External combustion engine

– Combustion:
– Refers to burning fuel with an oxidizer to supply heat.
– Engines may use heat from sources like nuclear, solar, or geothermal energy.
– External thermal engines use non-combustion heat sources.
– Exothermic reactions not involving combustion can also supply heat.
– Combustion is primarily used as a heat source in external combustion engines.

– Working fluid:
– Can have any composition, and the system may be single-phase or dual-phase.

– Single phase:
– Gas is used in a Stirling engine.
– Single-phase liquid may also be used.

– Dual phase:
– Dual-phase engines convert temperature to usable work through phase transition.
– Examples include engines following variants of the Rankine cycle.
– Steam engines and engines using the Organic Rankine cycle are common examples.

– See also:
– Organic Rankine cycle.
– Steam engines.
– Stirling engines.
– Trochilic engine.
– Internal combustion engine (ICE).