ICE (internal combustion engine): general characteristics, types

Thermal expansion of gases is now used in a variety of devices. This turbojet engines, and diesel engines, and carburetors ... The thermal unit can be of two types:

• An engine with external combustion;
• ICE (internal combustion engine).

Consider in detail the device of the second type.

general characteristics

On most cars today, such devices are installed, where the principle of an internal combustion engine is to extract heat and convert it into mechanical work. This process is performed in cylinders.

The most economical options are piston and combined motors.
They can be used for a long time and have a relatively small size and weight. But the minus in them is the movement of the piston, occurring in a reciprocating manner with the participation of the crank mechanism, which, on the one hand, makes the work more complicated, and on the other hand it is a limiting factor in increasing the rotational speed. The strongest of the latter is noticeable with large motor dimensions.

The creation, development and, in general, the operation of the internal combustion engine is certainly based on the effect of thermal expansion, in which heated gases perform useful work. As a result of combustion, the pressure in the cylinder jumps sharply, and the piston moves. This is the principle of force action, in which thermal expansion is used, which is used in ICE and other technologies.

To use the useful mechanical energy constantly, the combustion chamber must be replenished with an air-fuel mixture, so that the piston drives the crankshaft, and the last - the wheels.

Most cars today are four-stroke, and the energy in them almost completely turns into a useful one.

A bit of history

The first mechanism of this type was created in 1860 by a French engineer, and two years later, his compatriot proposed the use of a four-cycle cycle, where the operation of the internal combustion engine included the processes of suction, compression, combustion and expansion, and exhaust.

In 1878, the German physicist invented the first four-cycle, the efficiency of which reached 22%, which greatly exceeded the characteristics of all predecessors.

Such a motor began to acquire wide distribution in various spheres of life. Today it is used in automobiles, agricultural machinery, ships, diesel locomotives, aircraft, power plants and so on.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main success is due to the practical characteristics of economy, compactness and good adaptability. In addition, the engine can be started in the most usual conditions, after which it accelerates quickly and reaches full load. For vehicles it is important such a characteristic of it, as a significant braking torque.

DIC (engine) is able to work on different types of fuel, from gasoline to boiler oil.

However, these motors also have a number of drawbacks, among which stand out limited power, large noise, very frequent rotation of the crankshaft during start-up, inability to connect with the driving wheels, toxicity, reciprocating piston movements.

Housing

The body is a classic design, consisting of a block of cylinders, their heads, and in the case of a detachable lower part of the crankcase, and a fundamental frame with lids. There is also a one-piece construction. Such a variety, of course, implies a different approach to repair.

Elements of the motor body are the base, where the parts of the timing and crank mechanism, cooling systems, power supply, lubrication and so on are fastened.

Classification

The most widespread engine (internal combustion engine), in which the process occurs in the cylinders themselves. But motors can be classified according to other different signs.

By the way of the working cycle they are:

• Two-stroke;
• Four-stroke.

By the way the mixture is formed in the engine, the engine is:

• With external education (gas and carburettor);
• Motor with internal formation of the mixture (diesel).

By cooling method:

• With liquid;
• With air.

According to the cylinders:

• Single cylinder;
• Two-cylinder;
• Multi-cylinder.

By their location:

• Row (vertical or inclined);
• V-shaped.

By filling the cylinder with air:

• Without boost;
• With supercharging.

The frequency of rotation of the engine (engine) is:

• Slow-moving;
• Increased frequency;
• High-speed.

On the used fuel:

• Multi-fuel;
• gas;
• diesel;
• petrol.

By compression ratio :

• High;
• Low.

By appointment:

• Autotractor;
• aviation;
• stationary;
• Ship and so on.

Power

The power of automobile aggregates is usually calculated in horsepower.
This term was introduced at the end of the eighteenth century by an English inventor who watched horses pulling baskets of coal from the mines. Measuring the weight of the cargo and the height at which it is raised, Watt calculated how much coal the horse can pull in a minute from a certain depth. Subsequently, this unit was called the well-known term "horsepower". After the International System of Units (SI) was adopted in 1960, hp Became an auxiliary unit, which is equal to 736 watts.