod to crankshaft. When the piston commence, inlet valve gets opened and piston moves down. The piston compresses the air and fuel mixture and thereby its compression results in explosion. As the piston moves up to stroke top, spark plug ignites the fuel. Exploding of gasoline cylinder moves the piston down. The exhaust valve gets opened and cylinder reaches tailpipe. The engine cycle repeats by charging air and fuel. It is referred as rotational combustion engine.

Questions:

• What type of fuels is used for internal combustion engine?
• Where internal combustion happens?
• Explain the principle of internal combustion engine.