The Engine
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)
In the external combustion engines the power is generated outside the engine cylinder by burning the fuel and it is transferred to the cylinder by means of some working fluid (steam) to do work.The example for an external combustion engine is a steam engine which was used in the locomotives,this is a double acting engine which means the pressure acts on both sides of the piston alternatively making it to reciprocate inside the cylinder.
In an Internal combustion engine the power is developed inside the engine cylinder by burning the fuel in the cylinder itself.The heat energy produced during the combustion of fuel is converted into mechanical energy by the expansion of gases against the piston due to which it rotates the crankshaft attached to it by means of a connecting rod (connecting rod is used to connect the piston with the crankshaft to convert the reciprocating motion of piston into rotary motion of the crankshaft).
Types of internal combustion engine
Engines can be classified in many different ways: By the engine cycle used, the layout of the engine, source of energy, the use of the engine, or by the cooling system employed.
Engine configurations
Internal combustion engines can be classified by their configuration.
Common layouts of engines are: * Reciprocating:
Some of the other important classification of internal combustion engine is based on working cycle or number of piston strokes.
