PRIME MOVERS

Definition:
A machine that transforms energy from thermal, chemical, electrical or
pressure form to mechanical form, typically an engine or turbine.

Petroleum Production facilities:

 Reciprocating engines (Internal combustion [IC] engines)
 Gas turbines
Purpose:
To provide facility engineers with an understating of basic engine
operating principles and practices as necessary for selection and
application.
Reciprocating Engines
A fundamental law in physics (states of matter)
 Gases expand on heating;

The temperature of any gas held in captivity and compressed to

certain degree would result in increasing the temperature and
pressure of that gas, it is this temperature that helps in the
combustion process and the resultant pressure (due to the
combustion) helps in moving the piston to generate the
mechanical power needed.

So, typically the heat energy of the fuel converting into mechanical
energy of the engine.
The IC Engine (no matter what fuel it uses) depends on the
air, the fuel and some form of Ignition or the other, the
fuel delivers the heat required for the combustion to take
place while the air allows the combustion to happen in
the first place.

The ignition is to trigger the combustion process.

The engine has cylinders within it and each cylinder comes
loaded with a piston, among other things. Now, as
these pistons move up and down (in a reciprocating
Motion) must be somehow converted to a rotating
motion so that it could be transferred to the wheels. A
crankshaft is used for this purpose and the power is then
transmitted to the wheels through a system of gears and
shafts (the Transmission system).
The understanding of how the power is developed within
an engine is easier if we just talk about one cylinder and
what happens within it.

Chemical Energy of the fuel

Heating the cylinder &

exhaust gases

Mechanical Energy available, IHP

Internal Friction,
To sustain the process by providing
coolant pumping & lubricant pumping
devices, FHP

External Energy available, BHP

IHP = BHP + FHP

Basic Components
Four main functions must be performed in the power
cylinder of a Internal combustion engine:

1. Intake – Air and fuel are admitted to the cylinder

2. Compression – The fuel & air mixture is compressed
and ignited
3. Power – Combustion of the fuel results in the release of
energy – temperature & pressure – mechanical energy.
4. Exhaust – The combustion products are voided from the
cylinder – cycle completes
These main functions may be completed in a two-
stroke or four stroke/ petrol or diesel engine.

Stroke-

Piston movement either from BDC/IDC to

TDC/ODC
 Four stroke IC Engine

Intake stroke:

During the intake stroke, the piston

moves downward, drawing a fresh
charge of vaporized fuel/air mixture. The
illustrated engine features a poppet
intake valve which is drawn open by the
vacuum produced by the intake stroke.
most modern engines incorporate an
extra cam/lifter arrangement as seen on
the exhaust valve. The exhaust valve is
held shut by a spring (not illustrated
here).
Compression stroke:
As the piston rises, the poppet valve is
forced shut by the increased cylinder
pressure. Flywheel momentum drives
the piston upward, compressing the
fuel/air mixture.
Power stroke:
At the top of the compression stroke,
the spark plug fires, igniting the
compressed fuel. As the fuel burns it
expands, driving the piston downward.
Exhaust stroke:
At the bottom of the power stroke, the
exhaust valve is opened by the
cam/lifter mechanism. The upward
stroke of the piston drives the
exhausted fuel out of the cylinder.
Four stroke IC Engine