DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENGINES IN BRIEF

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Steam Engines – These can be reciprocating or rotary (turbine). They require a boiler

and auxiliary pumps to provide the power, and could be described as external

combustion engines, taking up much more space than internal combustion engines.

Gas Turbines - These are high powered, expensive and are used to power modern

major warships, trains and aircraft. They are not piston engines and are not covered by

the course.

Internal Combustion Piston Engines (ICPE) – This term covers both the Spark

Ignition Engine and the Compression Ignition Engine.

Spark Ignition Engine (SIE) – In the spark ignition engine an easily vaporised fuel,

normally petrol is mixed with air and is ignited by an electric spark at the end of the

compression stroke. This is the basic motor car engine or outboard motor.

Compression Ignition Engine (CIE) – In this engine a fuel of a much higher flash

point is used, giving a much higher safety factor. The fuel is ignited by the high

temperature of the air at the end of the compression stroke. When the air is

compressed in the cylinder, by the piston, to several hundred degrees, fuel is injected

as a fine spray into the cylinder. This engine is the basic diesel engine fitted in some

cars, vans, lorries and most small boats.

Diesel engines are used because they are economical, self contained and are more

efficient than petrol engines, are generally cheaper to maintain, and their fuel is less

hazardous than petrol.