Machines, Engines, and Energy Sources: A Deep Dive

Machines and Energy

Machines use energy to perform useful work.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, can be burned to release heat energy.

Nuclear Fuel

Nuclear fuel, including uranium and radioactive materials like plutonium, can undergo fission reactions to produce electricity.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources were the first to be used historically, powering machines such as mills.

Water Wheel

A water wheel utilizes the energy of flowing water through a system of blades. It has various applications, such as grinding wheat to make flour.

• Wheels running low: These are the simplest type, with the bottom submerged. The force of the water current moves the wheel.
• Current average: This type of wheel is used when the current is not strong enough, and it reaches the wheel at the middle.
• High current: These are powered by a stream of water that reaches the top of the wheel.

Reciprocating Engine

A reciprocating engine produces a chemical reaction inside a small cylinder, releasing a large amount of energy as gas expands. This reaction, known as an explosion, is created by mixing a fossil fuel with oxygen from the air, triggered by a spark inside the cylinder.

Engine Cycle Types

• Two-stroke: The piston completes one round trip per engine cycle (common in low-power motorcycles).
• Four-stroke: The piston completes two round trips per complete engine cycle (common in cars and trucks).

Engine Fuel Types

• Otto cycle engine: Uses gasoline.
• Diesel cycle engine: Uses diesel fuel.

Four-Stroke Otto Cycle

The operation of this cycle consists of four phases: intake, compression, combustion (explosion), and exhaust, which are repeated to generate movement.

Diesel Cycle

The Diesel Cycle is based on the same four stages as the Otto cycle, but unlike Otto cycle engines, Diesel engines do not require a spark for combustion to occur.

Engine Displacement

Engine displacement (total useful volume/cylinder) is directly related to power. Greater displacement means more power. To calculate engine displacement, we focus on the useful volume of the cylinder, the space where the explosion occurs.

Calculating Cylinder Volume

To calculate the volume of a cylinder, we need the length of the useful stroke (H) and the diameter of the cylinder (D). The volume is calculated as follows: (It is assumed that the user knows the formula, based on the original text)

Electric Motor

An electric motor consists of an electromagnet called a stator (fixed or mobile) and a magnet rotor. The stator receives electrical current, generating a magnetic field that moves. The rotor tends to stop when it reaches equilibrium.

Transmission of Movement

• n = wheel speed (revolutions per minute - RPM)
• d = diameter of each wheel

n2 * d2 = n1 * d1 => n2 = n1 * (d1/d2) = Transmission Ratio = I1-2