I.C AND E.

C ENGINES

An Engine is a mechanical device that is used to convert one form of energy to

another.

Internal Combustion Engines:

In an internal combustion engine, the working fluid consists of a combustible fluid
placed inside a cylinder these engines, the fluid undergoes combustion inside the
cylinder and expands.

The most common types of internal combustion are

 Open cycle gas turbine
 Reciprocating internal combustion engine
 Wankel Engine etc.

Advantages of internal combustion engines:

1. Size of engine is very less compared to external combustion engines.

2. Power to weight ratio is high.
3. Very suitable for small power requirement applications.
4. Usually more portable than their counterpart external combustion engines.
5. Safer to operate.
6. Starting time is very less.
 7. High efficiency than external combustion engine.
8. No chances of leakage of working fluids.
9. Requires less maintenance.
10. Lubricant consumption is less as compared to external combustion engines.

Disadvantages of internal combustion engines:

1. Variety of fuels that can be used is limited to very fine quality gaseous and
liquid fuel.
2. Fuel used is very costly like gasoline or diesel.
3. Engine emissions are generally high compared to external combustion engine.
4. Not suitable of large scale power generation.
5. In case of reciprocating internal combustion noise is generated due to
detonation of fuel.

External Combustion Engines:

In an external combustion engine, the fuel is burnt outside the engine and the
energy which is obtained by the combustion of fuel is then carried to the engine
with the help of a heat carrying medium.

In case of many engines the heat carrying medium is water but in several other
cases it can also be air.

In most of the power plants in the world steam turbines are used to generate
electricity. The reason of their popularity is that since they are external combustion
engines so they have nothing to do with the type of fuel which is used to convert
water into steam. All the steam turbines need is good quality steam.

Types and Applications of external combustion engines

1. Steam engines: Locomotive, Marine
2. Stirling Engines: Experimental space vehicles
3. Steam Turbines: Power, Large Marine
4. Closed Cycle Gas Turbine: Power, Marine
Advantages of external combustion engines:

1. Almost any kind of fuel that is available can be used

2. Since power is not generated due to detonation of fuel hence very less noise is
generated.
3. Engine emissions are also very low
4. Very economical for huge power generation

Disadvantages of external combustion engines:

1. Not suitable for low load requirements

2. Leakage of working fluid
3. Lubricant consumption
4. Size of engine is relatively big
5. Overall working temperature is high so great care and special building
materials are required.
Difference between IC engine and External combustion engine

1. External combustion engine run smoothly and silently where of internal

combustion engines are very noisy due to the sound produced from continuous
explosions inside the cylinder of IC engine.

2. Working pressure and temperature in external combustion is low whereas in I.C

engines working pressure and temperature is high.

3. External combustion engines have 15-20% efficiency whereas Internal

combustion engine have 35-60%.
4. An external combustion engine requires a boiler and other components to
transfer energy.Thus it is a heavy engine whereas in an I.C engine parts are light
and compact.

5. External combustion engine can not be started instantaneously whereas internal

combustion engine starting is quick and easy.

6. In external combustion engine, combustion of fuel takes place outside the

cylinder whereas in I.c engine, combustion of fuel takes place inside the
cylinder.This is a constructional difference between ic engine and external
combustion engine.

7. Due to exposure to low pressure and temperature ordinary alloys can be used for
the manufacture of engine cylinder of ec engines and its parts whereas in I.c
engines, due to high pressure and temperature, special alloys are used for
manufacture of engine cylinder and its parts.

8.Steam engine,steam turbine and sterling engine are examples of external

combustion engine.

9.Petrol engine,Diesel engine and wrankle engine are examples of internal

combustion engine.

10. Cost of external combustion engine is very high whereas I.C engine is cheap .