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ATPL - [Mod 2] AGK - Engines > 02. Piston Engine: Principle of Operation > Flashcards

02. Piston Engine: Principle of Operation Flashcards

1
Q

How do piston engines produce power?
By converting ____ energy into ____ energy

A
  1. CHEMICAL
  2. MECHANICAL

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2
Q

Burning fuel with air within a cylinder release what sort of energy?

A

HEAT ENERGY

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3
Q

Gas absorbs the heat released from burning fuel with air.
What energy does this create?

A

PRESSURE ENERGY

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4
Q

What component converts pressure energy into mechanical energy?

A

PISTON

As mixture is ignited and heated, pressure increases forcing the piston down the cylinder.
The piston is connected to the crankshaft via connection rod which forces it to turn, converting the downwards linear motion into rotary motion.

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5
Q

What is the working fluid of an internal combustion engine?

A

AIR

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6
Q

Air mixed with fuel is known as what

A

MIXTURE

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7
Q

The gas produced from burning mixture is known as what

A

EXHAUST

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8
Q

How does mixture enter into the cylinder

A

INLET PORT

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9
Q

What is an inlet port

A

Allows mixture into cylinder

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10
Q

What is an inlet valve

A

CLOSES INLET PORT

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11
Q

What component seals an inlet port

A

INLET VALVE

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12
Q

What is THE CHARGE

A

Total mixture drawn into cylinder

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13
Q

The total mixture drawn into the cylinder is known as what

A

THE CHARGE

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14
Q

How is the charge ignited

A

SPARK PLUG

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15
Q
  1. What causes the pressure increase within a cylinder after combustion.
  2. What is the result
A
  1. Hot air attempts to expand within the sealed cylinder
  2. Piston forced down the cylinder

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16
Q

What does the CRANKSHAFT do in terms of converting motion

A

Converts LINEAR motion into ROTARY motion

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17
Q

What is the piston connected to

A

CRANKSHAFT

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18
Q

What is the UP/ DOWN motion of the piston known as

A

RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT

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19
Q

What is a name given to a piston engine based on the UP / DOWN movement of the piston

A

RECIPROCATING ENGINE

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20
Q

How does gas exit the cylinder

A

EXHAUST PORT

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21
Q

What seals the exhaust port closed

A

EXHAUST VALVE

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22
Q

The piston is connected to the crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected either directly or indirectly to what

A

PROPELLER

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23
Q

The 4 strokes of a piston engine are commonly known as what

A

4 STROKE CYCLE

Otto cycle

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24
Q

What are the 4 strokes of the 4-stroke cycle

A
  1. Induction
  2. Compression
  3. Power
  4. Exhaust

Suck, Squeeze, Band, Blow

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25
Q

The distance the piston travels within the cylinder is referred to as what

A

STROKE

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26
Q

What is a STROKE

A

DISTANCE PISTON TRAVELS IN CYLINDER

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27
Q

The topmost limit the piston can travel is referred to as what

A

TOP DEAD CENTER
(TDC)

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28
Q

The bottom most limit the piston can travel is referred to as what

A

BOTTOM DEAD CENTER
(BDC)

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29
Q

Ignition occurrs between which 2 strokes of the otto cycle

A

COMPRESSION and POWER

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30
Q

In a non optimised otto cycle, when will the INLET VALVE open and in which phase

A
  1. PISTON TDC
  2. INDUCTION

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31
Q

During the induction stroke, as the piston travels down the cylinder, the pressure and temperature INCREASE or DECREASE

A

DECREASE

Decrease in pressure and temperature cause the mixture to be sucked into the cylinder

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32
Q

In a non optimised otto cycle, when will the INLET VALVE close and in which phase

A
  1. PISTON BDC
  2. INDUCTION

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33
Q

An engine that draws in fuel by sucking the mixture into the cylinder is known as what

A

NORMALLY ASPIRATED

Piston travels down the cylinder, temperature and pressure decreases, which causes the mixture to be sucked in

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34
Q

During the compression stroke in a non optimised otto cycle;
1. The inlet valve is OPEN or CLOSED
2. The exhaust valve is OPEN or CLOSED

A
  1. CLOSED
  2. CLOSED

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35
Q

During which stroke of a non optimised otto cycle does the spark plug ignite the mixture

