'Researchers in the USA have developed a prototype petrol engine with a difference, it has no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, cooling system, fluids, or valves, according to Discovery News. Called the Wave Disk Generator, it is hoped that it could decrease tailpipe emissions up to 90% compared to the current petrol-hybrid cars on the road'.
I wonder if it'll quietly go off into obscurity or become the Next Big Thing?
It certainly cant reduce tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide by 90%, in order to do that it would have to burn only 10% of the fuel used by a conventional engine.
Such an improvement implies an efficiency in excess of 100% which is contary to the laws of physics.
A 90% reduction in emmisions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other noxious gases is possible by cleaner combustion.
Small petrol engines are a mature technology and large improvements therefore appear unlikely.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
Also, a 4 fold improvement in thermodynamic efficiency would require incredible combustion temperatures in the chambers. The early Mazda rotory engines used to burn out regularly because the design caused hot spots on the rotor tips. 60% efficiency would require combustion hot enough to melt the engine.
adam2 wrote:It certainly cant reduce tailpipe emissions of carbon dioxide by 90%, in order to do that it would have to burn only 10% of the fuel used by a conventional engine.
Being as this engine is considerably simpler than an ICE this would translate into extra savings in addition to any improved efficiency.
Also the inventor seems to be indicating that it would be used in a hybrid configuration which in itself should be more efficient than an ICE car.
That said, 90% does sound rather optimistic.
The most complete exposition of a social myth comes when the myth itself is waning (Robert M MacIver 1947)
