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Power Washers Engine Operating Principles
A power washers engine is an internal combustion engine which means that the burning of the fuel-air mixture itself powers the engine. External combustion engines use the heat from combustion to expand or boil a working fluid as in a steam engine. Other examples of internal combustion engines are the rotary Wankel engine and gas turbines (jet engines). Your power washers engine or automobile operates on what is called the 'Otto' cycle (if you care). A complete 'cycle' is needed to supply one power impulse to the output shaft. All engines must provide the following regardless of whether they are 2 stroke or 4 stroke, rotary, or turbines (though turbines or jet engines operate in a continuous rather than pulsed manner)
The air-fuel mixture is sucked into the cylinder through the open intake valve as the piston moves downward on the intake stroke. Compression stroke. The air-fuel mixture is squeezed into a smaller space. This heats it to some extent and prepares it to be burnt. (Note: in a diesel engine, this heating alone causes the mixture to ignite and there is no spark needed). Compression ratios for small engines are typically low compared to automobile engines. Both valves are closed. The piston moves upwards thus reducing the space above it and compressing the air-fuel mixture.
Power stroke. The compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited at a precise time by the ignition system (spark). Both valves are closed. The heat produced by the rapidly burning gases cause them to expand and drive the piston downward and because it is connected to the crankshaft, drives the load as well. Exhaust. The burnt combustion products are driven out of the cylinder. These consist of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, oxides of nitrogen, some unburnt hydrocarbons, and numerous other mostly harmful compounds. The exhaust valve is open. The piston moves upward and pushes the exhaust gasses out through the muffler. A relatively massive flywheel attached to the crankshaft provides the inertia to allow the engine to coast through the non-power strokes (1-3). Note: that the term '4 cycle' is often used incorrectly when what is meant is 4 stroke. The cycle is the entire sequence of events including intake, compression, power, and exhaust. The complete cycle for a 4 stroke engine is two complete revolutions of the crankshaft. We hope you've gained a better understanding of the power washers engine operating principles.
power washers engine click here for how systems work
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Intake stroke. Air is mixed with fuel (gasoline for piston engines) and drawn into the combustion engine.