A

COMPRESSION STROKE

Piston is near or at TDC

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36
Q

What position will the piston be in when combustion occurs in a non optimised otto cycle. What is there a large increase in as combustion occurs

A
  1. TOP DEAD CENTER (TDC)
  2. PRESSURE & TEMPERATURE

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37
Q

During combustion, pressure and temperature in the cylinder INCREASE or DECREASE

A

INCREASES

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38
Q

During the combustion stage, which 2 elements increase within the cylinder

A
  1. TEMPERATURE
  2. PRESSURE

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39
Q

During the power stroke, the ____ and ____ of the combusted gas INCREASE or DECREASE

A
  1. TEMPERATURE
  2. PRESSURE
  3. DECREASE

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40
Q

During the exhaust stroke, the ____ and ____ of the combusted gas INCREASE or DECREASE

A
  1. TEMPERATURE
  2. PRESSURE
  3. INCREASE

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41
Q

During a non optimised otto cycle, where is the piston as the exhaust stroke begins

A

BOTTOM DEAD CENTER
(BDC)

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42
Q

What is RPM a measure of

A

REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE of CRANKSHAFT

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43
Q

What force creates the inertia that makes air flow inside of a piston engine

A

PRESSURE CHANGES

Changes of pressure within the cylinder as a result of the volume changing
i.e. when piston is UP or DOWN, volume of cylinder is changing and subsequently, the pressure inside changes

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44
Q

What is the term used to define the little linear movement when the piston is near or at TDC or BDC

A

INEFFECTIVE CRANK ANGLE

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45
Q

Ineffective crank angle marks periods where there is little what

A

Change in cylinder VOLUME and PRESSURE

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46
Q

What is the name given to optimize when the inlet and exhaust valves open and close

A

VALVE TIMING

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47
Q

What is the name given to optimize the point when ignition occurs

A

IGNITION TIMING

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48
Q

What is the name given to the process of opening the inlet valve before TDC

A

INLET VALVE LEAD

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49
Q

During which stroke does inlet valve lead occur

A

As EXHAUST stroke comes to an end

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50
Q

What is the definition of INLET VALVE LAG

A

INLET VALVE remains open slightly after BDC

Inlet valve remains open slightly after piston reaches BDC and starts to travel up the cylinder again during the compression stroke

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51
Q

How is valve lead and valve lag measured

A

DEGREES

Degrees of crankshaft rotation

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52
Q

When does the exhaust valve open during an optimized otto cycle

A

JUST BEFORE POWER STROKE ENDS

AKA exhaust valve lead

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53
Q

During an optimized otto cycle, what position is the piston in when exhaust lag is experienced

A

SLIGHTLY AFTER TDC

Piston is once again in the induction stroke, cycle has started over again

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54
Q

What is VALVE OVERLAP

A

The term used to explain when the inlet and exhaust valves are both open at the same time

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55
Q

What is SCAVENGING

A

During valve overlap period, exhaust gases flowing out of the cylinder helps draw mixture in through the inlet valve

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56
Q

During valve overlap, when exhaust gases leave the cylinder, this helps draw mixture in. This is known as what

A

SCAVENGING

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57
Q

The opening and closing of the valves in the cylinder is dictated by what

A

CAMS on the CAMSHAFT

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58
Q

What is the purpose of the CAMSHAFT

A

DETERMINES VALVE OPENING and CLOSING

CAMS connected to CAMSHAFT. As CAMSHAFT turns, this determines when the valves open and close

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59
Q

During an optimzed otto cycle, what position will the piston be, and during which stroke, when ignition timing occurs

A
  1. Slightly BEFORE TDC
  2. COMPRESSION stroke

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60
Q

What is the benefit/purpose of ignition timing being optimized

A

MAXIMISE PRESSURE PRODUCED

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61
Q

A spark timed to occur just before the piston is at TDC is known as what

A

ADVANCED IGNITION

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62
Q

Ignition timing must be ADVANCED or RETARDED as RPM increases

A

ADVANCED

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63
Q

Ignition timing must be ADVANCED or RETARDED as RPM decreases

A

RETARDED

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64
Q

During engine start, ignition timing is ADVANCED or RETARDED to when the piston is in what position

A
  1. RETARDED
  2. TDC

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ATPL - [Mod 2] AGK - Engines (23 decks)

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