Internal Combustion Engine

Internal Combustion Engine

What is Internal Combustion Engine:

Internal combustion engine is a heat engine, in this engine, the combustion of air and fuels take place inside the cylinder and released chemical energy of the fuel. IC engine converts the Chemical energy into useful mechanical energy by burning the fuel.

Engines normally convert thermal energy into mechanical work and therefore they are called heat engines.

Heat engines broadly classified into:

            

           1. External combustion engine (EC engine)

           2. Internal combustion engine (IC engine)

IC engine applied in:

•          Piston Engines
•     Rocket Engines
•     Rail Transportation
•      Power Generation
•     Aviation
•     Ships
•     Automotive
•     Gas Turbine Engines

      

      Advantages of IC Engine:

           1.  Safe to use, the high pressure gases are produced in the cylinder at short intervals and utilized           as soon as they are formed. 

           2.  Higher power output per unit weight because of absence of auxiliary units like boiler,                           condenser and feed pump. 

           3.  Can be started at once from cold conditions. 

           4. Smaller, lighter, and occupies less space because it does not have a furnace or a boiler. 

           5.  Higher brake thermal efficiency as only a small fraction of heat energy of the fuel heat energy             of the fuel is dissipated to cooling system. 

           6.  Greater mechanical simplicity and Low initial cost.

      Disadvantages of IC Engine:

   1. Cannot use solid fuels which are cheaper. Only liquid or gaseous fuel of given                                         specification can be efficiently used. These fuels are relatively more expensive.  
   2. Engines have reciprocating parts and hence balancing of them is problem and they are                       also susceptible to mechanical vibrations.
               
           
      Enhance your learning with Knowledge Flow eBooks.