Discuss!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42460541/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/
I saw this a few days ago, but can't find a decent-sized diagram of it that would help me understand what's going on. The thumbnail at MSNBC looks very different from other diagrams spread around the web.
Anyone know of a really good article and diagram on this thing?
ok..the article says that it is used to power a generator, which then powers electric motors that have batteries for backup for when more power is needed... and it's somehow supposed to make cars 1000 pounds lighter compared to a regular car with an internal combustion engine?
that being said, the way it looks reminds me a lot of a super secret engine that i read about in Hot Rod magazine about 20 years ago. it was supposed to put out over 300 hp and fit within a 15" wheel, which would allow an engine for each wheel without adding a lot of mass to the car. i only ever read about it in that one article and haven't seen anything about it online since. i suppose Big Oil bought it and set it on a shelf next to the mythical 100mpg carburetor from the 50's....
I think the reason this is meant to be coupled with a generator is that it can only work at a narrow rpm range.
This diagram is the best I found, and the only one I could make sense out of:
I'll believe it when I see it in use.
The number of "revolutionary" engine designs that have been patented and never used is staggering.
The modern internal combustion engine is very highly developed for what it is.
Shawn
Trans_Maro wrote: I'll believe it when I see it in use. The number of "revolutionary" engine designs that have been patented and never used is staggering. The modern internal combustion engine is very highly developed for what it is. Shawn
And that's a lot of the problem really.
If you have a basic design that is potentially superior to modern piston engines, the current ones have a hundred+ year head start on development/refinement. You'll never get the money to do that until you can sell a lot, and you won't sell enough until they really are better.
It's going to take something that's immediately way superior. And that's really, really tough. Even if some of those "revolutionary" engine designs do have the potential to get there, there's no economical way to get to that point. (No evil oil company conspiracies needed, just raw economics)
First thing that comes to mind is how the combustion chamber is sealed. The description, video and diagrams are vague at best, and no mention of a working model yet. And the compressed air... although the rotor itself is functioning as a centrifugal blower, how much pressure can it actually build and retain during the cycle... now it's back to that chamber sealing question.
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