Posted on 05/21/2011 2:18:29 PM PDT by Windflier
Despite shifting into higher gear within the consumer's green conscience, hybrid vehicles are still tethered to the gas pump via a fuel-thirsty 100-year-old invention: the internal combustion engine.
However, researchers at Michigan State University have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids. Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines.
The engine has a rotor that's equipped with wave-like channels that trap and mix oxygen and fuel as the rotor spins. These central inlets are blocked off, building pressure within the chamber, causing a shock wave that ignites the compressed air and fuel to transmit energy.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
"The Wave Disk Generator uses 60 percent of its fuel for propulsion; standard car engines use just 15 percent. As a result, the generator is 3.5 times more fuel efficient than typical combustion engines.
Researchers estimate the new model could shave almost 1,000 pounds off a car's weight currently taken up by conventional engine systems.
The engine has a rotor that's equipped with wave-like channels that trap and mix oxygen and fuel as the rotor spins. These central inlets are blocked off, building pressure within the chamber, causing a shock wave that ignites the compressed air and fuel to transmit energy.
The Wave Disk Generator uses 60 percent of its fuel for propulsion; standard car engines use just 15 percent. As a result, the generator is 3.5 times more fuel efficient than typical combustion engines.
Researchers estimate the new model could shave almost 1,000 pounds off a car's weight currently taken up by conventional engine systems."
Cool.
sounds good, but stuff like this disappears
and never makes it to market.
So it’s like a diesel engine (no spark plugs) and a turbo somehow combined.
I’d like to see a working model.
Hope this isn’t another Wankel.
Why does the phrase “cold fusion” come to mind?
We'll see. This thing has a whole lot of sunshine on it. Sorta hard to suppress it out of existence, when millions are reading and talking about it.
Did you also notice that these folks have a $2.5 million dollar grant from the Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop this engine?
Sounds just like a Wankel.
$2.5 million in funding
If they can take $2.5 million and increase efficiency from 15% to 60% that will be the best investment in the history of the world.
if its so good then why hasn’t a car company bought this
Similar concept to a turbine engine and much cheaper to make probably. If they can produce it cheap then this is huge.
Don't know where you can see one up close, but there's a video of the developer demonstrating it at the link.
My neighbor has a Mazda RX-8 and approximately once a month I see a rollback truck comes and picks it up, and after a few days (of apparent shop work) it brings it back. Must be a real bow-wow!
..and it should be pretty easy to get that much from the private sector, especially if there was some trade off for distribution rights.
Um....because it's still in the development stage, and not fully tested, etc.? Just a guess...
I'll bet it will be huge. Contrary to the pessimism of some, technological development continues, and we'll yet see many new and exciting inventions in our lifetimes.
Let's hope it is better than one. There is a reason you don't see 70's and 80's RX7's around.
IMHO Nothing wrong with the modern combustion engine if ya remove the EPA mandated drag anchors errrr pollution control errr.... accessories.
X-Prize an affordable 2 seat commuter ride with nerf like qualities run flat tires and 300hp to the rear wheels that gets 100mpg. Don’t forget a Sat Sirrus / XM FM radio with bluetooth and GPS !
Oh an a bubba mug holder !
Your turn.
Resale value says they are. Nice looking cars, very fast. I haven’t driven any of recent vintage but the original RX-7 was a blast, very linear, hummed right up to redline and felt as if it could have kept on going. No wild thrashing, almost turbine-like.
But, they use something like a quart of oil every 2,000 miles as a matter of course, it was in the owner’s manual. They also suck gas like a semi. I suspect all the autopilot American owners and drivers are being too casual about checking and changing the oil in the things, among other bad habits. The Wankel engine is not forgiving of that. Kaboom.
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