COMBUSTION REACTION

By Steven Apple

Different types of chemical reaction

Synthesis Reaction Single Displacement Metathesis Displacement Reaction Acid base Reaction Oxidation-Reduction Isomerization Hydrolysis Reaction

Combustion reaction

The sequence of exothermic chemical reactions between a fuel and an oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The release of heat can result in the production of light in the form of either glowing or a flame. Fuels of interest often include organic compounds in the gas, liquid or solid phase.

The fire triangle

A simple model for the necessary ingredients for most fires.

Oxygen , Heat ,and Fuel

Activation Energy

It’s the energy that must be overcome in order for a chemical reaction to happen.

Why is heat and energy important to the fire triangle?

Heat is important because a fire can’t begin without it or it can’t continue without it.

A fire can’t last without energy/fuel and can’t rise or it will stop.

Cook top is a fire triangle

The cook top is an example of the fire triangle because like fire it needs heat ,energy, and oxygen. If it does not have oxygen it can not prepare food.

What is a combustion engine?

It’s an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in the combustion chamber.

How does a combustion engine work?

In an internal combustion engine the expansion of the high temperature and pressure gases, which are produced by the combustion, directly applies force to a movable component of the engine, such as the pistons or turbine blades and by moving it over a distance, generate useful mechanical energy.

How are Nascar engines different from Street car engines?

The displacement is large -- 358 cubic inches (5.87 liters). Not many cars have engines this big, but the ones that do usually generate well over 300 horsepower.

The NASCAR engines have extremely radical cam profiles, which open the intake valves much earlier and keep them open longer than street cars. This allows more air to be packed into the cylinders, especially at high speeds (see How Camshafts Work for more details).

The intake and exhaust are tuned and tested to provide a boost at certain engine speeds. They are also designed to have very low restriction, and there are no mufflers or catalytic converters to slow the exhaust down either.

They have carburetors that can let in huge volumes of air and fuel -- no fuel injectors on these engines.

They have high intensity programmable ignition systems so the spark timing can be customized to provide the most possible power.

All of the subsystems like coolant pumps, oil pumps, steering pumps and alternators are designed to run at sustained high speeds and temperatures.

How does nitrous oxide help perform?

It allows the engine to burn more fuel and air, resulting in a more powerful combustion.

A way a racer can cheat in Nascar

Nascar drivers are required to keep the front windows down, so they can get out in case of an accident. That means a lot of are gets trapped inside creating a drag. In the past, some driver would roll up their windows during a race, only to roll them back down each time they drove past the officials.