How Does an Aircraft Engine Work?
Aircraft engines are like their hearts, as they provide the energy which both propels the plane and runs all of the other systems. The engine works by turning the alternator that provides electricity and running the various pumps that power systems pertaining to hydraulics, pressurization, and others. Moreover, its goal is to transform potential energy stored in fuel into mechanical energy that powers the airplane it is a part of.
Engines are composed of several basic components. First is the cylinder which is where combustion occurs. Next is the piston, where it rests inside the bottom of the cylinder and provides the compression for combustion. The connecting rod supports the piston, and it transmits energy down to the crankshaft which is then transferred out of the engine to a propeller.
The cylinder head is located above the cylinder and it houses vital components, including valves and spark plugs. The valves open up to let the air and fuel mixture into the cylinder, in addition to allowing combustion gasses out. At this point, the spark plug ignites the compressed fuel and air, transforming chemical energy into mechanical energy that spins the crankshaft and turns the propeller. Now that the fundamentals have been established, we will explain how these components work together.
The majority of aircraft engines are four-stroke engines with four distinct phases: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. The intake stroke occurs when the piston lowers from the top of the cylinder while the intake valve opens to let in the fuel/air mixture. Next, the compression stroke commences when the intake valve closes, and the piston moves upward toward the top of the cylinder. The power stroke begins when the spark plug ignites the compressed air and fuel mixture; this leads to combustion pushing the piston back down with great force. Finally, the exhaust stroke begins once the piston reaches the bottom and starts to rise again to remove burned gasses through the open exhaust valve, and the cycle continues. Though the aforementioned steps have been broken down separately, in reality, the process is more instantaneous.
In order to ensure proper engine functionality,
engine cooling systems must be implemented because internal combustion engines turn a great deal of the energy from combustion into waste heat. Much of this heat is sent out through the exhaust, but there is still a significant amount remaining; the nacelle features ducts and baffles that direct air flow evenly across the engine’s cooling surfaces. This helps to balance the temperature of the engine, and without this system, engine failure has the potential to occur.
Engines require fuel and air in order to operate; an intake manifold helps to guide the mixture into the cylinder and fuel is added through the carburetor or fuel injectors. Carburetors are an older technology that are known to be a reliable solution, though carburetor icing can choke the engine. On the other hand, fuel injectors allow for greater control and efficiency despite their complexity. Generally, the exhaust system of an aircraft transfers spent gasses and heat out of the cylinder, transporting hot exhaust safely out of the engine compartment and into a muffler. That being said, the exhaust system is fundamental to the safety of an aircraft. Additionally, to get more power from an engine, forced induction, also called supercharging, can be used. This feature works by compressing intake air to force more air and fuel into the engine than atmospheric conditions will allow.
Those searching for
high quality aircraft engine parts and more can count on ASAP Sourcing Solutions, where we are committed to our customers. With more than 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find parts available in our inventory, we can meet your procurement needs with ease. Operating with
AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accreditation, we subject countless parts to rigorous quality control measures to ensure their fit, form, and function. Moreover, we ship out our products alongside their applicable manufacturing trace documentation and qualifying certifications to guarantee their high caliber. Call or email our team today to commence the procurement process with a distributor you can trust.
-
mark watkins
-
Posted on January 12, 2023
aircraft parts