How many types of engines are there

How many types of engines are there? Before going to answer this question, lets learn first,

What is an engine?

An engine is a machine what converts one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. It mainly converts the chemical energy of various fuels (coal, diesel, gasoline) into heat energy and then heat energy into motion or mechanical energy.

We know that the amount of total energy in the universe is fixed, the energy neither can be created nor destroyed. But it can be changed from one form to another form. The engines exactly do this job.

How many types of engines are there?

Engines are of mainly two types. These are, External Combustion Engine and Internal Combustion Engine.

• External Combustion Engine: In which engine, the combustion of fuel takes place outside of engine cylinder is called External Combustion or E.C engine. Steam engine is the best example of External Combustion or EC engine.
• Internal Combustion Engine: In which engine the combustion of fuel takes place inside the engine cylinder is called Internal Combustion Engine or IC engine. Four stroke and Two stroke diesel and gasoline engines are the best example of Internal Combustion engine or IC engine.

How many types of IC engines are there

There are many types of internal combustion (IC) engine based on various basis. All types of IC engines are discussed below.

1. According to the design of IC engine:

According to the design of IC engine, there are two types of IC engine.

i) Reciprocating Engine: A reciprocating engine has a piston and cylinder. The piston does to and fro (reciprocating) motion within the cylinder. 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines are reciprocating engine.

ii) Rotary Engine: In a Rotary Engine, a rotor rotates in the engine chamber to produce power. Wankel rotary engine is a Rotary Engine.

2. According to the fuel used:

On the basis of types of fuel used the IC engine classified of-

i) Diesel Engine.

ii) Petrol Engine and

iii) Gas Engine

3. According to the cycle of operaion:

According to the cycle of operation the IC engine is classified as-

i) Otto Cycle Engine: Which engines are work on Otto Cycle are called Otto Cycle Engine.

ii) Diesel Cycle Engine: Which Engines are work on Diesel Cycle are called Diesel Cycle Engine.

iii) Duel Cycle Engine: These types of engines are work on both Otto and Diesel Cycle.

4. According to the number of stroke:

On the basis of number of stroke, the IC engines are of two types. These are-

i) Two Stroke Engine: In two stroke engine the piston moves two times; first from TDC to BDC and second from BDC to TDC to produce a power stroke.

ii) Four Stroke Engine: In four stroke engine the piston moves four times; first from TDC to BDC and second from BDC to TDC, third TDC to BDC and fourth BDC to TDC to produce a power stroke.

5. According to the type of Ignition:

On the basis of the type of ignition, internal combustion (IC) engines are two types-

i) Spark Ignition Engine: In spark ignition engine there is a spark plug which is fitted at the engine head. The spark plug produces spark after the compression of the fuel and ignites the air fuel mixture for the combustion. The petrol engines are spark ignition engine.

ii) Combustion Ignition Engine: In Compression ignition engine there is no spark plug at the cylinder head. The fuel is ignited by the heat of the compressed air. The diesel engines are compression ignition engine.

There are many others types of engines on the basis of number of cylinder, arrangement of cylinder, arrangement of valve, type of cooling and many more.