Engine Fundamentals
Engine Fundamentals
Engine?
Heat engine is a device which converts heat energy (combustion of fuel) into mechanical energy.
Engine Types
External-combustion Internal-combustion
Effect of Heat
Purpose of the combustion process is to produce heat Heat to do work Heat will cause most substances to expand Heat will cause air to expand
Increase in Pressure
Pressure measured in PSI or Pounds per square inch Air pressure will increase when heated if it is in a enclosed area (air 15psi @ 32 degrees will be 17psi @100 degrees) Air pressure will increase if it is compressed (1/6 to 1/8 original volume in gasoline engines)
Increase in Temperature
Air pressure and temperature increased when compressed Gasoline engine temperature is raised several hundred degrees Diesel temperature increase is even greater (more compression)
Terms
Thermometer measures temperature by the expansion of metals Thermostat different metals expand at different rates. This difference is used in thermostats by wielding two different metals together Gravity is the attractive force between the earth and all other objects.
Terms cont.
Atmospheric Pressure air has weight 1 cubic foot of air weighs 0.08 lbs [0.035 kg]. The blanket of air that surrounds the earth amounts to many cubic feet of air. This combined weight amounts to about 15 psi [103 kPa] at sea level. Vacuum is the absence of air.
Producing a Vacuum
Engines produce a partial vacuum in the cylinder by the action of the piston (this allows the air fuel mixture to be drawn into the cylinder by the force of atmospheric pressure)
Cylinder Block
Piston
Made of aluminium alloy
Piston Rings
Compression Rings Oil control rings The rings seal the compression gases above the piston keep the oil below the piston rings. The leakage of compressed fuel-air mixture into the crankcase, through the piston clearance, is called blowby. The excessive blowby reduces the engine power, wastes fuel, and pollutes the air.
Piston Pins
Also known as the wrist pin, it connects the piston to the small end of the connecting rod. It transfers the force and allows the rod to swing back and forth.
Connecting Rod
Connects the piston and piston pin to the crankshaft.
Crankshaft
Along the the piston pin and connecting rod it converts the up and down motion (reciprocating) of the engine to spinning (rotary) motion.
Flywheel
Carries the inertia when there is no power stroke.
Camshaft
Through the use of an eccentric the cam lobes push the valves open. The valve springs close them.
Timing Gears
Spark Plug
Electric match used to begin the combustion process of burning air and gasoline to create heat.
Intake Stroke
Intake valve opens. Piston moves down, turn of crankshaft. A vacuum is created in the cylinder. Atmospheric pressure pushes the air/fuel mixture into the cylinder.
Compression Stroke
Valves close. Piston moves up, turn of crankshaft. Air/fuel mixture is compressed. Fuel starts to vaporize and heat begins to build. The mixture is compressed into 1/8 or less of its original volume.
Power Stroke
Valves remain closed. Spark plug fires igniting fuel mixture. Piston moves down, turn of crankshaft. Heat is converted to mechanical energy.
Exhaust Stroke
Exhaust valve opens. Piston move up, crankshaft makes turn. Exhaust gases are pushed out polluting the atmosphere.
Diesel 2 stroke