Internal combustion engine - Revision history

CZMatt at 00:43, 9 December 2019

2019-12-09T00:43:33Z

CZMatt at 05:17, 7 December 2019

2019-12-07T05:17:02Z

CZMatt at 05:16, 7 December 2019

2019-12-07T05:16:33Z

CZMatt at 03:20, 7 December 2019

2019-12-07T03:20:27Z

CZMatt at 02:55, 7 December 2019

2019-12-07T02:55:12Z

CZMatt at 02:54, 7 December 2019

2019-12-07T02:54:56Z

CZMatt: Animation wasn't working, here's the static image

2019-12-07T02:54:00Z

Animation wasn't working, here's the static image

CZMatt: Added animation

2019-12-07T02:50:42Z

Added animation

CZMatt: Additional list item

2019-12-07T02:46:35Z

Additional list item

CZMatt: Added some perspective on place in space exploration

2019-12-06T03:34:03Z

Added some perspective on place in space exploration

New page

An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>

== Proposed use in space exploration ==

=== Advantages ===
Internal combustion engines have a few big advantages over batteries. For one, in many cases, it is easier to transfer and store larger amounts of fuel and oxidizer in bulk than electricity in batteries. Batteries require a complex chain of manufacturing to be produced. Thus, they likely will not be produced on Mars until moderate scale industrial operations are established. Internal combustion engines too require complex manufacturing, but one only needs one engine to convert a massive store of fuel and oxidizer into usable energy. With batteries, the batteries ''are'' the store of energy, so they would be required in bulk.<ref name=":0">See discussion on NasaSpaceFlight Forums: [https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30882.0 "How to develop lots of good surface vehicles for Mars colonists?"]</ref>

The engines allow a great deal of portability. Smaller engines can be used for small vehicles traversing the surface or excavation, while larger engines can be used to generate electricity during night or emergencies. Waste heat from these engines can be recycled into heating the vehicles and habitats or into nearby industrial processes, such as warming ice into water.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
<references />

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:43, 9 December 2019
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	==References==		==References==
	<references />		<references />
		+	[[Category:Energy‎]]

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-An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
+An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as [[natural gas]], [[propane]], [[biodeisel]], or [[ethanol]].<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
 ==General design==
 The combustion and engine cycle occur in a cylinder in the engine. A piston compresses a mix of fuel and oxidizer before combustion occurs. Combustion occurs in a combustion chamber and expands the gas to push the piston to its original position. Each piston is linked to the crankshaft with the piston rod. The crankshaft rotates, turning the linear motion of the cylinder into rational motion.<ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/icengine.html "Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref><ref name=":1">Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/engopt.html "Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref>
-=== Engine cycle ===
+===Engine cycle===
 Internal combustion engines have staged engine cycles. Most combustion engines have four staged cycles, but many engines also have two or six cycles.<ref name=":1" /><!-- Expand with Hall sources with actual cycle steps and illustrations of those steps -->
-== Fuels ==
+==Fuels==
 Internal combustion engines can operate on a wide variety of fuels. While gasoline is the most common, hydrogen, methane, propane, and more engines are operated.
-=== Methane ===
+===Methane===
 A methane or compressed natural gas internal combustion engine is partially attractive because of its lower emissions. Methane has a lower [[flame speed]] and the durability of these engines can be very high.<ref name=":2">Çeper, Bilge Albayrak (2012-10-17). [https://www.intechopen.com/books/hydrogen-energy-challenges-and-perspectives/use-of-hydrogen-methane-blends-in-internal-combustion-engines "Use of Hydrogen-Methane Blends in Internal Combustion Engines."] ''Hydrogen Energy - Challenges and Perspectives''. [https://doi.org/10.5772%2F50597 doi:10.5772/50597].</ref> <!-- Insert information from the Case for Mars about methane ICEs here -->

