Editing Stationary engine (section)

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[[File:Three heavy-oil stationary engines.jpg|thumb|350px|Three heavy-oil stationary engines: (l–r) a Ruston 9XHR, a Robey and a Blackstone SKG-T|alt=Three heavy oil engines, behind a blue tool box]]
A '''stationary engine''' is an [[engine]] whose framework does not move.  They are used to drive immobile equipment, such as [[pump]]s, [[electric generator|generators]], [[mill (grinding)|mills]] or factory machinery, or [[cable car (railway)|cable cars]]. The term usually refers to large immobile [[reciprocating engine]]s, principally [[stationary steam engine]]s<ref name="n784">{{cite book | last=Coulls | first=Anthony | title=Stationary Steam Engines | publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited | date=2019-03-15 | isbn=978-1-4456-9108-4 | page=}}</ref> and, to some extent, stationary [[internal combustion engine]]s. Other large immobile power sources, such as [[steam turbine]]s, [[gas turbine]]s, and large [[electric motor]]s, are categorized separately.

Stationary engines, especially stationary steam engines were once widespread in the late [[Industrial Revolution]].<ref name="n784">{{cite book | last=Coulls | first=Anthony | title=Stationary Steam Engines | publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited | date=2019-03-15 | isbn=978-1-4456-9108-4 | page=}}</ref> This was an era when each factory or mill generated its own power, and power transmission was mechanical (via [[line shaft]]s, [[belt (mechanical)|belts]], [[gear train]]s, and [[clutch]]es). Applications for stationary engines have declined since [[electrification]] has become widespread; most industrial uses today draw electricity from an [[electrical grid]] and distribute it to various individual electric motors instead.

Engines that operate in one place, but can be moved to another place for later operation, are called [[portable engine]]s. Although stationary engines and portable engines are both "[[wikt:stationary#Adjective|stationary]]" (not moving) while running, preferred usage (for clarity's sake) reserves the term "stationary engine" to the permanently immobile type, and "portable engine" to the mobile type.