About The Internal Combustion Engine we see all around us. Let’s see How these Engines work.
In this blog, we will get to know about the internal Combustion Engine, its working and history and much more.
Internal Combustion Engine (ICE):
Internal combustion engines provide outstanding drivability and durability. Along with typical fossil fuels, gasoline or diesel, ICEs can also utilise alternative fuels (e.g., natural gas, biodiesel, or an ethanol mix). They can also be combined with hybrid electric powertrains to increase fuel economy or plug-in hybrid electric systems to extend the range of hybrid electric vehicles.
All over the world there are 365+billion vehicles, all of them powered by some form of Internal Combustion Engine. The Engines are used in Two Wheelers, Cars, Commercial Vehicles(Trucks, Bus, etc.), Ships, Aeroplanes and many Heavy Machines.
HOW DOES AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WORK?
Combustion, also known as burning, is the basic chemical process of releasing energy from a fuel and air mixture. In an internal combustion engine, the ignition and combustion of the fuel occurs within the engine itself. The engine consists of a fixed cylinder and a moving piston in the cylinder.
The fuel injectors on a camshaft spray fuel in the cylinder consisting Fuel-gas mixture. On combustion
and expansion of gases the piston is pushed to rotate this in turn rotates the crankshaft. Ultimately, through a system of gears in the powertrain, this motion drives the wheels of the vehicles. The rotation of the Crankshaft also helps to power the alternator which helps to supply electricity of Electrical Appliances and recharge the Battery.
History:
Internal Combustion Engine made its presence from 1860s, when Jean Joseph Étienne Lenoir invented the first commercially successful electric sparked internal combustion Engine from coal Gas.
In the year 1872, An American Engineer, George Brayton Invented the First ever Engine powered by a liquid fuel . Then in the year 1876, Nicolaus Otto, working with Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, patented the compressed charge, Four-stroke cycle engine (4-Stroke Engine). This was the start for the era of Modern Engines powered by a liquid fuel.
Types of Engines Based on Shape of the engine:
There are many types of engines used to power vehicles as well as machines for different utilities. The most common ones in the cars are:
The straight Inline Engines(generally 4 to 6 cylinders) .
The V series of Combustion Engines(V6, V8, V10, V12)
The K type Engines
Straight or Inline cylinder Engine:
The straight or inline engine is an internal combustion engine with all cylinders aligned in one row and having no offset. It is found in three, four, six and eight cylinder configurations. They have been used in automobiles, locomotives and aircraft.
A straight engine is considerably easier to build than a V- configure engine, because both the cylinder bank and crankshaft can be reduced from a single metal casting, and it also requires fewer cylinder heads and camshafts. In-line engines are also smaller in overall physical dimensions and can be mounted in any direction. Straight configurations are simpler and cheaper than their V-shaped counterparts.
The V shaped Engine:
The V shaped Engine consists of two cylinder banks, usually with the same number of cylinders in each bank, connected to a common crankshaft. These cylinder banks are arranged at an angle to each other, commonly at 60º or 90º, so that the banks form a "V" shape when viewed from the front of the engine.
V engines typically have a shorter length than equivalent inline engines but is wider. V6, V8 and V12 engines are the most common layout for automobile engines with six, eight or twelve cylinders respectively. These engines have a higher centre of mass compared to Inline engine and tend to be more stable. With a few exceptions, the 'V' type engine is usually made with an even number of cylinders. An example includes such as 2 (twin), 4, 6, 8 or 12 and so on.
The K type Engine:
This is an uncommon type of Engine manufactured by some handful of Auto manufacturers. This shaped Engine isn’t generally targeted for high power output, hence used in small cars and produces a higher efficiency compared to other engines for same purpose.
The K-series car engines have two short blocks and are equipped with Direct Overhead Camshafts(DOHC) valve-trains and use roller rockers on the cylinder head to reduce friction and less heat. They have commonly 3 or 4 cylinders and for more power TurboChargers are used or these days Hybrid systems are assisting them.
Types of Engines Based on Fuels:
Spark ignition based Gasoline Engine:
This Engine was invented by Nicolaus Otto in the 1860s. This is mostly used to power lighter vehicles due to its size and its utilisation. The Gasoline or Petrol Engines are Small in size and hence are lightweight. They are preferred by People because of its less prices.
In Spark ignition gasoline engines, the fuel is mixed with air and then inducted into the cylinder during the intake process. After the piston compresses the fuel-air mixture, the spark ignites it, causing controlled combustion. The expansion of the combustion gases pushes the piston during the power stroke.
Compression Ignition based Diesel Engine:
This Engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel in the 1890s. This is a very efficient, high powered Engine and was especially used in Heavy Vehicles. Over years the diesel Engine was modified from being used in Heavy vehicles to powering the light Motor Vehicles(LMVs). From 2000s, Diesel Engines became very common in cars and people preferred it due to its high efficiency and Power Output.
In Compression ignition diesel engines, air is inducted into the Cylinders where they are compressed resulting in a high increase in temperature. The Fuel is sprayed using an Atomiser in a controlled amount leading to its ignition. This Chemical Energy is converted into Mechanical Energy leading to rotation of the Pistons. This process prevents repeated ignition as in the Spark ignition gasoline Engines and increases efficiency.
Comentários