INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE (ICE)

Surely cars make transportation easier and when we are talking about agriculture we say tractors make cultivation of land less tedious or reduces drudgery. The funny part is, we just know that motor engines give us power which enables us to perform tedious tasks, some of us dont know how the power is being generated or the component parts that bring about the generation of power, that we shall discuss in detail.

IMAGE SOURCE: PIXABAY

INTRODUCTION
Basic Concepts
Energy is defined as the ability or capacity to work, while the rate at which the work is done is refered to as Power.
Enersgy can be gotten from various sources which are divided into Renewable sources and Non Renewable sources of energy. Renewable sources include the solar energy (energy trapped by solar pannels from the radiation of our star -the sun), wind energy (energy derived from the wind that drives wind turbines which consist propellers, in turn can be connected toa generator to generate electricity, wind can be used mechanically by pumping water), hydropower (power generated from water bodies e.g. Kanji dam -used to generate electricity in Nigeria and other West African countries), geothermal energy and biomass.

IMAGE SOURCE: PIXABAY

Non renewable sources of energy include fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. Any source of energy can be used in generating power in ICE so far there are presence of suitable components that can transmit the power generated to appropriate channels. The basic energy used in the ICE I will be discussing today is the chemical energy stored in fuel (both gasoline and diesel) which are used for gasoline and diesel engines respectively.

Most ICE engines in Nigeria and most parts of the world are grouped into two, based on the type of fuel they use, and they are;
Gasoline Engines
Diesel Engines

Both engines have similar features in the components producing the power, tbe difference is in the type of fuel/charge used, which determines the form of ignition system they have, which are;
Spark-Ignition Systems
Compression Ignition Systems

Enough deviation already, lets talk about how a typical internal combustion engine brings about power generation ans the components involved.

IMAGE SOURCE: PIXABAY

Basic concept
Strokes refers to the phases involed in an engine cycle as the piston travels in reciprocating movement from top dead center to bottom dead center.
The strokes include;
Intake Stroke
Compression Stroke
Power Stroke
Exhaust Stroke

Engines are also grouped into two types based on the number of strokes they undergo, these are
Two Strokes Engines
Four Strokes Engines

Today we will be dealing with four strokes engines as they are the most efficient in getting more useful mechanical energy.

IMAGE SOURCE: PIXABAY

Some components of Internal Combustion Engines
Cylinder Block is the main body of ICE, this is the container in which the intake of fuel happens, its subsequent compression and burning or ignition takes place. It guides the piston.

Cylinder Head is deatachable and ade of cast iron or aluminium for better conduction and to reduce wears and tears in the engine, it posseses two openings or ports, intake and exhaust ports which takes in fuel and burnt gases out respectively.

Piston The component fittes to the cylinder that moves up on compression and exhaust strokes and wn on power and inlet strokes in a four-stroke engine, it transmits the power generated to the connecting rod. The piston also gives tight seal to the cylinder as it also slides freely. It is made of cast iron.

Piston Rings are accessories to piston in avoiding the piston being stuck to the cylinder during expansion caused by the heat generated in the combustion chamber.

Connecting Rods connect the pistons to the crankshaft thereby transmitting the power generated to the crankshaft. Another important function of connecting rod is that it converts recipeocating movement of pistons to rotary motion in crankshaft. The connecting rod are made of chrome, nickel and vanadium steels.

Crankshaft recieves thrust from piston theough the onnecting rod, thus converting the reciprocating movement to its rotary motion. It is mounted on engine bearing to rotate freely.

Engine Bearing they are used to support rotary movement in ICE

Crank Case encloses or houses the crankshaft, also posses oil pan or sump for lubrication.

Valves control the movement of fluid or air in the ports; both intake ports and exhaust ports, vales open inwards.

Spark Plug is used in spark ignition engines, it conducts high potential from ignition systems into the combustion chambers to ignite the charge already compressed.

Injectors are suitable for compression ignition systems, shoot mists of diesel or fuel charges at high pressure into the combustion chambers to initiate power stroke thus causing auto- ignition.

Manifold is responsible for supplying air-fuel misture into combustion chambers and collecting exhaust gases.

Camshaft conducts the opening and losing of the valves at appropriate timing.

Flywheel rotates the shaft, also causes the return movement of piston after power strokes.

IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

to be continued

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