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Today we will discuss about engine and types of engine used in automobile. Any device which can convert heat energy of fuel into mechanical energy is known as engine or heat engine. Engine is widely used in automobile industries or we can say that engine is the heart of an automobile. Basically engine may be classified into two types.

Types of Engine:

1. External combustion (E.C.) Engine

EC engine are those in which combustion of fuel take place outside of the engine. The heat generated by this engine is further use to convert a low boiling temperature fluid i.e. water into steam. This high pressure steam used to rotate a turbine. In this engine we can use all solid, liquid and gases fuel. These engines are generally used in driving locomotive, ships, generation of electric power etc. Advantages of E.C. engine-

In these engines starting torque is generally high.
Because of external combustion we can use cheaper fuels as well as solid fuel.
They are more flexible compare to internal combustion engines.

2. Internal Combustion (I.C.) Engine

It is an engine in which combustion of fuel take place inside the engine. When the fuel burns inside the engine cylinder, it generates a high temperature and pressure. This high pressure force is exerted on the piston (A device which free to moves inside the cylinder and transmit the pressure force to crank by use of connecting rod), which used to rotate the wheels of vehicle. In these engines we can use only gases and high volatile fuel like petrol, diesel. These engines are widely use in automobile industries, generation of electric power etc. Advantages of I.C. engine-

It has overall high efficiency over E.C. engine.

These engines are compact and required less space.
Initial cost of I.C. engine is lower than E.C. engine.
This engine easily starts in cold because of it uses high volatile fuel.

Types of an I.C. Engine

I.C. engines are widely use in automobile industries so this engine sometimes call an automobile engine. An automobile engine may be classified in many manners. Today I am going to tell you some important classification of an automobile engine.

According to number of stroke:

1. Two stroke engine

In a two stroke engine, a piston moves one time up and down inside the cylinder and complete one crankshaft revolution during single time of fuel injection. This type of engine has high torque compare to four stroke engine. Application : scooters, pumping sets etc.

2. Four stroke engine

In a four stroke engine piston moves two times up and down inside the cylinder and complete two crankshaft revolutions during single time of fuel burn. This type of engines has high average compare to two stroke engine. Application : bikes, cars, truck etc.

According to design of engine:

1. Reciprocating engine (piston engine)

In reciprocating engine the pressure force generate by combustion of fuel exerted on a piston (A device which free to move in reciprocation inside the cylinder). The piston starts reciprocating motion (too and fro motion). This reciprocating motion converts into rotary motion by use of crank shaft. So the crank shaft starts to rotate and make rotate the wheels of the vehicle. These are generally used in all automobile.

2. Rotary engine (Wankel engine)

In rotary engine there is a rotor which frees to rotate. The pressure force generated by burning of fuel is exerted on this rotor so the rotor rotate and starts to rotate the wheels of vehicle. This engine developed by Wankel in 1957. This engine is not used in automobile in present days.

According to fuel used:

1. Diesel engine These engines use diesel as the fuel. Application : trucks, buses, cars etc.

2. Petrol engine These engines use petrol as the fuel. Application : bikes, sport cars, luxury cars etc.

3. Gas engine These engines use CNG and LPG as the fuel. Application : Light motor vehicles.

4. Electric engine It is eco-friendly engine. It doesn’t use any fuel to burn. It uses electric energy to rotate wheel.

According to method of ignition:

1. Compression ignition engine

In these types of engines, there is no extra equipment to ignite the fuel. In these engines burning of fuel starts due to temperature rise during compression of air. So it is known as compression ignition engine.

2. Spark ignition engine

In these types of engines, ignition of fuel start by a spark, generated inside the cylinder by some extra equipment (Spark Plug). So it is known as spark ignition engine.

According to number of cylinder:

1. Single cylinder engine In this type of engines have only one cylinder and one piston connected to the crank shaft.

2. Multi-cylinder engine In this type of engines have more than one cylinder and piston connected to the crank shaft.

According to arrangement of cylinder:

1. In-line engine In this type of engines, cylinders positioned in a straight line one behind the other along the length of the crankshaft.

