Explore Topics of Auto Engine
|
 |
Different Types of Auto Engines
Winston Churchill had said “I have always considered that the substitution of the Internal Combustion Engine for the horse marked a very gloomy milestone in the progress of mankind.”Or the quote of Groucho Marx is more appropriate with the reason of humankind quest. “If the horse hadn’t been invented first, there wouldn’t have been anything for the automobile to replace”
Have you ever thought from where the power generates to propel your car?
Have you ever thought what is going on under the hood of your car?
Here you ever found answers for all of your questions and curiosities?
As you open the hood of your car you’ll find a machine with lots of metal parts, wires and cables, tubes and hoses. It is the engine from where power is generated to propel the car.
Before learning about engines it’s important to discuss about other factors too.
Engines!!
1. Greatest invention since the wheel!
2. Made life easy!
3. Made transportation easy!
Or Did It?
1. Increased pollution!
2. Increased overcrowding on roads!
3. Increased fossil fuel consumption!
Whether we like it or not! Can we do without it? Do we have feasible alternatives? Think on it………
As of today we have no answer and possible alternative of engines are too much costly. May be for at least 20 years or more we need to accept engines as such we are stuck with it………!
So Let us start learning about car engines.
The engine is a machine that converts chemical energy of fuel into mechanical energy. The heat from combustion of a fuel produces power which propels the car. Sometimes the engine is even called the power plant of a car.
There are two types of engine
1. Internal combustion engine( combustion of fuel takes place internally)
2.External combustion engine( combustion of fuel takes place externally)
Currently the easiest way to create motion from chemical energy of fuel is to burn the fuel internally or inside an engine. Therefore, a car engine is definitely an internal combustion engine.
There are two types of internal combustion engine
1. Reciprocating
2. Rotary
Reciprocating motion means either moving up and down or back and forth. Most automotive engines are reciprocating type and have pistons confined in the cylinders that reciprocate or move up and down. Conversely, rotary engines have rotors that impart rotational motion but the only such engine used in cars is the Wankel engine.
Even the internal combustion engine used for automotive is sub-categorized into-
1. Spark ignition engine (Working on Otto cycle).
2. Compression ignition engine (Working on Diesel cycle).
Common differences between these two engines include the type of fuel used, the way the fuel gets into the cylinder and the way the fuel is ignited or burned.
The spark ignition engine is designed to run on gasoline or alcohol blend however we can also use compressed natural gas (CNG) and Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternate fuel. The compression ignition engine is designed to run on diesel and the possible alternate fuel which can be used is bio diesel.
Some of the other important classification of internal combustion engine is based on working cycle or number of piston strokes.
1. Four stroke.
2. Two stroke.
No doubt, the power developed by 2-stroke engine is more than that of the 4-stroke engine of same capacity but 4-stroke engine is far more advantageous than 2-stroke engine, so motor cycles, cars, trucks, aircraft and construction equipment works on four stroke cycle.
However, there are different other auto systems working together with engine that helps to make the engine run efficiently and effectively. To generate power air and fuel is required, but they must be fed in proper proportions. Hence, for mixing of air and fuel as per required air-fuel mixture, there is a system provided, known as fuel supply system.Also, there is a requirement of spark to initiate combustion process but the spark should be at specific timing, which is accommodated by the Ignition system.
During Engine operation, lot of heat is generated which can cause melting or seizing of engine parts. To stop melting and to maintain working temperature, there is a system provided called Engine cooling system.Almost all rotating and moving machine parts of an automotive engine have relative motion and rub against each other which require lubrication to reduce this rubbing action and increase the life of engine. Lubrication system is provided to overcome this difficulty.The burnt (Exhaust) gases coming out of the engine during exhaust stroke are highly pressurized making noise and pollution. To control this exhaust system is provided.