Japanese Future engine technology demonstrated efficiency from 30% to 60%

From NHK News 29/8/16

"Team creates model of highly fuel-efficient engine

Researchers at a Japanese university say they've developed a prototype of a car engine that would be drastically more fuel-efficient than anything on the market.

The team, led by Waseda University Professor Ken Naitoh, says its calculations show the engine would have a heat efficiency ratio as high as 60 percent, nearly double that of conventional engines.

Team members say by injecting air and fuel into the combustion chamber from multiple directions at sonic speed, they can concentrate the fuel for burning in one spot. That means heat is less likely to escape, which improves thermal efficiency.

The researchers say they conducted tests on a prototype 30-cubic-centimeter engine, and obtained results that matched their calculations.

Professor Naitoh says representatives from about 10 automakers have already visited their lab to see the new technology.

He says the engine could be used in small power generators in homes, as well as in aircraft and rockets.

But he says it will be 5 to 10 years before the technology is ready for practical use."


Amazing to think we have been using only 1/2 of the energy possible (@ 30% efficient) up to this time. No wonder Mazda went the path to extract more with their sky active engine range when scientist have achieved the above.

Ralph Sarich invented the orbital engine in 1972. Shame it never got the investment it needed when they needed it (during the 80's). Cooling was the issue, could have revolutionised the industry. It did go on to make a small number of scooters and marine engines. They had a jet-ski in their reception that had an orbital engine in it and it was tiny.

The ideas was:
The Orbital Combustion Process engine has been refined into a two-stroke engine that is 50% lighter, 30% more fuel efficient, 20% cheaper to make, 70% smaller, and produces 30% less pollution than traditional engines.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jc_sv8

Ralph Sarich invented the orbital engine in 1972. Shame it never got the investment it needed when they needed it (during the 80's). Cooling was the issue, could have revolutionised the industry. It did go on to make a small number of scooters and marine engines. They had a jet-ski in their reception that had an orbital engine in it and it was tiny.

The ideas was:
The Orbital Combustion Process engine has been refined into a two-stroke engine that is 50% lighter, 30% more fuel efficient, 20% cheaper to make, 70% smaller, and produces 30% less pollution than traditional engines.

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I started my career at Orbital Engine Co tuning the injected 3 cyl two stoke engines , the actual orbital concept was dead and buried by this point BUT the big development that came out of the orbital engine was the fuel injection system that was developed for it.
Basically the system used highly compressed air injector that was blasted air though a fuel injector directly into the cylinder and bounced a atomisied fuel charge of the piston towards the spark plug. This allowed for greatly improved emmisions and power compared to other engines of the time , unfortuately for the technology the 4 stroke engine was already entrenched in the automotive industry and cost to change manufacturing plants to a 2 stroke was prohibitive , the outboard and motorcyle manufacturers took up the technology . There was a small run of festivas the govt used as well as a test fleet floating around using the technology but eventually 4 stoke technology caught up and Orbital Engine Co wound down.
Was fun and interesting times though in the development.
When I first stared we could not get the engines to survive 10hrs of a 200hr extreme durability test , eventually the engines become nearly bulletproof.