Applications of Internal and External Combustion (IC & EC) Engines (2024)

Table of Contents

On the basis of place of actual combustion of the fuel, engines are categorized into internal and external combustion engines.

In internal combustion engine fuel burns inside the engine, while in external combustion engine actual burning of fuel takes place outside the engine and heat is carried to the engine with the help of working fluid.

Both internal and external combustion engines have their different applications. For better understanding we put the applications of both the types of Engines in Tabular form.

Applications of external combustion engine &applications of internal combustion engine

Applications of internal combustion engine

Internal Combustion (IC) Engine
TypeApplication
Gasoline EnginesAutomotive, Marine, Aircraft
Gas EnginesIndustrial Power
Diesel EnginesAutomotive, Railways, Power, Marine
Gas TurbinesPower, Aircraft, Industrial, Marine

Applications of external combustion engine

External Combustion (EC) Engine
TypeApplication
Steam EnginesLocomotive, Marine
Stirling EnginesExperimental space vehicles
Steam TurbinesPower, Large Marine
Closed Cycle Gas TurbinePower, Marine

Brief discussion on different types of Internal and External combustion Engines

Gasoline Engines

Gasoline engine, is a kind of internal-combustion engine that generate power by burning a volatile liquid fuel (gasoline or a gasoline mixture such as ethanol) with ignition initiated by an electric spark.

Gas Turbine

A gas turbine is a internal combustion engine that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator that produces electrical energy. It is electrical energy that moves along power lines to homes and businesses.

Diesel Engines

A Diesel engine is a type of internal combustion enginewhich ignites fuel by injecting it into hot, high-pressure air in a combustion chamber.

Gas Engines

Agas engineis aninternal combustion enginewhich runs on a gas fuel, such ascoal gas,producer gas,bio-gas,landfill gasornatural gas.

Steam Engines

Asteam engineis aheat enginethat performsmechanical workusingsteamas itsworking fluid.Steam engines areexternal combustion engines,where the working fluid is separated from the combustion products.

Stirling engine

AStirling engineis aheat enginethat operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas (theworking fluid) at different temperatures, such that there is a net conversion ofheat energy to mechanicalWork.

Steam Turbines

A steam turbine is a rotary heat engine that converts thermal energy contained in the steam to mechanical energy or to electrical energy.

Closed Cycle Gas Turbine

Aclosed-cycle gas turbineis aturbinethat uses a gas (e.g. air,nitrogen,helium,argon,etc.) for theworking fluidas part of aclosed thermodynamic system. Heat is supplied from an external source.Such recirculating turbines follow theBrayton cycle.

Applications of Internal and External Combustion (IC & EC) Engines (2024)

FAQs

What are the applications of EC engine? ›

What are some common applications of the External Combustion Engine? Some common applications of External Combustion Engines include steam locomotives, steam ships, and power plants for electricity generation.

What are the uses and applications of internal combustion engines? ›

Internal combustion engines (ICE) are the most common form of heat engines, as they are used in vehicles, boats, ships, airplanes, and trains. They are named as such because the fuel is ignited in order to do work inside the engine. The same fuel and air mixture is then emitted as exhaust.

What is the difference between the internal and external combustion engines with applications? ›

In IC engines, the combustion of fuel takes place inside, whereas in EC engines the fuel combustion takes place outside the cylinder. The advantages of IC engine are higher BTE, more horsepower developed per unit weight and low cost compared to that of external combustion engine.

What is the comparison between IC and EC engine? ›

The main difference is in the location of combustion. In external combustion engines, fuel combustion occurs in a combustion chamber located outside of the rest of the engine. In internal combustion engines, combustion takes place inside the engine.

What is an example of an IC and EC engine? ›

Steam Engine, Steam Turbines are the examples of EC Engines, where the steam is working substance generated in the boiler by the combustion of fuel. The engine in which combustion of fuel takes place inside the working system of heat engine. Petrol Engine, Diesel Engine and Gas Engine are the examples of IC Engines.

Where is an external combustion engine used? ›

Energy Sources for External Combustion Engines

They have also been developed for use in domestic combined heat and power systems where natural gas is used to generate heat that drives a Stirling heat engine with additional heat from the combustion process utilised for hot water and space heating.

What is the main purpose of the internal combustion engine? ›

Its purpose is to generate mechanical power from the chemical energy contained in the fuel and released through combustion of the fuel inside the engine.

What is an example of an IC engine? ›

Internal-combustion engines are the most broadly applied and widely used power-generating devices currently in existence. Examples include gasoline engines, diesel engines, gas-turbine engines, and rocket-propulsion systems.

What is the function of the IC engine? ›

Combustion, also known as burning, is the basic chemical process of releasing energy from a fuel and air mixture. In an internal combustion engine (ICE), the ignition and combustion of the fuel occurs within the engine itself. The engine then partially converts the energy from the combustion to work.

What is one main advantage of an external combustion engine? ›

External combustion engines are discussed as possible alternatives to the internal combustion engine for vehicle propulsion. Potential advantages are low levels of exhaust pollution, quiet operation, high starting torque, and possible lower costs during a vehicle lifetime.

What are the advantages of IC engines over external combustion engines? ›

The efficiency of an internal combustion engine is greater than that of an external combustion engine. The internal combustion engine can be manufactured in a range of sizes and can be fitted to small machines as well. There is no risk of accidents. Moreover, an internal combustion engine can be started immediately.

What are the advantages of the IC engine? ›

The advantages of internal combustion engines include a high power-to-weight ratio, widely available fuel, low cost, and ease of use. Disadvantages include limited efficiency, emissions, noise, and maintenance requirements.

What is the most powerful IC engine in the world? ›

The Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the world's largest and most powerful production internal combustion engine. It has a maximum output of 84.42 MW (113,000 hp) of power and a displacement of 1,820 litres (110,195 cubic inches), making it larger than a V12 engine.

What is the most advanced IC engine? ›

The $60,000 Infiniti QX50 Has The World's Most Advanced Combustion Engine. The variable compression 2.0-liter seems too smooth and powerful to be a four-cylinder.

Which is more efficient, IC or EC? ›

External Combustion engines have 15–20% efficiency whereas Internal Combustion engines have 35–60% efficiency. Are turbine engines more efficient than piston engines? Not in general. At small sizes, gas turbines tend to be far less efficient than piston engines.

What is an example of an EC engine? ›

External combustion engine

For example, a natural gas power plant boils water into steam to turn a turbine, creating electricity. The external combustion design means that the natural gas does not come in direct contact with the water, and the engine still uses the immense amount of energy emitted to do useful work.

What are the advantages of EC engine? ›

Potential advantages are low levels of exhaust pollution, quiet operation, high starting torque, and possible lower costs during a vehicle lifetime.

What is the application of Otto Cycle engine? ›

The efficiency of an Otto Cycle is characterized using the formula: η = 1 - 1/r^(γ-1), where η is the efficiency, r is the compression ratio, and γ is the heat capacity ratio. Examples of Otto Cycle applications include automotive engines, power generators, and certain types of aircraft engines.

What are the application of high speed engines? ›

High-speed engines, with rated speeds of 900 to 1,200 revolutions per minute, are used in a few cases in ships, but engines of this class are almost always found in small craft such as tugs, fishing vessels, and high-speed ferries.

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