New Car Engine Sends Shock Waves Through Auto Industry

digme

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.
The Wave Disk Generator uses 60 percent of its fuel for propulsion; standard car engines use just 15 percent. As a result, the generator is 3.5 times more fuel efficient than typical combustion engines.


Researchers estimate the new model could shave almost 1,000 pounds off a car's weight currently taken up by conventional engine systems.
Last week, the prototype was presented to the energy division of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is backing the Michigan State University Engine Research Laboratory with $2.5 million in funding.
Michigan State's team of engineers hope to have a car-sized 25-kilowatt version of the prototype ready by the end of the year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf_-IMgla34

pateen

whatcha talkin' bout willis.....

sorry

Guy:Incognito

All these people making these huge breakthroughs over the the years need to turn those "coulds" into "are now" and then go public.

How many of these threads have there been only for the technology never to be heard of again?

Anan1

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

All these people making these huge breakthroughs over the the years need to turn those "coulds" into "are now" and then go public.

How many of these threads have there been only for the technology never to be heard of again?

True, but turning a 'could' into an 'is now' costs a lot of money. I'd imagine they feel they have to go public to raise funds to develop their ideas.

jhegarty

If only the youtube video wasn't 2 years old.

Vertakill

Sad - I can remember this exact video being posted 2 years ago!

Any progress?

mondeo

One hit wonders, everyone gets excited about it for awhile and then someone finds some sort of a flaw and the book is closed.

Del2005

Is it just me or have they just invented a Wankel engine 70 years too late.

Jumpy

Del2005 wrote: »

Is it just me or have they just invented a Wankel engine 70 years too late.

ehehehe