Basic Concepts of Engine

Basic Concepts of Engine

What is Engine?

Ans: An engine is a device which transforms one form of energy into another form.

What is Heat Engine?

Ans: Heat engine is a device which transforms the chemical energy of a fuel into thermal energy and utilizes this thermal energy to perform useful work.

Classification of Heat Engine:

• Internal Combustion Engine (IC Engine).
• External Combustion Engine (EC Engine).

Difference between External Combustion and Internal Combustion Engines:

External combustion engines are those engines in which combustion takes place outside the engine.

example: in a steam engine the heat is generated due to the combustion of fuel is employed to generate high pressure steam which is used as the working fluid in a reciprocating engine. 

Internal combustion engine are those combustion takes place inside the engine.

example: in case of gasoline or diesel engines, the products of combustion generated by the combustion of fuel within the cylinder form the working fluid.