Login | Register
The Engineer's Place for News and Discussion®

Commentator

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: england
Posts: 88
#10
In reply to #6
Find in discussion

Re: New engine could make cars hyperefficient

05/15/2007 10:52 AM

If you refer to the thermal efficiencies of 60 to 65% mentioned, no, not on state of the art marine and industrial engines, which are more likely to be around 40 to 45% at continuous full load, ie low fuel consumption together with low emissions and no smoke (some ports will not allow ships to enter if they show smoke), difficult to achieve altogether at best of times. Large marine engines are different animals to automotive engines, they run at lower mean piston speeds of around 9m/sec continuously, lower gas velocities through valves of around 60/70m/sec and much higher turbocharger boost pressures peaking up to 5:1 with no wastegate and max. firing pressures of about 200 bar.

The higher thermal efficiency of 60 to 65% referred to is associated with a completely new type of engine intended originally for base load power generation. Basically the engine has separate isothermal compressor (with water injection) and power cylinder units, albeit on the same crankshaft. The original concept, about 15 years ago, was based on an eight stroke cycle, offering a theoretical 80% thermal efficiency, but simplification and practical rounding of the cycle diagram corners made a four stroke cycle viable with the initial demonstrator engine of around 400mm cylinder bore pulling about 60/65% thermal efficiency. The original concept involved camshaft driven valves but design and testing was completed with pneumatic actuation due to the rapid development of these systems. The design and performance parameters were recently reported in the technical press so I'm not now giving secrets away.

Hope this helps.

__________________
gem
Reply