Master the mechanics of power generation
PRINCIPLE: Converts chemical energy from fuel into mechanical work through controlled combustion inside cylinders.
APPLICATIONS: Automobiles, motorcycles, generators, lawn equipment
Uses spark ignition. Fuel-air mixture compressed then ignited by spark plug. Higher RPM, lighter weight. Compression ratio: 8:1 to 12:1
Uses compression ignition. Air compressed to high temperature, fuel injected and auto-ignites. More efficient, higher torque. Compression ratio: 14:1 to 25:1
Completes power cycle in two strokes (one crankshaft revolution). Simpler design, higher power-to-weight ratio, used in chainsaws and small engines.
Completes cycle in four strokes: intake, compression, power, exhaust. More efficient, cleaner emissions, standard in automobiles.
PRINCIPLE: Converts electrical energy into mechanical rotation using electromagnetic induction and magnetic field interactions.
APPLICATIONS: Electric vehicles, industrial machinery, HVAC systems, robotics
Uses brushes and commutator. Simple speed control with voltage variation. Requires maintenance due to brush wear. Common in small appliances.
Electronic commutation, no brushes. Higher efficiency, longer life, higher cost. Used in drones, EVs, computer fans.
Most common industrial motor. Stator creates rotating magnetic field, rotor follows. Rugged, low maintenance. Powers pumps, compressors.
Rotor speed synchronized with AC frequency. Constant speed regardless of load. Used in clocks, turntables, precision equipment.
Divides rotation into precise steps. Excellent position control without feedback. Used in 3D printers, CNC machines, robotics.
Includes feedback system for precise position/speed control. High torque, accurate positioning. Used in robotics, RC vehicles, automation.
PRINCIPLE: Converts thermal energy from steam into mechanical work using pressure differential to move pistons or spin turbines.
APPLICATIONS: Power generation, historical locomotives, marine propulsion, industrial processes
Uses piston-cylinder arrangement. Steam pushes piston back and forth. Common in locomotives and early industrial machinery. Simple but lower efficiency.
Steam jets spin turbine blades. Continuous rotation, higher efficiency, more compact. Used in modern power plants generating 80% of world's electricity.
Steam expands through multiple cylinders sequentially. Higher efficiency through staged expansion. Used in large ships and stationary power.
Steam enters at cylinder ends, exhausts from center. More efficient thermal cycle. Used in some industrial applications.
PRINCIPLE: Generates thrust by accelerating a mass of air rearward through compression, combustion, and expansion.
APPLICATIONS: Commercial aircraft, military jets, cruise missiles, auxiliary power units
All thrust from exhaust gases. Simple design, high speed capability, loud, fuel-inefficient at low speeds. Used in early jets and some military aircraft.
Large fan bypasses air around core. 50-90% of thrust from fan. Quieter, more efficient, standard for commercial aviation. High bypass = better efficiency.
Turbine drives propeller instead of producing jet thrust. Efficient at lower speeds (<450 mph). Used in regional aircraft and military transports.
Optimized to drive shaft rather than produce thrust. Powers helicopters, tanks, ships, and industrial equipment.
No moving parts. Compression from forward speed alone. Only works at supersonic speeds. Used in missiles and experimental aircraft.
PRINCIPLE: Generates thrust via Newton's Third Law by expelling high-velocity exhaust gases, carrying own oxidizer for operation in vacuum.
APPLICATIONS: Space launch vehicles, satellites, spacecraft propulsion, ballistic missiles
Fuel and oxidizer pre-mixed as solid propellant. Simple, reliable, cannot be throttled or shut down once ignited. Used in boosters (Space Shuttle SRBs), missiles.
Separate liquid fuel and oxidizer. Complex but throttleable, restartable. Higher performance. Used in Saturn V, Falcon 9, most orbital rockets.
Solid fuel with liquid oxidizer. Safer than solid, simpler than liquid. Throttleable. Used in SpaceShipOne, experimental vehicles.
Single propellant decomposes exothermically. Simple, lower performance. Used for satellite thrusters, attitude control systems.
Electrically accelerates ionized gas. Extremely high efficiency, very low thrust. Used for deep space missions, satellite station-keeping.
Key Equation: Thrust = (mass flow rate) × (exhaust velocity) + (exit pressure - ambient pressure) × (exit area)
PRINCIPLE: Converts heat into work using cyclic compression and expansion of gas between different temperature levels.
APPLICATIONS: Solar power generation, submarines, cryogenic cooling, combined heat and power systems
Two power pistons in separate cylinders, one hot and one cold. High power output, good efficiency. Used in larger installations and research applications.
Single cylinder with power piston and displacer piston. Compact design, common in demonstration models and small power applications.
Power piston and displacer in separate cylinders connected by pipe. Good mechanical balance, easier to construct. Popular for small-scale applications.
No mechanical linkage, pistons move via gas pressure alone. Linear alternator for electricity generation. High reliability, used in space power systems.
Advantages: External combustion (any heat source), quiet operation, high theoretical efficiency, long service life, environmentally friendly
Challenges: Complex sealing, requires temperature differential, slower response to load changes, higher initial cost