What’s External Combustion?

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External combustion is a process where fuel is burned outside a device to power it. It can use any type of fuel and is mainly used in electricity production and military equipment. It has advantages such as reducing reliance on fossil fuels and pollutant emissions, but it is not widely adopted and has not been fully tested.

External combustion is a process in which a device, such as an engine or motor, is powered by fuel burned outside the device. It is an alternative to traditional combustion engines, where the fuel is burned within the engine itself. The steam engine is the classic example of external combustion. While steam technology is rarely used today, it has served as an inspiration for other modern technologies that rely on external combustion to power a device.

During external combustion, a certain type of fuel is burned inside an independent combustion chamber. The fluid-filled lines transfer this heat energy to the engine, where the sudden heat surge is used to drive one or more pistons. These pistons transfer force or motion, creating a functional engine that can be used to power many types of machines. Once the heat has been removed from the fluid, the cooled fluid returns to the combustion chamber for reheating. This transfer fluid can be gaseous materials or plain deionized water.

While steam was once used to power trains and ships, modern external combustion systems are mainly used in the production of electricity. They are also popular with the military, who benefit from the flexible fuel sources this technology uses. External combustion engines can be used in manufacturing or industrial equipment, as well as equipment used in agriculture or construction. Some scientists even expect these engines to be used in standard passenger cars in the future.

The main advantage of these engines is that they can run on any type of fuel. This includes traditional fossil fuels such as coal and gas as well as alternative fuel sources such as biofuels or ethanol. Some external combustion units can also come off burning wood or even rubbish. This makes it easy and convenient for people in remote areas to operate equipment and machinery. It also helps reduce reliance on finite supplies of fossil fuels and can reduce pollutant emissions.

These motors can also have various drawbacks, depending on how and where they are used. In much of the world, the internal combustion engine has long been the preferred power source for machinery and equipment. Despite the pollution and other problems associated with this technology, consumers are slow to adopt new technologies. External combustion units are also relatively new compared to more widely used power methods and have not been tested to their full capabilities.




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