How many of you have cars, I’m sure more than 80% do, but how many really know how the engine works, I’m gonna address just a small kind of engine, Gasoline non-electronical-injection engines. My knowledge is not wide about it but I’m going to share what I know.
The mechanics of an engine is not very complex, just a well timed and precise dance involving all parts to get the most of the combustion power of the fuel. The complex part is the thermodynamics of the process, as I had a low grade on that subject in the university (barely passed) I’m not gonna go further on it.
Im using some Wikipedia.org gif images to explain it better, mostly ‘cause I suck in flash and failed in my attempts to make good ones, and wikipedia’s are good enough ^^.
Engine Parts
Here are the main parts of the engine
- Combustion Chamber
- Piston
- Intake and Exhaust Valves
- Spark Plug
- Crankshaft
- Intake Stroke
- Compression Stroke
- Combustion Stroke
- Exhaust Stroke
The piston then moves back to the top to compress the mixture; this compression helps the explosion to become more powerful.
As soon the piston is again at the top, the spark plug releases a spark and ignites the fuel and explodes forcing the piston to go back down with force.
As soon the piston has reached the bottom, it moves back up again and the exhaust valve opens to allow the combustion gases leave the body of the engine starting the cycle again.
A chemist doesn’t worry too much about the mechanics of the cycle, but the combustion phase of it.
Gasoline consists of hydrocarbons with between 4+ carbon atoms (up to 10 sometimes), most of them are aliphatic alcane hydrocarbons.
I will made a comparison with C4 (Butane) and C5 (Pentane) components of gasoline with some “Environment-friendly” substitutes of gasoline.
Regular Gasoline
18 comments:
So we don't get to have any fun stats on energy being lost as heat and system efficiency? :P Even so, still really detailed, wasn't expecting the chem aspect.
Nice visual representation! Love your explanations too.
hahaha xD no xenototh, but from what i know, engines only use like around 15% of total energy generated, a big part of the rest is gone with heat dissipation on the engine's body; didnt want to go further on that subject 'cause i HATE thermodynamics ^^
Very interesting! I never really knew much about this.
thanks for the info cos i am driving a car but don't really know how the engine works
Isn't methane like 10 times worse than CO2?
it is, but only if its released into the atmosphere as it is, on engines it is burned into CO2, but you are right its dangerous thats why gas fuel cars need to have well sealed tanks and certified modifications on the engine to avoid any ruptures and leaks
Very cool post, never really knew the whole process.
Very informative post man Keep on bloggen.I really didn't know this stuff thanks
the production of hybrids costs much more pollution.
Very informative post!
Nice information, is always good to know a little more
Nice helpful post with good information, thanks!
Absolutly fantastic post! Thnaks
great work
its nice figuring out how the internal combustion engine actually works!
very descriptive post on how the internal combustion engine works.
Very good... but chemists would never but 6 and a half :O we'd ramp it all the way up to 13, and double everything else too. In the hatred of fractions.
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