Problem: Conventional engines and new tech engines need fuel to run, often a very specific type, but some fuels are in short or easily interrupted supply and often very expensive or they need a totally new not yet installed, supply infrastructure.
Solution: External combustion engines can run on an extremely wide range of fuels, whatever is available, they are true multi fuel engines.
External combustion engines apply heat to a captive fluid or gas, Stirling engines and steam engines are examples, the applied heat causes expansion which creates mechanical motion. But there are some new designs in the works and the Cyclone Green Revolution Engine is one that looks interesting, even DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is looking into one as the power source for an autonomous self fueling robot concept. That sounds pretty interesting to me, so I thought I would take a look.
Internal combustion engines need to burn fuel very rapidly before it is exhausted from the combustion chamber, some unburned fuel is often expelled and unused. To maximize efficiency, fuels must be carefully refined and the combustion process itself tightly controlled.
External combustion engines burn the fuel until it is consumed because there’s no need to hurry the process, it’s being used to heat something else which does the work. In the Cyclone Green Revolution Engine, almost any petroleum or biomass fuel can be used, even mixed together in the same tank unless they would interact in some way. The engine itself doesn’t care what you put in it, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, jet fuel, if it burns, fill ‘er up.
In the Cyclone engine, a centrifugal combustion chamber keeps the heavier unburned fuel on the outside until it is completely burned, up to as much as a minute or so, instead of only milliseconds in a normal combustion chamber, then the hot gas in the 2,000 to 2,300 degree Fahrenheit range, goes to a heat exchanger and heats water.
Looking through their diagrams and schematics I thought, sure, fine in theory but does it work? It turns out it does, in everything from lawn mowers and weed trimmers to cars, trucks, boats, standby generators and more. Plus it needs no catalytic converter … no radiator (air cooled) … no transmission (high starting torque) … no oil pump (and no oil … the engine is water-lubricated).
These could easily fit in a motorcycle since sizing already puts them in lawn mowers and weed trimmers. Just think, fill up your bike with the cheapest fuel available or the only fuel available, … File this under interesting.
Video and diagram below:
Link: Cyclone Power Technologies via Next Big Future
WOL says
I always a wanted a stanley steamer and now I may get one!
coho says
It’s not quite Mr. Fusion, but I like the idea.
Keep our garbage out of landfills and in the gas tank where it belongs.
Kirill says
alright, sounds cool. so when do we see a BMW GS conversion to Cyclone?
🙂
marcus says
As a taxpayer now part owner of some auto makers, why is this coming from some guy working in a lab on his own and not out of the r & d department of what had been one of the largest coporations on the planet?
ep says
i really like the idea of something that could reduce our dependence on fossile fuels. but carbon dioxide is the problem, and burning more stuff is not the solution.
Blaine says
Hi there. CO2 is not the problem. The earths atmosphere is 98% nitrogen and oxygen. Of the remaining 2% CO2 is less than .5 %. Man made CO2 makes up less than 10% of that. So, man made CO2, is less than .05% of the atmosphere. The number one green house gas, is water vapor. There can be up to 20% in the atmosphere, and it regularly is over 5%. Man made CO2, has hardly any effect on the warming of the earth. The majority of CO2 in the air, comes from things like decaying plants, dead alge in the oceans and volcanoes. We have no control over these. Blaine
Spartandude says
@marcus: do some research. The big players did look into external combustion engines a while ago. However, they rejected them for their longer start up times and limited throttle response. You are right to gripe because there are currently many applications that would not have these issues. Namely for stationary power generation and for range extenders on electric vehicles. Also this guy is not some yahoo in his garage coming up with this awesome technology out of thin air. He is a highly skilled designer with multiple patents to his name. Ranging from innovations in hydrodynamics and engine design. Also a private lab always has the advantage of innovation because they don’t have the established buracracy funding only established goals and he also doesn’t have to follow what consumers think is cool.
