Anyone heard of this?
I didn't have a whole lot of time to look over it because I had an 8am test, but it seems interesting. I don't think they have done any actual testing where they ignite a fuel/air mixture, but they have done what they call "air motoring," where they run compressed air into the intake and just use the compression of the engine to run it (or something along those lines, I just skimmed the article). Also, I went through the patent really quickly and it seems they have a "two-stroke" variant as well. I'm not 100% on how the pistons actually turn the crankshaft, but I'll read through it a bit more later.
Looks interesting, but there's not much math to back up anything. Also, the estimates of power seem a little outlandish, but I guess time will tell. The thing is, even if the motor does end up making 1000ft-lbs at 300rpm, it doesn't really have a practical application from a motorsports standpoint unless you can shift that powerband higher. By the time you gear that engine up to achieve performance car speeds, it isn't going to be anything impressive -- they reported 134hp, which indicates how much the actual wheel torque will be reduced at higher speeds in production cars.
I can see it working well in low speed applications, but unless they move the powerband up I don't see it moving to the automotive industry. I mainly posted it up because I thought the concept was cool. I think it's cooler than the rotary valve idea that has been around awhile. Has anyone figured out how the pistons turn the crank?
I'm not saying it's any more than "just another concept;" it's just food for thought, and I figured you guys might find it interesting.
I didn't have a whole lot of time to look over it because I had an 8am test, but it seems interesting. I don't think they have done any actual testing where they ignite a fuel/air mixture, but they have done what they call "air motoring," where they run compressed air into the intake and just use the compression of the engine to run it (or something along those lines, I just skimmed the article). Also, I went through the patent really quickly and it seems they have a "two-stroke" variant as well. I'm not 100% on how the pistons actually turn the crankshaft, but I'll read through it a bit more later.
Looks interesting, but there's not much math to back up anything. Also, the estimates of power seem a little outlandish, but I guess time will tell. The thing is, even if the motor does end up making 1000ft-lbs at 300rpm, it doesn't really have a practical application from a motorsports standpoint unless you can shift that powerband higher. By the time you gear that engine up to achieve performance car speeds, it isn't going to be anything impressive -- they reported 134hp, which indicates how much the actual wheel torque will be reduced at higher speeds in production cars.
I can see it working well in low speed applications, but unless they move the powerband up I don't see it moving to the automotive industry. I mainly posted it up because I thought the concept was cool. I think it's cooler than the rotary valve idea that has been around awhile. Has anyone figured out how the pistons turn the crank?
I'm not saying it's any more than "just another concept;" it's just food for thought, and I figured you guys might find it interesting.
