Aeroengine Types

ENGINE

Objective: To give a brief introduction to aero engines.

Desired Learning Outcomes:

  1. Understand the origin of aero engine.

  2. Analyse (broadly outlined) types of engines.

  3. Revise basic Gas laws.

  4. Understand the derivation of chemically correct mixture.

History of Engine

1. The industrial revolution, which took place in the late eighteenth century and continued into part of the twentieth century, was largely a result of the ability of human beings to find ways of using energy sources to develop power. Development of the internal-combustion engine took place largely during the nineteenth century. A French inventor named Jean Lenoir built the first practical gas engine in 1860. However, the first four-stroke-cycle engine was built by August Otto and Eugen Langen of Germany in 1876. Otto and Langen also built a two-stroke cycle engine. The first truly successful gasoline engine, operating according to the four stroke-cycle principle, was built in Germany in 1885 by Daimler, who had previously been associated with Otto and Langen.   Karl Benz of Germany built a similar gasoline engine in the same year.   The Daimler and Benz engines were used in early automobiles, and the engines used today are similar in many respects to the Daimler and Benz engines.

2. The first powered flight in an airplane was made by the Wright brothers on December 17, 1903; it is safe to say that the first successful gasoline engine for an airplane was the engine used in the Wright plane(fig 1-1). It was a four cylinder, water-cooled, 12 horsepower engine producing ignition by means of a high-tension magneto.

Fig 1-1
Fig 1-1

Types of Energies

3. Energy is the capacity for doing work.   There are mainly two types of energies: kinetic and potential.   Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, such as, that possessed by a moving cannon ball, falling water or a strong wind.   Potential energy or stored energy, is the energy of position.   A...