Editing Reciprocating engine (section)

{{Short description|Engine utilising one or more reciprocating pistons}}
{{see also|Pneumatic motor|Hydraulic motor}}

[[Image:Four stroke engine diagram.jpg|thumbnail|right|'''Internal combustion piston engine'''{{paragraph}}
Components of a typical, [[four-stroke cycle]], internal combustion, [[gasoline engine|gasoline]] piston engine.
{{ordered list
 | list-style-type=none
 | C. [[Crankshaft]]
 | E. Exhaust [[camshaft]]
 | I. Intake camshaft
 | P. [[Piston]]
 | R. [[Connecting rod]]
 | S. [[Spark plug]]
 | W. Water jacket for coolant flow
 | V. [[Poppet valve|Valve]]s
}}]]

A '''reciprocating engine''', more often known as a '''piston engine''', is typically a [[heat engine]] that uses one or more [[Reciprocating motion|reciprocating]] [[piston]]s to convert high temperature and high [[pressure]] into a [[Circular motion|rotating motion]].<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=9780850451634 |edition=first |publisher=Osprey |year=1973 |page=213}}</ref> This article describes the common features of all types. The main types are: the [[internal combustion engine]], used extensively in [[motor vehicle]]s; the [[steam engine]], the mainstay of the [[Industrial Revolution]]; and the [[Stirling engine]] for niche applications. Internal combustion engines are further classified in two ways: either a [[spark-ignition engine|spark-ignition (SI) engine]], where the spark plug initiates the combustion; or a [[compression-ignition engine|compression-ignition (CI) engine]], where the air within the cylinder is compressed, [[Adiabatic process|thus heating it]], so that the heated air ignites fuel that is injected [[diesel engine|then]] or [[hot-bulb engine|earlier]].<ref name="Cengal" >''Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach'' by Yunus A. Cengal and Michael A. Boles</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/solo/special/piston-engine-basics|title = Piston Engine Basics|date = 4 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobloom.com/what-is-a-piston-engine.htm|title = What is a Piston Engine? (With pictures)| date=16 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://haynes.com/en-us/tips-tutorials/what-piston-and-what-does-it-do|title = Beginner's Guide: What is a Piston (And What Does It Do)?|date = 16 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsdrivinginstitute.com/blog/the-basics-of-how-a-piston-driven-engine-works|title = The Basics of How a Piston-Driven Engine Works}}</ref>