Luchtinductie

Luchtinductie, also known as air induction, refers to the process of drawing ambient air into an engine's combustion chamber. This is a fundamental aspect of internal combustion engines, as air is one of the primary components, along with fuel, required for combustion. The amount and quality of air inducted significantly influence engine performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions.

In a typical gasoline engine, air is drawn into the cylinders during the intake stroke. The engine's intake manifold and throttle body control the volume of air entering the engine. The throttle valve, operated by the accelerator pedal, regulates the amount of air. More air allows for more fuel to be injected, leading to greater power output. In some high-performance applications, forced induction systems like turbochargers or superchargers are used to actively force more air into the cylinders than would be drawn in naturally, resulting in a substantial increase in power.

For diesel engines, the process differs slightly. Diesel engines rely on compression ignition, where air is compressed to a very high temperature, and then fuel is injected. They typically draw in a larger volume of air relative to fuel compared to gasoline engines and do not have a throttle valve in the same way, as the amount of fuel injected controls the power output.

Effective air induction ensures that the engine receives a sufficient and properly mixed charge of air and fuel. Factors like air temperature, altitude, and air filter cleanliness can all impact the efficiency of air induction. Modern engines often employ sophisticated electronic control systems to optimize air intake based on various operating conditions.