Internal combustion engine

Internal Combustion Engine

The Internal Combustion Engine (pronounced as /ɪnˈtɜːrnl kəmˈbʌstʃən ˈɛndʒɪn/) is a type of heat engine where 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.

Etymology

The term "Internal Combustion Engine" comes from the method of operation where combustion takes place internally, as opposed to an External Combustion Engine where combustion takes place outside the engine.

Types of Internal Combustion Engines

There are two main types of internal combustion engines, differentiated by the method of ignition:

• Spark Ignition Engine: This type of engine ignites the fuel-air mixture with a spark from a spark plug.
• Compression Ignition Engine: In this type of engine, the air-fuel mixture is ignited by the heat resulting from compression.

Related Terms

• Cylinder (engine): The power-producing component of an internal combustion engine. The cylinder is the space in which a piston travels.
• Piston: A component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors, and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms.
• Crankshaft: A mechanical part able to perform a conversion between reciprocating motion and rotational motion.
• Fuel Injection: The introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector.

See Also

• Four-stroke engine
• Two-stroke engine
• Wankel engine
• Jet engine

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