ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses distributed and dispersed generating systems driven by internal combustion, reciprocating piston engines burning fossil fuels. It also discusses several basic concepts, such as the Carnot cycle equation, which are important to all fossil fuel DG devices, piston, turbine, and fuel cell alike. The chapter explains the basic concept of the reciprocating piston engine function, and compares the two types of engine most often used: spark and compression ignition. Distributed generation most often uses some form of conventional fossil fuel, like gasoline, diesel or fuel oil, natural gas, propane, methane, or gasified coal, to produce electric power. Distributed generators are available in sizes from less than 5 kW to 25,000 kVA. Reciprocating piston engines are the most widely used type of power source for distributed generators, accounting globally for about 93% of all distributed generation at the time of this writing.
