21 February 2018

Definition of heat engine

What is a heat engine?

In thermodynamics and engineering a device for producing motive power from heat. 

A heat engine is a system that converts thermal and chemical energy into mechanical energy which can be used to do mechanical work.  

Heat engine can be classified into two categories :

  1. Internal combustion engine 
  2. External combustion engine

Engines are also classified into two types :

  1. Rotary engines 
  2. Reciprocating engines