INTRODUCTION TO AIRCRAFT RECIPROCATING ENGINE

A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat

engine (although there are also pneumatic and hydraulic reciprocating engines)
that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert pressure into a rotating
motion. This article describes the common features of all types. The main types
are: the internal combustion engine, used extensively in motor vehicles; the steam
engine, the mainstay of the Industrial Revolution; and the niche application Stirling
engine. Internal combustion engines are further classified in two ways: either a
spark-ignition (SI) engine, where the spark plug initiates the combustion; or a
compression-ignition (CI) engine, where the air within the cylinder is compressed,
thus heating it, so that the heated air ignites fuel that is injected then or earlier.

An early known example of rotary to reciprocating motion is the crank mechanism.

The earliest hand-operated cranks appeared in China during the Han Dynasty (202
BC–220 AD). Several saw mills in Roman Asia and Byzantine Syria during the
3rd–6th centuries AD had a crank and connecting rod mechanism which converted
the rotary motion of a water wheel into the linear movement of saw blades. In
1206, Arab engineer Al-Jazari invented a crankshaft.

The reciprocating engine developed in Europe during the 18th century, first as the
atmospheric engine then later as the steam engine. These were followed by the
Stirling engine and internal combustion engine in the 19th century. Today the most
common form of reciprocating engine is the internal combustion engine running on
the combustion of petrol, diesel, Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or compressed
natural gas (CNG) and used to power motor vehicles and engine power plants.

The largest reciprocating engine in production at present, but not the largest ever
built, is the Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine of
2006 built by Wärtsilä. It is used to power the largest modern container ships such
as the Emma Mærsk. It is five stories high (13.5 m or 44 ft), 27 m (89 ft) long, and
weighs over 2,300 metric tons (2,500 short tons) in its largest 14 cylinders version
producing more than 84.42 MW (114,800 bhp). Each cylinder has a capacity of
1,820 L (64 cu ft), making a total capacity of 25,480 L (900 cu ft) for the largest
versions.
RECIPROCATING ENGINE: BASIC PARTS
CYLINDER
The cylinder forms a part of the chamber in which the fuel is compressed and
burned.

INTAKE VALVE
An intake valve is needed to let the fuel/air into the cylinder

EXHAUST VALVE
An exhaust valve is needed to let the exhaust gases out

PISTON
The piston, moving with the cylinder, forms one of the walls of the combustin
chamber. The piston rings which seal the gases in the cylinder, preventing any
loss of the power around the sides of the piston.

SPARK PLUG
The Electrical energy is transmitted through the spark plug. This electrical spark
ignites the gasoline/air mixture in the combustion chamber.

CRANKCASE
The crankcase is to shield the crankshaft and the connecting rods from debris.

CONNECTING ROD
The connecting rod forms a link between the piston and crankshaft.

CRANKSHAFT
The crankshaft and connecting rod change the straight line motion of the piston to
a rotary turning motion. The crankshaft in an aircraft engine also absorbs the
power or work from all the cylinders and transfers it to the propeller.
TYPES OF RECIPROCATING ENGINE

In-Line Engines
The earliest aircraft engines were of the in-line or "straight" variety and had the
cylinders in a line, similar to many automotive engines. The main advantage to this
engine type is that it is narrow and allows the aircraft to have a narrow front
fuselage. However, airflow around this engine type is inadequate to allow air
cooling so liquid cooling is required thus reducing the power to weight ratio.

Rotary Engines
Rotary piston engines were developed during World War I for military aircraft. In
this design, the entire engine rotates with the propeller, creating additional airflow
for cooling.

V-Type Engines
A V-type engine is basically the equivalent of two in-line engines joined in a "V"
configuration by a common crankshaft. The best known example of a V-type
engine is the supercharged Rolls Royce Merlin that was used to power both the
Supermarine Spitfire and the Avro Lancaster.

Radial Engines
A radial piston engine consists of one or more rows of odd-numbered cylinders
arranged in a circle around a central crankshaft. Due to the small size of the
crankcase, this engine type had a better power to weight ratio than most other
designs of their day. The cylinder arrangement allowed for good cooling airflow
and smooth operation.

Horizontally Opposed Engines

Horizontally opposed engines are often referred to as boxer or flat engines. They
have two banks of cylinders staggered on opposite sides of a central crankcase.
The design is simple, reliable and easy to maintain.