ICE - what is it? Internal combustion engine: characteristics, scheme

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

It would not be an exaggeration to say that most self-propelled devices today are equipped with internal combustion engines of various designs, using various operating principles. In any case, if we talk about road transport. In this article, we will take a closer look at ICE. What it is, how this unit works, what are its pros and cons, you will learn by reading it.

The principle of operation of internal combustion engines

The main principle of operation of an internal combustion engine is based on the fact that fuel (solid, liquid or gaseous) burns in a specially allocated working volume inside the unit itself, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy.

The working mixture entering the cylinders of such an engine is compressed. After its ignition, with the help of special devices, an excess pressure of gases arises, forcing the pistons of the cylinders to return to their original position. This is how it is createda constant duty cycle that converts kinetic energy into torque with the help of special mechanisms.

Today, an internal combustion engine device can have three main types:

• two-stroke engine, often referred to as light;
• 4-stroke power unit for higher power and efficiency ratings;
• gas turbine units with increased power characteristics.

Besides this, there are other modifications of the main circuits that improve certain properties of power plants of this type.

Advantages of internal combustion engines

Unlike powertrains that require external chambers, internal combustion engines have significant advantages. The main ones are:

• much more compact size;
• higher power ratings;
• optimal efficiency values.

It should be noted, speaking of the internal combustion engine, that this is a device that in most cases allows the use of various types of fuel. It can be gasoline, diesel fuel, natural or liquefied gas, kerosene and even ordinary wood.

This versatility has given this engine concept a well-deserved popularity, ubiquity and a truly global leadership.

Historical Brief

It is generally accepted that the internal combustion engine dates back its history from the moment the Frenchman de Rivas created the piston engine in 1807a unit that used hydrogen in a gaseous state of aggregation as fuel. And although the ICE device has undergone significant changes and modifications since then, the main ideas of this invention continue to be used today.

The first four-stroke internal combustion engine saw the light of day in 1876 in Germany. In the mid-80s of the XIX century, a carburetor was developed in Russia, which made it possible to dose the supply of gasoline to the engine cylinders.

And at the very end of the century before last, the famous German engineer Rudolf Diesel proposed the idea of igniting a combustible mixture under pressure, which significantly increased the power characteristics of internal combustion engines and the efficiency indicators of units of this type, which had previously left much to be desired. Since then, the development of internal combustion engines has been mainly along the path of improvement, modernization and the introduction of various improvements.

Main types and types of internal combustion engines

Nevertheless, more than 100 years of history of this type of units has allowed the development of several basic types of power plants with internal combustion of fuel. They differ from each other not only in the composition of the working mixture used, but also in design features.

Gasoline engines

As the name implies, the units of this group use various types of gasoline as fuel.

In turn, such power plants are usually divided into two large groups:

• Carburetor. In such devices, the fuelthe mixture before entering the cylinders is enriched with air masses in a special device (carburetor). Then it is ignited with an electric spark. Among the most prominent representatives of this type are the VAZ models, the internal combustion engine of which for a very long time was exclusively of the carburetor type.
• Injector. This is a more complex system in which fuel is injected into the cylinders through a special manifold and injectors. It can occur both mechanically and through a special electronic device. Common Rail direct injection systems are considered the most productive. Installed on almost all modern cars.

Injected gasoline engines are considered to be more economical and provide higher efficiency. However, the cost of such units is much higher, and maintenance and operation are noticeably more difficult.

Diesel engines

At the dawn of the existence of units of this kind, one could often hear a joke about the internal combustion engine, that this is a device that eats gasoline like a horse, but moves much more slowly. With the invention of the diesel engine, this joke has partially lost its relevance. Mainly because diesel is able to run on much lower quality fuel. And that means much cheaper than gasoline.

The main fundamental difference between a diesel internal combustion engine is the absence of forced ignition of the fuel mixture. Diesel fuel is injected into the cylinders with specialnozzles, and individual drops of fuel are ignited due to the pressure force of the piston. Along with the advantages, the diesel engine has a number of disadvantages. Among them are the following:

• much less power compared to petrol powerplants;
• large dimensions and weight characteristics;
• difficulty starting in extreme weather and climate conditions;
• insufficient traction and a tendency to unjustified power losses, especially at relatively high speeds.

In addition, repairing a diesel-type internal combustion engine is usually much more complicated and costly than adjusting or restoring the performance of a gasoline unit.

Gas engines

Despite the cheapness of natural gas used as fuel, the construction of internal combustion engines running on gas is disproportionately more complicated, which leads to a significant increase in the cost of the unit as a whole, its installation and operation in particular.

In power plants of this type, liquefied or natural gas enters the cylinders through a system of special gearboxes, manifolds and nozzles. The fuel mixture is ignited in the same way as in carburetor gasoline units - with the help of an electric spark coming from a spark plug.

Combined types of internal combustion engines

Few people know about combined ICE systems. What is it and where is it used?

This is, of course, not about modern hybridvehicles capable of running on both fuel and electric motors. Combined internal combustion engines are usually called such units that combine elements of various principles of fuel systems. The most prominent representative of the family of such engines are gas-diesel plants. In them, the fuel mixture enters the engine block in almost the same way as in gas units. But the fuel is ignited not with the help of an electric discharge from a candle, but with an ignition portion of diesel fuel, as happens in a conventional diesel engine.

Service and repair of internal combustion engines

Despite a fairly wide variety of modifications, all internal combustion engines have similar basic designs and diagrams. Nevertheless, in order to carry out high-quality maintenance and repair of internal combustion engines, it is necessary to thoroughly know its structure, understand the principles of operation and be able to identify problems. To do this, of course, it is necessary to carefully study the design of internal combustion engines of various types, to understand for yourself the purpose of certain parts, assemblies, mechanisms and systems. This is not easy, but very exciting! And most importantly, the right thing.

Especially for inquisitive minds who want to independently comprehend all the mysteries and secrets of almost any vehicle, an approximate schematic diagram of the internal combustion engine is shown in the photo above.

So, we found out what this power unit is.