Heat Engine (Noun)
Meaning
Any engine that makes use of heat to do work.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The internal combustion engine in most cars is a type of heat engine, converting the energy released from fuel combustion into mechanical energy.
- Heat engines, including those used in power plants, rely on the principle of thermodynamics to generate electricity or perform other types of work.
- A steam engine is a classic example of a heat engine, using the expansion of steam to produce rotational energy.
- The Stirling engine is an external combustion heat engine that operates at a lower temperature difference than other types of heat engines, making it efficient and quiet.
- Jet engines, turbofans, and turboprops are all examples of heat engines used in aviation to generate thrust by converting heat into mechanical energy.