The
History Of TRAINS
(14)How
A Diesel Engine Works?
The diesel engine was invented by the German engineer Rudolf Diesel in 1892. It works in a similar way to a normal petrol engine. The engine is bored with holes called cylinders. Inside each cylinder is a sliding rod called a piston.
(1) Air is forced into the top of the cylinder.
(2) The rising piston squeezes, or compresses the air until it becomes very hot. It can reach a temperature of up to 900oC.
(3) Diesel fuel, which is thicker than petrol, is then sprayed into the top of the cylinder or into a separate combustion chamber. It meets the hot air and explodes.
(4) The force of this pushes the piston downwards. Burnt gases escape as exhaust.
