Engines & Motors

Engines and motors are responsible for the conversion of potential energy (fuel, compressed air, pressurized fluids) and electrical energy into mechanical energy useful for various processes in transportation, industry, and residential and commercial sectors. The modern form of machine engines was innovated with the steam engine, which brought about significant acceleration in global industrialization.

Steam engines burned fuel, commonly wood or coal, to generate steam that operated as a working fluid for driving a piston to provide mechanical energy. Railroad locomotives, ships and early factories made significant use of steam engines. Steam engines represented only the beginning of a line of heat engines including combustion engines (both external and internal combustion engines), other reciprocating engines (Stirling engine), and ultimate turbine and turbine design machinery such as steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, jet engines, and turbo-propeller engines.

The industry term is overwhelmingly used to identify electric motors. Electric motors use magnetic fields to turn or drive charged current-carrying conductors in the motor body and provide mechanical energy. The reverse function is accomplished by generators. Electric motors are categorized by their use of direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) electricity (universal motors operate on both currents) and design features such as iron, copper and magnet rotors; brushed or brushless; pancake; coreless; stepper; induction; and synchronous. Other sources of energy for motors include compressed air (pneumatic motors), springs (elastic energy), and chemical reactions. Engines and motors are universal in application from industry machinery, cars, most forms of vehicles, toys, consumer appliances, computers, power plants, pumping systems, and the grid.