Crankshaft, internal-combustion engine

The piston pump can be directly driven by steam, in which case the piston rod is common to both the pump and the steam engine. Alternatively, an electric motor or an internal combustion engine may supply the motive power through a crankshaft because the load is very uneven, a heavy flywheel should then be fitted and a regulator in the steam supply may often provide a convenient form of speed control. 

Molded silicone rubber articles are generally utilized as seals for equipment running at high temperatures e.g. as crankshaft seals in internal combustion engines or for headlight and gearbox seals. 

GasoUne is a mixture of hydrocarbons (primarily alkanes) that contain 5 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule. Diesel fuel is a similar mixture, except the molecules contain 12 to 16 carbon atoms. The hot CO2 and water vapor generated during combustion in an internal combustion engine have a much greater volume than the air and fuel mixture. It is this sudden increase in gaseous volume and pressure that pushes the pistons and delivers power to the crankshaft. 

The nnits shown in Figures 9.6 and 9.7 are designed for use on internal combustion engines. They both have pulleys for connection to the crankshaft of the engine. In fuel cell systems the compressor will have to be driven by an electric motor. Typically, this will be as large or larger than the compressor, but motors are covered in more detail in the next chapter. 

FIGURE 17.6 An internal combustion piston engine in which a very rapidly burning mixture of air and fuel drives a piston downward during the power stroke and this motion is converted to rotary mechanical motion by the crankshaft. 

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