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 An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
-== General design ==
+==General design==
-The combustion and engine cycle occur in a cylinder in the engine. A piston compresses a mix of fuel and oxidizer before combustion occurs. Combustion occurs in a combustion chamber and expands the gas to push the piston to its original position. Each piston is linked to the crankshaft with the piston rod. The crankshaft rotates, turning the linear motion of the cylinder into rational motion.<ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/icengine.html "Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref><ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/engopt.html "Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref>
+The combustion and engine cycle occur in a cylinder in the engine. A piston compresses a mix of fuel and oxidizer before combustion occurs. Combustion occurs in a combustion chamber and expands the gas to push the piston to its original position. Each piston is linked to the crankshaft with the piston rod. The crankshaft rotates, turning the linear motion of the cylinder into rational motion.<ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/icengine.html "Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref><ref name=":1">Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/engopt.html "Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref>
 ==Proposed use in space exploration==

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:20, 7 December 2019
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	An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>		An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
		+
		+	== General design ==
		+	The combustion and engine cycle occur in a cylinder in the engine. A piston compresses a mix of fuel and oxidizer before combustion occurs. Combustion occurs in a combustion chamber and expands the gas to push the piston to its original position. Each piston is linked to the crankshaft with the piston rod. The crankshaft rotates, turning the linear motion of the cylinder into rational motion.<ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/icengine.html "Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref><ref>Hall, Nancy. [https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/engopt.html "Four Stroke Internal Combustion Engine."] NASA Glenn Research Center. Last modified May 5, 2015. </ref>

	==Proposed use in space exploration==		==Proposed use in space exploration==

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, 7 December 2019
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−	~~[[File:Static 1903 Wright Engine GRC.gif\|thumb\|Model of a cylinder found in the 1903 Wright Brothers' aircraft internal combustion engine.\|alt=\|313x313px]]~~
	An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>		An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:54, 7 December 2019
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−	[[File:Static 1903 Wright Engine GRC.gif\|thumb\|Model of a cylinder found in the 1903 Wright Brothers' aircraft internal combustion engine.]]	+	[[File:Static 1903 Wright Engine GRC.gif\|thumb\|Model of a cylinder found in the 1903 Wright Brothers' aircraft internal combustion engine.\|alt=\|313x313px]]
	An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>		An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:50, 7 December 2019
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		+	[[File:Wright 4-Stroke Internal Combustion Engine GRC.gif\|alt=1903 Wright Brothers' internal combustion engine cylinder\|thumb\|Animation of a cylinder found in the 1903 Wright Brothers' aircraft internal combustion engine.]]
	An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>		An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
+An internal combustion engine is an engine that generates rotational motion by driving a piston with the expansion of combusting gas. In order for this to occur, a fuel and oxidizer must be mixed and ignited, usually with a spark plug with most fuels or compressing air until it is hot and introducing diesel. This rotational motion can then be linked to wheels, pumps, propellers, or other mechanical devices via shafts, belts, and gears. On Earth, most internal combustion engines run on [[gasoline]], but other fuels can be used, such as natural gas, propane, biodeisel, or ethanol.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/articles/internal-combustion-engine-basics “Internal Combustion Engine Basics.”] ''U.S. Department of Energy'', November 22, 2013. </ref>
-== Proposed use in space exploration ==
+==Proposed use in space exploration==
-=== Advantages ===
+===Advantages===
 Internal combustion engines have a few big advantages over batteries. For one, in many cases, it is easier to transfer and store larger amounts of fuel and oxidizer in bulk than electricity in batteries. Batteries require a complex chain of manufacturing to be produced. Thus, they likely will not be produced on Mars until moderate scale industrial operations are established. Internal combustion engines too require complex manufacturing, but one only needs one engine to convert a massive store of fuel and oxidizer into usable energy. With batteries, the batteries ''are'' the store of energy, so they would be required in bulk.<ref name=":0">See discussion on NasaSpaceFlight Forums: [https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30882.0 "How to develop lots of good surface vehicles for Mars colonists?"]</ref>