The inventors of a new type rotary engine contracted with DARPA

Company LiquidPiston received funding for its project средства by DARPA . The project is an improved internal combustion engine rotary called X1 . At the head of a company operating in the city of Bloomfield State of Connecticut, are engineers, father and son, Nicholas a > and Alexander students.

The inventors say many unique properties of its products. For example, the thermal efficiency of the engine is 50% (compared to 20-30% of a conventional petrol engine). However, if you take the diesel engine, add the turbocharging and intercooling, we also obtain the efficiency of about 50%. But while the diesel engine will weigh a lot.

According to Alexander Shkolnik, a typical diesel generator 3 kW has dimensions 100h60h60 cm and weighs more than 70 kg. In this case, the motor generator based on X1 similar capacity will weigh 15 kg (engine itself - 4 kg), and it will be the size of 30x30 cm. In fact, this generator will fit in a backpack.

The inventors have tried to take the best from the different thermal cycles and reduce the loss of engine power. The theoretical limit of efficiency of the new engine - 75%, but while the engineers are working hard to achieve real target of 57%.

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Running the engine X1 resembles the process of the famous rotary Wankel engine , turned inside out. The rotor is fastened on an eccentric shaft, and comprises channels for the inlet of gas mixture and exhaust. Located at the corners of an equilateral triangle candles work out on time per revolution.

The engine runs on direct injection and provides high compression ratio - 18: 1. Does not change during the combustion chamber volume allows fuel to burn longer and fuller. The exhaust gases reach nearly atmospheric pressure before leaving, and therefore the time to give almost all of its energy to the rotor.

High efficiency also eliminates the water-cooled engine. Operating under load, engine ignition cycles can pass and be sucked air which is cool it. Embodiment even consider injection of water into the combustion chamber, which will cool the engine to reduce exhaust emissions and simultaneously converted into steam that pushes the rotor.



Left - Wankel engine, right - X1 i>

Compact and engine power are interested in the military who need portable power systems. In the case of the successful implementation of the engine will find many uses - a portable electric generator engine for unmanned vehicles, and more.

Engineers have come up with a new engine back in 2003. By 2012, the first prototype was built, which is written in the magazine & quot; Популярная Mechanics & quot ;. In 2015, the company not only has a contract with DARPA, but also started to develop a mini-version of the engine.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/249518/