Licho wrote:Local university now reports, that they have finalized their prototype of Linear Combustion Engine. Type of engine without mechanical parts (like flywheel) that convert linear movement into rotatory.
Energy is instead converted directly to electricity and complex control circuits are used to control engine and keep it running.
This type of engine has very high efficiency, up to 80% energy contained in hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel is transformed into electricity. This should lead to cars that 4x outperform current cars in terms of hydrocarbon energy -> work efficiency.
Suggested use is for hybrid cars, as main power source, instead of costly and material intensive fuel cells. Engine is mechanically very simple and can be mass produced cheaply, while achieving higher W/m^3 and W/kg than conventional fuel cells.
Project leader now says that after experimental prototype, full industrial prototype is being developed now.
This is somewhat outdated site which explain how engine works:
http://www.lceproject.org/
Alfred Tennyson wrote:We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Licho wrote:This type of engine has very high efficiency, up to 80% energy contained in hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel is transformed into electricity. This should lead to cars that 4x outperform current cars in terms of hydrocarbon energy -> work efficiency.
FoxV wrote:Even if it does not follow a normal heat engine:
The exhaust gasses have heat and chemical energy so there's losses there (cogen heat would help reduce this loss)
Licho wrote:
This type of engine has very high efficiency, up to 80% energy contained in hydrocarbon or hydrogen fuel is transformed into electricity. This should lead to cars that 4x outperform current cars in terms of hydrocarbon energy -> work efficiency.
VMA131Marine wrote:Looking at the layout and operation of the engine it occurs to me that the thing will create tremendous vibration unless another pair of cylinders is added and the two pistons operate 180 degrees out of phase. This would seem to require a mechanical linkage between the two pistons.
Syeer wrote:On top of the the fact that the design looks like it might produce horrendous amounts of vibration, and its a 2-cycle (although it appears to be a direct injection 2-cycle, which is, I believe, about on par with a 4-cycle in efficiency and emmisions), I'm curious as to how well those permanent magnets hold up under all the heat and vibrations. Last I checked PMs don't last long in that sort of environment.
Alfred Tennyson wrote:We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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