Pistons are important parts of an automotive engine. It is a cylindrical component moving up and down a pressure chamber. The movement of the piston pressurizes a fluid for creating or transferring motion. For understanding the piston mechanism, the syringe used by doctors is a good thing. The part inside of the syringe is the piston, and the handle is the rod to make it operational.
Working Principle of an Automotive Piston
The piston operation is divided into phases known as strokes. A piston stroke is specified by the position of the piston, ranging from the top, middle, and bottom parts. Irrespective of the piston engine fuel system, the fuel delivery sequence and the position of a piston is a seamlessly timed process.
The combustion cycle starts with the piston on the upper part. Throughout this time, the exhaust and intake valves are closed. The piston then begins a downward movement, making a partial vacuum in the above space. Then, the air enters the cylinder.
Fuel also goes in the cylinder simultaneously, and there is a closure of the intake valves. At this stage, the piston begins the upward movement. For the reason that all the valves are closed, the motion of the piston compresses the fuel/ air mix, creating a pressurized space between it and the head of the cylinder. There is an ignition in the mix, making the piston move down.
The exhaust valves then open up for allowing the products of ignition to escape. This occurs when there is an upward movement of the piston. The piston forces the exhaust gases out. In the meantime, there is an opening of the intake valves fuel and air goes into the cylinder, and there is a repetition of this process.
The piston assembly has two different sections: the upper part having the crown and rings providing a nearly airtight seal. The arrangement of the piston and the ring also supports in scraping oil from the cylinder walls and returns it to the oil sump.
Apart from cylinder and piston, there is also the section having a connecting rod. This is the part transferring the piston’s back and forth motion to the crankshaft The piston and connecting rod are joined by a wrist pin.
What Goes into the Making of a Piston?
A piston has to bear a lot of stress. Initially, pistons were made of iron because of its excellent resistance to deterioration, good thermal conductivity, and other advantages. But the iron pistons were heavy. A piston should not be heavy, as it will have an adverse effect on the efficiency of the engine.
Coming to a Conclusion
Stringent rules to reduce GHG emissions has a lot to do with the with the increasing demand for automotive pistons, all over the world. The demand for automotive pistons will reach a value of USD 5,806.1 million by the end of this decade.
