HISTORY OF IC ENGINES

Internal Combustion Engine 

The internal combustion (IC) engine is a heat engine that converts chemical energy stored in a fuel into mechanical energy, usually made available on a rotating output shaft.

 

History of IC engines:

1700s -  Steam engines (external combustion engines)

1860 -  Lenoir engine (h = 5%)

1867 -  Otto-Langen engine (h = 11%, 90 RPM max.)

1876 -  Otto four-stroke “spark ignition” engine (h = 14%, 160 RPM max.)

1880s - “Modern” two-stroke engine

1892 -  Diesel four-stroke “compression ignition” engine

1957 -  Wenkel “rotary” engine
   

Atmospheric Engine

Process 1-2:  Fuel air mixture introduced into cylinder at               atmospheric pressure - valve open (VO)

Process 2-3:  Constant pressure combustion (cylinder open             to atmosphere)

Process 3-4:  Constant volume cooling (produces vacuum)

Process 4-5:  Isentropic compression (atmosphere pushes piston)

Process 5-1:  Exhaust process

 

Two-stroke Lenoir Engine

 

Process 1-2:   Fuel air mixture introduced into cylinder at   atmospheric pressure

Process 2-3:   At half-stroke inlet valve closed and combustion   initiated constant volume due to heavy piston   producing high pressure products

Process 3-4:   Products expand producing work

Process 4-5:   At the end of the first stroke exhaust valve opens and   blowdown occurs

Process 5-1:   Exhaust stroke

        

 

Two-stroke Otto-Langen Engine

 

Process 1-2:   Fuel air mixture introduced into cylinder at   atmospheric pressure

Process 2-3:   Early in the stroke inlet valve closed and combustion   initiated constant volume due to heavy piston   producing high pressure products

Process 3-4:   Products expand accelerating a free piston   momentum generates a vacuum in the tube

Process 4-5:   Atmospheric pressure pushes piston back, piston   rack engaged through clutch to output shaft

Process 5-1:   Valve opens gas exhausted

 

Four-stroke Spark Ignition (SI) Engine

Stroke 1:  Fuel-air mixture introduced into cylinder through intake   valve 

Stroke 2:  Fuel-air mixture compressed

Stroke 3:  Combustion (roughly constant volume) occurs and   product gases expand doing work

Stroke 4:  Product gases pushed out of the cylinder through the   exhaust valve