Internal Combustion Engine


An internal combustion engine (ICE) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high-pressure gases produced by combustion applies direct force to some component of the engine. The force is applied typically to pistonsturbine blades, a rotor, or a nozzle. This force moves the component over a distance, transforming chemical energy into useful work. This replaced the external combustion engine for applications where weight or size of the engine is important.


There are two types:
1. Diesel engines (Compression-ignition)
2. Petrol/gasoline engines (Spark-ignition)
Diesel and Gasoline engines are reciprocating engines too as 1/more pistons move laterally to generate rotational energy which in turn used as a prime mover for either generators or simply as car engines to drive the wheel.


The injection of fuel (either diesel or gasoline) can be direct or indirect.
  1. Direct injection is done by the help of specially designed fuel injectors. This is applicable mostly to diesel engines.
  2. Indirect injection is where fuel is not directly INJECTED. Actually this suits to gasoline engines. A carburetor helps to DRAW the fuel rather than injecting it to the engine. This is applicable mostly to petrol engines. In modern cars, a carburetor is replaced by ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION (EFI), where injection is controlled by electronic means normally by a dedicated controller.