What is Engine? What are Main Types of Engine?

2. V-type engine An engine with two cylinder banks inclined at an angle to each other and with one crankshaft known as V-type engine.

3. Opposed cylinder engine An engine with two cylinders banks opposite to each other on a single crankshaft (V-type engine with 180o angle between banks).

4. W-type engine An engine same as V-type engine except with three banks of cylinders on the same crankshaft known as W-type engine.

5. Opposite piston engine In this type of engine there are two pistons in each cylinder with the combustion chamber in the center between the pistons. In this engine, a single combustion process causes two power strokes, at the same time.

6. Radial engine It is an engine with pistons position in circular plane around the central crankshaft. The connecting rods of pistons are connected to a master rod which, in turn, connected to the crankshaft.

According to air intake process:

1. Naturally aspirated In this types of engine intake of air into cylinder occur by the atmospheric pressure.

2. Supercharged engine In this type of engine air intake pressure is increased by the compressor which is driving by the engine crankshaft.

3. Turbocharged engine In this type of engine intake air pressure is increase by use of a turbine compressor driven by the exhaust gases of burning fuel.

We have discussed What is Engine? What are Main Types of Engine? If you have any query regarding this article, ask by commenting. If you like this article, don’t forget to share it on social networks. Subscribe our website for more informative articles.

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Osinachi Okorafor

December 8, 2015 at 1:09 pm

this is very helpful thanks pls can you improve the types of engine by giving examples of where they are applied

Sagar Akhade

January 14, 2016 at 6:44 pm

It helps me too much

HUDSON GEORGE

February 11, 2016 at 5:47 am

ITS REALLY HELPFUL.. HOWEVER IF THERE WAS SOME IMAGES DRAWN AND LABELLED IT WOULD BE MORE BRILLANT

uma shankar

February 23, 2016 at 8:55 am

In rotary engine how to pistons moves. weather it is rotary motion or reciprocating motion .explain with an examples

mitesh bairwa
February 23, 2016 at 11:17 am

In rotary engine piston move in rotary motion. If you want to know more about it read the article https://mech4study.com/2015/05/wankel-rotary-engine.html

Neeraj Rawat
June 5, 2018 at 6:54 am

There are no pistons present in the rotary engine…. Since there is no piston so there will not be any reciprocating motion.

Admin
May 2, 2019 at 6:18 pm

check this link https://mech4study.com/2015/05/wankel-rotary-engine.html

wajahat tanveer

February 29, 2016 at 8:11 pm

thanks for giving us this knowledge its really help full for me

mkwe

May 13, 2016 at 4:59 am

Thanks for this article, very useful to me. Can you add some moredern engines as what you can find in some vehicles written 5S, AZ, AZM etc

Vinothkumar P

May 26, 2016 at 9:03 am

Very very useful ….
Short and sweet information for beginners….

Unknown

July 21, 2016 at 4:57 pm

thank for all you make me to gain more about engine

Kat Pun

July 29, 2016 at 4:04 pm

This article is very useful for me to understand different types of engines.

Roy Anglin

August 9, 2016 at 4:34 pm

Could any one help me with this question?….ways in which pistons are arrange in the cylinder block???…

An thanks mech4study for guiding me….

jemiyon daimari
April 25, 2019 at 10:58 am

connecting rod is arrange in the cylinder block.

August 29, 2016 at 10:38 am

I already feel enlightened! Thanks.

September 6, 2016 at 9:56 am

Thanks for sharing this….
It's too good.
Improving our knowledge..thanks alot

muhaimin idris

September 27, 2016 at 4:56 pm

Very helpful info..
Thank you for sharing..
Just want to get some confirmation about Electric Engine, Is it categorized under Internal Combustion Engine ?, because as i know this type of engine just using Electric Motor in order to drive the vehicle wheel and there are no combustion occured in that engine either fuel or gases.
Correct me if im wrong..
Thank You..