INTERNAL COMBUSTION

ENGINE

Nicholas DiPreta

Alex Leondis

Basic Premise

Conversion of PE from propellant to a desired motion

Propellant and engine create motion

Where it Came From

Internal combustion engine is derived from the military cannons of old.

Internal Combustion

~ Ignited small amount of fuel in compressed space creates expanding gas-> Otto Cycle

Compression of gas and air ignites and explodes!

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Otto Cycle

Nikolaus Otto, 1867 Four Step Process Intake, Compression, Combustion, Exhaust

Step 1~ Intake Stroke

Intake valve opens, allowing propellant air mixture into cylinder- like putting hairspray in our gun.

Piston begins to move downwards

Step 2~Compression Stroke Piston moves back up to increase pressure of gas air

mixture. Like pushing the potato further into the chamber via ramrod.

Step 3~Ignition/Combustion

Spark plug ignites fuel, driving piston and down

Like igniting the barbeque igniter

Step 4~ Exhaust Stroke

Exhaust valve opens, allowing exhaust out Similarly, exhaust is emitted from the potato gun

The Cycle

The Internal Combustion Engine undergoes a repetitive cycle that differentiates it from a simple explosion powered gun

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm

Intake

CompressionIgnition/Combustion

Exhaust

Engine Arrangements

Inline, V, or Flat

Physics Applications Impulse

Work/KE relation

Fdcos(ᶱ)= ∆KE is transferred into potential and back throughout trajectory

Trying to optimize results by adhering to formulae

Alex’s stuff