ENGINE

 

ENGINE AND ITS TYPES

 

ENGINE IS A MACHINE WHICH CONVERTS ONE FORM OF ENERGY TO ANOTHER .

 

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

 

IN THIS TYPE OF ENGINE COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE INSIDE THE CYLIDER

EXAMPLE – PISTON ENGINE

 

EXTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

 

IN THIS TYPE OF ENGINE COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THE CYLINDER

EXAMPLE – STEAM ENGINE

 

FOUR STROKE ENGINE

 

MOST OF THE AIRCRAFTS OPERATE ON THE FOUR STROKE ENGINE PRINCIPLE . THIS IS ALSO CALLED THE OH CYCLE  , BEING THE NAME OF THE INVENTER OF THE FIRST OH CYCLE ENGINE . THE ENGINE COMPRISES OF TWO REVOLUTIONS OF THE RANK – SHAFT & CAONTAINS TWO UPWARD & TWO DOWNWARD MOVEMENTS OF THE PISTON . THE CYCLE OF ROTATION IS COMMENCED BY ROTATING THE RANK SHAFT EXTERNALLY UNTIL THE FIRST POWER STROKE OCCURS . THE MOVING PARTS GAIN SUFFICIENT MOMENTUM FROM THEPOWER DEVELOPED TO COMPLETE THE CYCLE & KEEP THE RANK – SHAFT TURNING UNTIL THE NEXT POWER STROKE OF FUEL IGNITION ARE SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE  , IT CONTINUES TO RUN .THE SEQUENCE OF OPERATION IS AS FOLLOWS :

 

 

1)       INDUCTION STROKE  - THE INLET VALVE OPENS , THE PISTION MOVS FROM TDC TO BDC & AIR FUEL MIXTURE IS DRAWN INTO THE CYLINDER.

 

2)       COMPRESSION STROKE – THE INLET VALVE CLOSES , THE PISTON MOVES FROM BDC TO TDC , COMPRESSING THE MIXTURE IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER.

 

3)       POWER  STROKE – WHEN AIR FUEL MIXTURE IS COMPRESSED TO THE CHAMBER , A SPARK IS PRODUCED BY THE SPARK PLUG FITTED IN THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE . THE IGNITION OF FUEL CAUSES A HIGH GAS PRESSURE IN THE CHAMBER . AS BOTH THE VALVES ARE KEPT CLOSE THE INCREASED GAS PRESSURE FORCES THE PISTONDOWN IN THE CYLINDER.

 

4)       EXHAUST STROKE – THE EXHAUST VALVE OPENS , THE PISTON MOVES FROM BDC TO TDC EXPELLING ALL THE BURNT GASES . THIS STROKE COMPLETES ONE CYCLE OF OPERATION .

 

 

ADVANTAGES OF 4 STROKE ENGINE

 

1)       ECONOMY OF FUEL .

2)       LOWER GRADE FUEL CAN BE USED , WHICH IS CHEPER & LESS VOLATILE .

3)       MINIMUM FIRE RISK .

4)       HIGH POWER  OUTPUTS ARE POSSIBLE EVEN WITH SINGLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

 

DISADVANTAGES OF 4 STROKE ENGINE

 

1)       HEAVY WEIGHT .

2)       LARGE DIMENSIONS TO INCREASE GREATER  FRONTAL AREA.

 

ADVANTAGES OF 2 STROKE ENGINE

 

1)       LOW WEIGTH FOR HORSE POWER DEVELOP AS EVERY DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON IS A POWER STROKE .

2)       ESY TO START

3)       LESS FRONTAL AREA

 

DISADVANTAGES OF 2 STROKE OVER 4 STROKE

 

1)       FUEL CONSUMPTION IS MORE THAN 4 STROKE ENERGY .

2)       WASTAGE OF FUEL DUE TO MIXING WITH  EXHAUST GASES .

3)       EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF OIL BECAUSE THE CRANK CASE IS USED FOR COMPRESSING THE INCOMING FUEL

DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE GOOD COOLONG SYSTEM DUE TO HIGH SPEED .