The Process Of An Internal Combustion Engine

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Process Essay

Process of a 4-stroke Internal Combustion Engine

A common phrase that is heard whilst growing up is "curiosity killed the cat". This phrase might be true but; "ingenuity brought the cat back". Having a mindset in which giving up is never an option has plagued most inventors of the modern day, especially a high school drop out named Nikolaus August Otto, born in 1832. Otto was responsible for the development and improvement of the 4-stroke motor that is used today in just about every automobile on the road. Many people drive cars but fail to realize how they work, and don't try to learn about engines because they think it is complex, and not an easy concept to grasp. Air, fuel, spark, and combustion are the premise of an internal combustion engine. A simplistic view on an internal combustion engine is outlined below.

The first step in an internal combustion engine is to acquire all the attributes to create combustion in a chamber. The necessary air flows through the air filter (usually a conical shaped, micro filament, located in either the front right or left of the engine bay). After the air is sucked into the filter it passes through some tubing until it reaches the mass air sensor. The mass air sensor does exactly what it says, senses the amount of air flow and converts it into a signal or number which then is used to determine the amount of fuel to be delivered. The air and fuel must be at a regulated ratio for maximum gas mileage and power efficiency. Next the air goes through the throttle body, this mechanism regulates the amount of air let into the lower half of the engine, and this is attached to the accelerator (gas pedal) by a cable. The further the gas pedal is depressed, the greater amou...

... middle of paper ...

...Now, as the piston moves up on the exhaust stroke, it forces the burned gases out of the cylinder through the exhaust port. When the piston reaches the top of its travel, the exhaust valve closes, and the intake valve opens. The cycle repeats again with the intake stroke. The four strokes are continuously repeated during the operation of the engine

This total process takes less than half a second to complete, and enables vehicles to get to their destination. Reading this paper does not qualify the reader as a mechanic, but should give the person reading a better appreciation for the vehicle. It is always good to know the basics of a car so if the car ends up in need of repair, the owner can have some information and basic diagnosis. With the knowledge gained from this paper, a basic understanding should be gained on the process of an Internal Combustion Engine.

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