Shockwave-Generating Wave Discs Could Replace Internal Combustion Engines

[KittyWampus]

Video at SECOND link at bottom




Michigan researchers have built a prototype of a new auto motor that does away with pistons, crankshafts and valves, replacing the old internal combustion engine with a disc-shaped shock wave generator. It could slash the weight of hybrid cars and reduce auto emissions by 90 percent. The generator is about the size of a saucepot, and would replace the 1,000-pound power train in most cars — no transmission, cooling system, emissions regulation or fluids needed.

It consists of a rotor carved with wave-like channels. Fuel and air enter through central inlets, and the rotor spins to block their exit through a separate outlet. The sudden build-up of pressure generates a shock wave, compressing the mixture. Then it’s ignited, and as the rotor keeps spinning, the outlet opens again to let the hot gases escape. New Scientist explains in further detail.

The novel generator would use about 60 percent of fuel for propulsion, according to MSU. This is a dramatic improvement over typical car engines, which use only 15 percent of fuel for forward movement. The system could also make cars 20 percent lighter, improving fuel economy even more.

MSU received a $2.5 million ARPA-E grant to develop the technology. Müller said he hopes to have an even larger 25-kilowatt prototype by the end of this year.

http://www.popsci.com/cars/article/2011-03/shockwave-generating-wave-discs-could-replace-cars-internal-combustion-engines

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snip
If it works as advertised, the so-called Wave Disk Engine would use shock waves to more efficiently compress fuel and transmit energy. The research team at Michigan State University claims that its prototype could potentially decrease auto emissions by up to 90 percent. The invention, which doesn't have a radiator or valve train, uses a generator connection to serve as a vehicle's engine, according to Norbert Mueller, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at MSU.

The idea here being that compression becomes more efficient if there are no moving parts involved in the process. The MSU team contends that their prototype thus would more efficiently process automobile fuel. What's more, they estimate it would subtract almost 1,000 pounds from the weight of a car that now gets taken up in the way of a conventional engine, transmission, cooling system, emissions, and fluids. Vehicles incorporating the system would be able to run on myriad fuels - including compressed natural gas, hydrogen, gas or renewable fuels.(You can listen to Mueller explain this in more detail in the above video filmed a couple of years ago when MSU received the grant to undertake the project).



Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20044720-501465.html#ixzz1Jodb4BPn

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Now that's usin' your noodle! I mean renewable green energy.

[Odin2005]

2. WOW!

[truedelphi]

3. K & R for viewing later. n/t

[Gregorian]

4. Interesting. But electric motors beat it hands down.

You can't regenerate using this thing. And that is a big amount of energy just given up through deceleration. Of course one could add devices to regenerate, but why not just use electric motors.

It looks like a glorified 2-stroke. Much better than the otto cycle in terms of thermal efficiency, but still polishing a dead concept, at least for personal transportation. Now commercial transportation is a whole different topic. At least right now.

Bla, bla, bla, hot air. I should just step away from the keyboard and go walk around.

[TheWraith]

7. I think that their idea is to use this to generate electricity for an electric motor.

The idea is potentially interesting, but I withhold judgment until they actually have the thing in action. I've seen too many major scientific advances that didn't make it out of the lab because they weren't as great and free of drawbacks as people thought.

It does seem to me that there's a lot of potential for an engine type which would be more efficient at converting fuel to electricity, if for no other reason than the fact that the piston system isn't the most effective for driving a spinning permanent magnet turbine. But we'll see what comes out of this.

[izquierdista]

5. There ARE moving parts

Looks like a take-off on the principle of a jet engine.

[ddeclue]

6. Just another form of gas turbine engine.. not really terribly novel.

There are already "micro turbines" out there for such applications but not really any in cars. There have been experiments with turbine powered cars in the past but the problem had always been transmissions because of the mismatch between turbine rotor speeds and the wheel RPM's and torque needed for ordinary driving.

Of course the answer is gas turbine combined with electric generator in a turbine electric/battery powered vehicle.

The nice thing about turbines is that they'll burn almost anything for fuel.. gas, diesel, kerosene..rubber bands..plastic spoons.. I exaggerate a bit but generally they can be run on a wide variety of fuels.

Doug D.

[leveymg]

8. It's just a form of the Wankel rotary engine mated to an electric motor. Not revolutionary.

May work well, but this is not the dramatic breakthrough that's being implied here. Not clear at all where the 90 percent reduction in emissions or 1000 pound weight saving is coming from and what the baseline comparison is. The claim here is that the design will produce 34 horsepower. A single-chamber rotary engine or gas turbine of the same output would also be compact and light, and could be designed to run on a variety of fuels. So could a reciprocating engine, for that matter. It's the batteries and electric motor that make up most of the weight of such a hybrid, so the weight-saving as well as the lower emissions claims have to be viewed with skepticism.

What's different here?

[KittyWampus]

9. Here is some technical discussion of this:

Your question is way out of my league.

http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9685

[KittyWampus]

10. And some more interesting technical discussion mixed in w/ commentary:

http://technology-science.newsvine.com/_news/2011/04/06/6420965-new-engine-sends-shock-waves-through-auto-industry-#comments

[Gregorian]

12. Thanks for the links. Confirms what I was thinking.

It's way too early to be releasing and discussing information on this configuration of engine.

When the electrical grid is connected to renewable energy generation, none of this will even be in consideration except for special applications. Electric motors are what we'll be using.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. K&R even though I don't understand how it could be so simple. Simple is almost

always better when it comes to things mechanical.