There are two main types of internal combustion (IC) engines: the spark ignition (SI), also called

the petrol engine, and compression ignition (CI), also called the diesel engine. Most of the components of both the engines are the same, but their fuel burning process differs. In SI engines the burning of fuel occurs by the spark generated by the spark plug while in CI engines the burning of fuel occurs by its compression to high pressures. Here are the important components of the IC engines: 1) Cylinder block: The cylinder block is the main body of the engine, the structure that supports all the other components of the engine. In the case of the single cylinder engine the cylinder block houses the cylinder, while in the case of multi-cylinder engine the number of cylinders are cast together to form the cylinder block. The cylinder head is mounted at the top of the cylinder block. When the vehicle runs, large amounts of heat are generated within the cylinder block. To remove this heat the cylinder block and the cylinder head are cooled by water flowing through the water jackets within larger engines such as those found in cars and trucks. For smaller vehicles like motorcycles, fins are provided on the cylinder block and on the cylinder head to cool them. The bottom portion of the cylinder block is called a crankcase. Within the crankcase is where lubricating oil, which is used for lubricating various moving parts of the engine, is stored. 2) Cylinder: As the name suggests it is a cylindrical shaped vessel fitted in the cylinder block. This cylinder can be removed from the cylinder block and machined whenever required to. It is also called a liner or sleeve. Inside the cylinder the piston moves up and down, which is called the reciprocating motion of the piston. Burning of fuel occurs at the top of the cylinder, due to which the reciprocating motion of the piston is produced. The surface of the cylinder is finished to a high finish, so that there is minimal friction between the piston and the cylinder. In smaller vehicles like motorcycles there is only a single cylinder. In larger vehicles like high cc motorcycles, cars, trucks, etc., there are more than one cylinder in the engine. These engines are called multi-cylinder engines. The number of cylinders in these engines can be 2, 3,4, 6. In very large engines such as those of ships, the number of cylinders can be 12. The displacement volume of the engine depends on the size of the cylinder. 3) Piston: The piston is the round cylindrical component that performs a reciprocating motion inside the cylinder. While the cylinder itself is the female part, the piston is the male part. The piston fits perfectly inside the cylinder. Piston rings are fitted over the piston. The gap between the piston and the cylinder is filled by the piston rings and lubricating oil. The piston is usually made up of aluminum. When the fuel inside the cylinder is burnt the produced heat energy causes the reciprocating motion of the piston. This is the first mechanical motion produced from thermal energy. The rest of the components convert the reciprocating motion of the piston into a rotary motion which is transmitted to the wheels of the vehicle you are driving. In the previous part of the article we had seen some important components of the internal combustion (IC) engine. Here are the other remaining parts of the engine. 4) Piston rings: The piston rings are thin rings fitted in the slots made along the surface of the piston. It provides a tight seal between the piston and the cylinder walls that prevents leaking of

the combustion gases from one side to the other. This ensures that that motion of the piston produces as close as to the power generated from inside the cylinder. 5) Combustion chamber: It is in the combustion chamber where the actual burning of fuel occurs. It is the uppermost portion of the cylinder enclosed by the cylinder head and the piston. When the fuel is burnt, much thermal energy is produced which generates excessively high pressures causing the reciprocating motion of the piston. 6) Inlet manifold: Through the inlet manifold the air or air-fuel mixture is drawn into the cylinder. 7) Exhaust manifold: All the exhaust gases generated inside the cylinder after burning of fuel are discharged through the exhaust manifold into the atmosphere. 8) Inlet and exhaust valves: The inlet and the exhaust valves are placed at the top of the cylinder in the cylinder head. The inlet valves allows the intake of the fuel during suction stroke of the piston and to close thereafter. During the exhaust stroke of the piston the exhaust valves open allowing the exhaust gases to release to the atmosphere. Both these valves allow the flow of fuel and gases in single direction only. 9) Spark plug: The spark plug is a device that produces a small spark that causes the instant burning of the pressurized fuel. 10) Connecting rod: It is the connecting link between the piston and the crankshaft that performs the rotary motion. There are two ends of the connecting rod called the small end and big end. The small end of the connecting rod is connected to the piston by gudgeon pin, while the big end is connected to crankshaft by crank pin. 11) Crankshaft: The crankshaft performs the rotary motion. It is connected to the axle of the wheels which move as the crankshaft rotates. The reciprocating motion of the piston is converted into the rotary motion of the crankshaft with the help of connecting rod. The crankshaft is located in the crankcase and it rotates in the bushings. The above are the important components of the IC engines. Automotive companies have mastered the art of manufacturing the precise components of the IC engines; hence engine lifespans have been increasing over the years. Major changes have been carried out in the designing of the engines to increase their fuel efficiency and the total power output of the vehicle. These days the engines are also designed to work on different type of fuels. Thus you can run your vehicle either on gasoline fuel or LPG Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/mechanical/articles/1446.aspx#ixzz1HrYX7vjA