Types of Piston rings: How does it work?

The ring that is attached in the grooves on the outer diameter of the piston is known as a piston ring. It is located between the cylinder and the piston. It can be installed in any reciprocating engine like an internal combustion engine or steam engine. Piston rings are designed to seal the combustion chamber, and it doesn’t allow the combustion gases to enter into the crank. It also helps in the passing of the heat from the piston to the cylinder wall and helps in managing the quantity of oil between the piston and cylinder wall and the consumption of the engine oil. Now,

What are the types of piston rings?

As piston rings serve these main purposes thus these are counted as an essential part of the piston. piston rings are of three types such as a compression ring, scraper ring, and oil ring. In some engines, only two rings are there named as combustion and oil control rings, combustion ring sometimes called a pressure ring. Here are the three-ring types:

Compression ring

The combustion ring is placed at the top of the piston head and provides the sealing of the gases to prevent them from reaching to the crank. The location of the combustion ring placement depends on the type of engine. These piston rings also help in transferring the heat to the wall of the cylinder.

Intermediate or Wiper ring

Wiper ring or also called scraper ring is placed below the combustion ring, and perform the cleaning of the excess oil and prevent the gas leakage that escaped from the combustion ring. Thus it is also known as back up combustion ring. As the piston moves, it provides the wiping and ensures enough lubrication of the combustion ring.

Oil control ring

The oil control ring is placed in the bottom-most part of the piston towards the crank side. The main work of this type of piston rings is to manage the use of oil for lubrication of the engine. Oil control rings ensure the appropriate quantity of the oil spread all over the combustion wall and the rest or excess oil sent back to the crank side.

Piston ring requires some oil for lubrication, oil control ring controls the use of oil at an acceptable level and keep the excess oil out from the combustion chamber thus prevent the harmful emotion.

How does it work?

A piston is one of the most essential diesel engine parts that is cylindrical and that moves back and forth with the force generated by the combustion process. For making this movement flexible and to improve the engine performance and efficiency the piston rings designed to serve some specific purpose. Combustion ring provides the required pressure and seals the gases for preventing them to escape the combustion chamber and to reach the crankcase. Wiper ring is to wipe out the extra oil and the leakage of the gases as the backup for the combustion ring and the oil ring controls the quantity of oil used for making enough lubrication available for the engine.

Piston rings mainly help in increasing power and efficiency of the engine and to reduce the maintenance interval.