Piston engines

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liebensd
Posts: 1780
Joined: 31 Mar 2003, 00:00
Location: Hoeselt, Belgium
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Piston engines

Post by liebensd »

I had a discussion with my cousin about the number of pistons in an engine. When you look at farming machines they have mostly 6 pistons and sometimes more than 500 Hp. When you look at fast cars with the same Hp they have 10 or 12 pistons. Why is there a difference? Is it because of the rotation speed? Or the fuel?

Greetz,

Dave

OOODF
Posts: 22
Joined: 01 Feb 2004, 00:00
Location: Theux BELGIUM

Post by OOODF »

Hello Liebensd,

What you are looking for in a farming engine is torque. It's achieved by using larger engine parts, moving slower, with higher inertia.

That kind of engine will have a slower response though. Hence the use of smaller, lighter parts in high speed cars.

Actually, if you could look at a Formula One piston, you'd be amazed: there is almost no piston at all.

SN30952
Posts: 7128
Joined: 31 Jul 2003, 00:00

Re: Piston engines

Post by SN30952 »

liebensd wrote:... farming machines they have mostly 6 pistons and sometimes more than 500 Hp. When you look at fast cars with the same Hp they have 10 or 12 pistons. Why is there a difference? Is it because of the rotation speed? Or the fuel? Greetz, Dave
Dave, talking farming machines, I saw in the Far East (Vietnam, Thailand) guys who where taking apart US tank engines. These engines where built up with several 8 piston-engines. I saw some Chrysler engines. But these guys were taking apart these huge things, and they made pumps or generators with these slow running diesels.

I have quoted already from that useful Chevron website.
If you want to download it in pdf click here

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