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Internal/External Combustion Engines

Basically, there are two types of Combustion (Heat) Engines.  These are the INTERNAL COMBUSTION engine and the EXTERNAL COMBUSTION engine. These names are derived from the relative location of the fuel-burning apparatus which creates the energy to run the engines.

In the case of the External Combustion engine the fuel is combusted outside of the main expansion chamber of the engine hence the term External Combustion. Here, once the fuel is burnt the energy is transferred into the expansion chamber via a medium, most commonly steam, and is converted into mechanical energy via the movement of the piston.

The Internal Combustion, or commonly the I.C. engine is without doubt one the greatest and most useful inventions of man. The Germans Otto and Langan are generally credited with inventing the first practical I.C. engine around 1880.
Unlike the previously mentioned steam engine the I.C. engine burns it's fuel directly within the expansion chamber - hence the name Internal Combustion.

The animation to the right demonstrates the basic principles of operation of a four stroke I.C. engine as commonly found in the majority of cars.

The small animation to the left shows the principal of a two stroke I.C. engine. This design is commonly found in motor cycles and small power equipment. In general terms the two stroke engine produces more power for the relative size of the engine but with far less fuel efficiency and greater pollution.

Since Otto and Langan's original designs the I.C. engine has undergone steady evolution towards lighter, faster and more efficient designs while maintaining the basic operating principles. Today it comes in hundreds of forms and has thousands of applications in powering our modern industrial world.

Goto the Old I.C. Engines Page