Applications of IC Engines

Introduction:

Now-a-days, IC Engines are used in all fields of industry and transportation. They are universally used for land, water and air transport also. Many CI engines are used for power generation in small capacity (2 to 20 MW). Brief applications of different types of engines are given below:

a.      Petrol Engines:

Automobiles, Marine, Aircraft.

b.      Diesel Engines:

Automobile, Locomotive, Marine and Power Generation.

c.      Gas Engines:

Industrial purposes and Power Generation.

d.      Gas Turbines:

Air craft, Marine, Industrial and Power Generation.

1.      Use of Two Stroke Petrol Engines:

These types of engines are used for scooters, mopeds and lawn movers in the capacity of 1.5 to 5 kW at 2000 to 5000 RPM. They are preferred for such applications because of their simplicity in working and low maintenance cost. They are also used for small electric generating sets; pumping sets and outboard engines.

The details of engines used for 2-wheelers are listed below:

a.      Moped (50 CC) with 1.5 kW at 5000 RPM,

b.      Scooter (100 CC) with 3.5 kW at 5000 RPM,

c.      Scooter (150 CC) with 5 kW at 5300 RPM,

d.      Motorcycle (250 CC) with 9 kW at 4500 RPM

2.      Use of 4-stroke Petrol Engines:

These engines are extensively used in cars, jeeps, buses and trucks. They are also used in pumping sets and mobile electric generating sets. But these are replaced by now-a-days by diesel engines because of high cost of petrol.

The details of engines used for 4-wheelers are listed below:

a.      Fiat car (1089 CC) 4-cylinder, 32 kW at 5000 RPM,

b.      American car (6-cylinder) 185 kW at 5000 RPM,

c.      Jeeps (4000 CC) 6-cylinders 90 kW.

The present common trend is to shift towards diesel cars because of high price of petrol and high running cost.

3.      Use of 4-Stroke Diesel Engines:

This is most commonly used prime mover because of low running cost. The speed of this engine can vary from 100 to 4500 RPM and power capacity varies from 1 kW to 100 kW per cylinder.

Small capacity diesel engines are used for pumping sets, construction machinery, drilling rigs and air compressors. In a middle range capacity, they are used for Jeeps, tractors and buses and trucks. Higher capacity diesel engines are used in railways, ships and small electric generating sets.

4.      Use of 2-Stroke Diesel Engines:

These engines in high capacity range are generally preferred for ship propulsion as the weight of the engine is one of the major considerations in the design of ship. Theoretically, the weight of 2-stroke engine is 50% of four stroke engine when both are running at same speed and developing same power.

Generally all engines above 60 cm bore are 2-Stroke, uniflow with exhaust valves or loop scavenged diesel engines. A Nordberg, 2-Stroke, 12 cylinder diesel engine develops 20MW at 120 RPM. This low speed of the engine allows to couple directly to the propeller of the ship without any gear mechanism.