Carnot efficiency rules still apply, unless it operates at very high temps and pressures, it will be less than 50% efficient like all the other IC engines.
Exactly what I was thinking. The article says very little about the design, but in the picture from the article, the man appears to be holding an aluminum part.
Sorry fellas, you ain't gonna get there if you are using that as your engine constructing material.
Also consider this: they gave a lyrical, inspiring name to their invention, but it's in English.
Typically, Israelis give their big projects Hebrew names, that come out in English like "Kippat Barzel" or "Tzuk Eitan." When translated into English, they don't sound so lyrical ("Iron Dome" and "Cast Lead").
The more I read about this, the more I'm thinking "fundraising project."