What is the difference between an internal combustion engine and an external combustion engine?

[CameronLee]

The differences between internal combustion engines and external combustion engines: 1. Different combustion locations: The fuel of an internal combustion engine burns inside it; the fuel of an external combustion engine burns outside it. 2. Different engine classifications: Internal combustion engines are divided into compression ignition and spark ignition types; external combustion engines can only be spark ignition type. An external combustion engine is one where the fuel burns outside the engine, and the engine converts the thermal energy generated by this combustion into kinetic energy. The steam engine invented by Watt is a typical example of an external combustion engine. When a large amount of coal burns to produce heat that turns water into a large amount of steam, high pressure is generated, which then drives mechanical work, thereby completing the conversion of thermal energy into kinetic energy.