Title: Vehicle HE Example

Let's look at the operation of a gasoline spark ignition (SI) engine which can be simplified to a heat engine.

http://magazine.fev.com/en/fev-investigates-the-optimal-si-engine-for-hybrid-powertrains/

Engine Schematic - Drag and Drop

- Gasoline
- Combustion Chamber
- SI Engine
- Atmosphere
- Gear box & Transmission
- Wheels
Q: Input
A: Gasoline
Q: Source
A: Combustion Chamber
Q: Energy Conversion Device
A: SI Engine
Q: Sink
A: Atmosphere
Q: Energy Conversion Device
A: Gear box & Transmission
Q: Useful Energy
A: Wheels

Here is a simplified HE schematic showing the different components of the system involving the energy conversion process behind an SI engine.

Drag and drop the components into the correct section on the schematic. (You may have to scroll down on the image)

QUICK NOTE:

One major simplification in the model:

As the name "internal combustion engine" suggests, the combustion process actually happens within the heat engine. However, the model simplifies this process to an external combustion process with heat transferred to the heat engine.

Vehicle Heat Engine

Drag the words into the correct boxes

Q: RECAP:
The secondary energy source in this case is [...]. From the previous section, we saw that this comes from the primary fossil energy source of [...].
The final useful energy source in this case is used by the wheels in the form of [...].
HEAT ENGINE
Fuel is burned in the [...] which acts the heat source to the heat engine (i.e. the [...]).
The heat engine then converts part of this heat into [...] via several pistons while part of the heat is also rejected to the [...] which acts as the temperature sink.
The useful work in the form of [...] is then translated to the wheels.
A: gasoline; crude oil; kinetic energy; combustion chamber; spark-ignition engine; work; atmosphere; rotational energy

SI Engine Operation

Q: How do you think an SI Engine converts heat into mechanical energy?
A: Watch this video to see how a SI engine works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKF5dKo_r_Y

(You can skip to 2:00min if you're short on time)

Short Explanation:

4-stroke engines consist of a piston-crankshaft system that operates on a 4-stroke process. When the fuel ignites and combustion happens, the pressure forces the piston to move downwards which is transferred to rotational motion by the crankshaft. The rotational motion of the crankshaft is transferred to a driveshaft, gearbox, and finally to the vehicle wheels.