Posted on 05/21/2011 2:18:29 PM PDT by Windflier
Despite shifting into higher gear within the consumer's green conscience, hybrid vehicles are still tethered to the gas pump via a fuel-thirsty 100-year-old invention: the internal combustion engine.
However, researchers at Michigan State University have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids. Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines.
The engine has a rotor that's equipped with wave-like channels that trap and mix oxygen and fuel as the rotor spins. These central inlets are blocked off, building pressure within the chamber, causing a shock wave that ignites the compressed air and fuel to transmit energy.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
“The development of this engine is not a private endeavor at any level.”
Wow, are you ever wrong! DARPA money is contract money to develop commercially viable, but highly innovative products. Someone had an idea for this product and the govt agreed to fund development. A company has either already been formed or will be formed to eventually take this into Phase 3 commercial development.
NSU - Gritz Zu
First to the Wankel party with the 1968 RO80, company bought by VW and disappeared.
I’ve often regretted not buying a wankle-engined car just to get some first-hand experience with the critter !! >PS
Check back issues of Pop/Sci/Mechanics for 18 mos. I recall seeing an article on this engine in one or the other. Some more info and better pics than linked. But I can see where the “inventor” wants to keep things pretty close to their vest.
You might also remember another “revolutionary engine” coming out of Australia. Lots of advance hoopla, but it seems to have died an unremarked natural death.... >PS
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