30. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
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Internal combustion engines contain a wide variety of kinematics and dynamics problems.
Some of the criteria for differentiating engines includes,
- Otto cycle - air/fuel mixed before compression, equal fuel-air ratio. A highly volatile fuel is required.
- Diesel - air/fuel mixed after compression, excess air. Compression is the main source of ignition.
- two stroke - within one cycle of the piston a compression and exhaust occur. Basically the mixture is ignited, the gas expands, and near the end of compression the cylinder is opened to vent the gas, at the same time new fuel-air is injected. The valves are then closed, the cylinder advances, and ignition occurs again. These engines are simpler, but less efficient.
- four stroke - In this engine the piston cycles twice. One cycle is to intake fuel-air mixture and combust. The second cycle is to vent the cylinder. The four strokes are expansion, exhaust, intake, compression.
- single cylinder - only one cylinder
- in-line - all of the cylinders are side by side in a line.
- V block- there are two rows of cylinders that form a V-shape
- opposed-piston - there are two rows of cylinders that are 180° away from each other
- radial - cylinders are arranged at regular intervals about a single cam shaft
- Single crank per pair of cylinders
- separate crank throws for each piston
