Development of Reciprocating Engine Flashcards
(97 cards)
___________ begins as the piston starts its downward travel from top dead center up to bottom dead center.
intake stroke
When this happens, the intake valve opens and the fuel-air mixture is drawn into the cylinder.
At what stroke does this happen?
intake stroke
The ______________ begins when the intake valve closes, and the piston starts moving back to the top dead center of the cylinder.
compression stroke
This phase of the cycle is used to obtain a much greater power output from the fuel-air mixture once it is ignited.
compression stroke
Elements of a Reciprocating Engine
- intake valve
- piston
- crankshaft
- spark plug
- connecting rod
- exhaust valve
The __________ begins when the fuel-air mixture is ignited. This causes a tremendous pressure increase in the cylinder and forces the piston downward away from the cylinder head, creating the power that turns the crankshaft.
power stroke
The ____________ is used to purge the cylinder of burned gases.
exhaust stroke
It begins when the exhaust valve opens, and the piston starts to move toward the cylinder head once again.
exhaust stroke
What are the four strokes?
intake, compression, power, exhaust
What are the five events?
intake, compression, ignition, power, exhaust
The conversion of the resultant heat energy into mechanical energy and then into work is accomplished in the __________.
cylinder
Process of Reciprocating Engine Operation
- fuel is vaporized and mixed with air
- forced or drawn into a cylinder
- compressed by a piston
- ignited by an electric spark
Two Primary Reciprocating Engine Designs
spark ignition (gasoline) and compression ignition (diesel)
What is the main difference between spark ignition and compression ignition?
process of igniting the fuel
How is the fuel ignited in a spark ignition engine?
through the use of spark plug
______________ is the ratio of the “weight” of fuel to the “weight” of air in the mixture to be burned.
Fuel-air mixture
A _____________ first compresses the air in the cylinder, raising its temperature to a degree necessary for automatic ignition when fuel is injected into the cylinder.
compression ignition engine
Reciprocating engines may operate on either a ______ or ____ cycle.
two-stroke, four-stroke
Because a to-stroke engine has a power stroke upon each revolution of the crankshaft, it typically has higher _______________ than a comparable four-stroke engine.
power-to-weight ratio
Why is the use of two-stroke engine limited in aviation?
due to inherent inefficiency and disproportionate emissions
Types of Reciprocating Engines
radial engines, in-line engines, v-type engines, horizontally opposed engines
consists of one or more rows of odd-numbered cylinders arranged in a circle around a central crankshaft
radial piston engine
Due to the small size of the crankcase, this engine type had a better power-to-weight ratio than most other designs of their day.
radial engine