User:Smartychick/High-temperature collectors
A High-temperature collector is a solar thermal collector designed to operate at a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit or higher [1].
Heat Engines
[edit]A heat engine is a system that converts heat energy into work energy, or mechanical energy.[2] The [steam engine], the [diesel engine], and the [internal combustion engine] in cars are all familiar heat engines powered by the expansion of heated gases. The general surroundings are the heat sink, providing relatively cool gases which, when heated, expand rapidly to drive the mechanical motion of the engine.
Steam Engines
[edit]A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Its original concept was invented by Thomas Savery in 1698. Thomas Newcomen and James Watt then built upon his idea.[3]. The steam engine uses boiling water to produce mechanical motion. It led to the invention of mobile devices such as steam tractors and railway locomotives.
Diesel Engines
[edit]A diesel engine is an [internal combustion engine] that uses the heat of compression to initiate [ignition] to burn fuel. The engine takes in air, which is compressed, then, heavy fuel (such as crude oil or petroleum) gets injected by an injector in the air that is heated up because of the pressure. The high themperature ignites the fuel, which makes a spark plug unnecessary.[4]
Internal Combustion Engine
[edit]An internal combustion engine is any engine that operates by burning its fuel inside the engine[5]. In this engine the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ http://dictionary.babylon.com/High-temperature_collector
- ^ http://www.ergenics.com/page27.htm
- ^ http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamengine.htm
- ^ http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/diesel.php3?v=2
- ^ http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blinternalcombustion.htm