TSLexi
Automotive
- May 27, 2014
- 28
I was recently reading the research of Prof Dr-Ing Gerhard Schmitz into compound expansion ICEs, and Mr Bruce Crower into water injection. So I'd like your advice as to whether this is feasible, as I am merely a community college student planning on entering automotive or mechanical engineering.
Most ICEs waste a whole bunch of power by having the exhaust expand into the outside world. And they require massive radiators to keep the parts from getting heat-damaged. And they also require camshafts to open and close the valves, which adds a whole bunch of weight. And Otto cycle engines require spark plugs and have to use lower compression ratios to prevent detonation, which adds weight as well and decreases power.
We can solve this by starting with a basic four stroke Diesel cycle engine. We replace the camshaft with electronically-controlled solenoids to actuate the valves. Then we can dispense with the timing belt as well.
We then add a low pressure cylinder that the exhaust is directed to. This cylinder will be at TDC when the exhaust valves on the combustion cylinder are open, and when it's at BDC, it's contents will be directed into the air. Steam engine designers figured out the concept of compound expansion centuries ago, why has it taken ICE engineers this long?
Finally, the next time the combustion cylinder is at TDC, instead of injecting diesel, we inject distilled water. This will a) provide an extra power stroke, as water expands 1600x when it turns into steam, and b) cool the engine. We could also increase power-to-weight ratio, depending on the weight of water needed to replace the weight of the radiator. Once again, steam engines don't need radiators, as they produce power, they also dissipate heat. You'd just have to ensure ) that the water is very pure, and b) use steam engine lubricant.
And to ensure the engine will always be operating at peak efficiency, we couple it to a continuously-variable transmission.
So we have the benefits of a) the very efficient Diesel cycle which doesn't require spark plugs and produces more torque, b) use electronically-controlled solenoids to actuate the valves, which saves the weight of the camshaft, c) compound expansion to extract extra power from the exhaust, d) steam power, which keeps the engine cool and adds extra power, and e) a CVT, which eliminates the inefficiency involved in gear-shifting.
If we build the engine out of carbon fiber, this engine will be very light and strong, and able to survive the high temperatures involved. And a lighter engine means it can rev higher and have larger cylinders. It's better to produce torque at a higher rpm, because then you can take full advantage of the CVT's gearing to produce optimum power, and there's no replacement for displacement.
So thanks for advising me!
Lexi
Most ICEs waste a whole bunch of power by having the exhaust expand into the outside world. And they require massive radiators to keep the parts from getting heat-damaged. And they also require camshafts to open and close the valves, which adds a whole bunch of weight. And Otto cycle engines require spark plugs and have to use lower compression ratios to prevent detonation, which adds weight as well and decreases power.
We can solve this by starting with a basic four stroke Diesel cycle engine. We replace the camshaft with electronically-controlled solenoids to actuate the valves. Then we can dispense with the timing belt as well.
We then add a low pressure cylinder that the exhaust is directed to. This cylinder will be at TDC when the exhaust valves on the combustion cylinder are open, and when it's at BDC, it's contents will be directed into the air. Steam engine designers figured out the concept of compound expansion centuries ago, why has it taken ICE engineers this long?
Finally, the next time the combustion cylinder is at TDC, instead of injecting diesel, we inject distilled water. This will a) provide an extra power stroke, as water expands 1600x when it turns into steam, and b) cool the engine. We could also increase power-to-weight ratio, depending on the weight of water needed to replace the weight of the radiator. Once again, steam engines don't need radiators, as they produce power, they also dissipate heat. You'd just have to ensure ) that the water is very pure, and b) use steam engine lubricant.
And to ensure the engine will always be operating at peak efficiency, we couple it to a continuously-variable transmission.
So we have the benefits of a) the very efficient Diesel cycle which doesn't require spark plugs and produces more torque, b) use electronically-controlled solenoids to actuate the valves, which saves the weight of the camshaft, c) compound expansion to extract extra power from the exhaust, d) steam power, which keeps the engine cool and adds extra power, and e) a CVT, which eliminates the inefficiency involved in gear-shifting.
If we build the engine out of carbon fiber, this engine will be very light and strong, and able to survive the high temperatures involved. And a lighter engine means it can rev higher and have larger cylinders. It's better to produce torque at a higher rpm, because then you can take full advantage of the CVT's gearing to produce optimum power, and there's no replacement for displacement.
So thanks for advising me!
Lexi
