internal combustion
Fuel burns inside
Internal combustion describes engines that generate power by burning fuel inside enclosed cylinders rather than in an external furnace.
The combustion of gasoline or diesel creates expanding gases that drive pistons.
Most cars, trucks, and motorcycles use internal combustion engines: The internal combustion engine revolutionized transportation.
Reciprocating cylinder component
- cylinderCircular-based solid form
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
- valveFluid flow controller
carburetor · spark plug · four-stroke · two-stroke · compression · intake · exhaust · overhead cam
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
- dieselCompression-ignition fuel
- petrolMotor vehicle fuel
- octanePetroleum hydrocarbon measure
- ethanolDrinkable volatile spirit
biodiesel · kerosene · propane · methane · butane · hydrocarbons · petroleum · fossil fuels
Wheeled motor vehicle
- vehicleMeans of transport
- automobileSelf-propelled passenger conveyance
- motorcyclePowered two-wheeler
- truckHeavy freight vehicle
driving · motor · emissions · muffler · catalytic converter · tailpipe · horsepower · torque
Transferred thermal energy
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- exothermicReleasing energy as heat
- energy conversionChanging power between forms
work · power output · thermal efficiency · heat dissipation · cooling · radiator · waste heat · mechanical energy
piston
Reciprocating cylinder component
- cylinderCircular-based solid form
- crankshaftRotating engine shaft
- camshaftLobed rod operating valves
valve · carburetor · spark plug · four-stroke · two-stroke · compression · intake · exhaust · overhead cam · fuel injection
gasoline
Refined petroleum vehicle fuel
ethanol · biodiesel · kerosene · propane · methane · butane · hydrocarbons · petroleum · fossil fuels · biofuel
car
Wheeled motor vehicle
- vehicleMeans of transport
- automobileSelf-propelled passenger conveyance
- motorcyclePowered two-wheeler
truck · driving · motor · emissions · muffler · catalytic converter · tailpipe · horsepower · torque · transmission
heat
Transferred thermal energy
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- exothermicReleasing energy as heat
energy conversion · work · power output · thermal efficiency · heat dissipation · cooling · radiator · waste heat · mechanical energy · chemical energy
- combustion typessmoldering, detonation
- Mechanical Engineeringmechanical engineer, design engineer, valves, motors, aerospace engineer
- Victorian inventionstelegraph, steam engine, phonograph, typewriter, light bulb
- enginesdiesel engine, gasoline engine, car engine, truck engine, piston engine
- locomotionwalking, running, crawling, swimming, flying
- power sourcessolar power, electricity, wind power, steam, hydro power
internal combustionelectric
Powered by current
battery-electric · electric motor · steam power · steam engine · hydrogen fuel cell
internal, external, combustion, internally, internalize, internalized, internalizing