Anyone who is skeptical when encountering the sensational hyperbolized B.S. that his marketing group seem to think will lend credibility to them (really just makes them look like conspiricy theorist and easily writen off). IGNORE THEM!!!!!
Go directly to Harry Schoell’s write ups (like US patent 20070261681 at freepatentsonline.com). He is well informed and has sound engineering principles. Although his marketing team says his engine runs at 46% it would appear that Mr. Shoell’s calculations point to a respectable, but significantly lower range of 31% ±10%. His engine is rather efficient, but is not quite up to a typical steam/coal power plant.
I think this would be great for an EV range extender and wish them the best of luck.
Peace,
P.S. Harry knock your marketing upside the head they are doing you a diservice.
Brent Meeker says
Even though CO2 is a small percentage of the atmosphere it is the dominant factor in global warming. Water is more effective at absorbing infrared radiation, but it is readily transfered to and from the oceans, so it stays in equilibrium depending on ocean temperature; while CO2 takes hundreds of years to come into equilibrium. Also water vapor is not so effective as a greenhouse gas because it condenses out at lower altitudes and so isn’t at the altitude where radiation can escape directly to space. Don’t be misled by global warming deniers; atmospherics are complex, c.f. realclimate.org.
The cyclone engine still burn hydrocarbons and so it won’t do anything to reduce CO2 emission that can’t be done with an internal combustion engine.
Azzy says
May be a better way to generate electricity at our powerplants, but I dont see it as a viable everyday use motor for our transportation.
Lawnmower? Last thing i want to have to do is heat it up. Ive even looked into those robotic deals, and thought of using solar to charge it.
Gas will be around for some time, its just how much energy can we squeek out of it? I still like the 6 cycle engine concept the best.
dave says
as soon as this becomes viable this guy will mysteriously disappear. big oil will kill him or buy him off and kill the technology.
Paulinator says
OK. We’re currently dependant on fossil fuels. If the “energy conversion device” (aka: IC engine) could be improved to 50 percent efficiency or better, then global dependance, global commerce and global warming would all be redefined. Its funny that Chevy was going to save the North American auto industry by releasing the Volt in 2010 while BMW figured it would take a decade to incorporate an energy recovery steam turbine into their otherwise conventional power-train.
Side note: the Lockheed Constellation only became inter-continental once its large radial 3350 engines incorporated turbo-compounding to improve efficiency.
What about that 28 hp Douglas?
Ry_Trapp0 says
so, if im understanding this correctly, this is a steam engine with a unique boiler? unless im missing something, i dont understand why it gets a special name.
Jason says
Great idea. Let’s see how long before it disappears from the face of the earth. Either by being suppressed or bought out by the oil companies. Can’t we all just get along?
Azzy says
You guys think there is some big conspiracy…. Most of those products fabels to come out dont exist, or work.
If a car company would come out with a 100mpg car, it would sell like hotcakes. And they ca do it now, as long as you dont want things like airbags, climate controls, headlights, tires, capacity to haul more than a grapefruit…..
This thing will disappear because it is a steam engine, and isnt the best idea for a vehicle that needs to start and just go.
Spartandude says
@ Ry_Trapp0 & Azzy; yup, just a rather efficient steam engine. Nothing special.
Hydrocarbons are perfectly acceptable energy sources that will not bother global temperatures as long as the source of the carbon is not from prehistoric sources (not dino juice).
Also this engine is not more efficient than a steam power plant, its only claim to fame is the efficiency for its size.
Peace.
James Bowman says
I can clearly remember when we were absolutely going into an ice age and all the scientific data showed how the earth had been cooling for over thirty years. So many scientists were writting books and magazines reminded us of its inevabillity constantly. Now the opposite story is being heralded with and we are supposed to swallow this one as well. Not to disrespect anyone as this strangely enough is a very emotionally charged issue and anyone who is not green is evil to many. I think this winter has made global warming sound a little stupid and they have a hard time getting the weather forcast correct three days in advance but I am supposed to believe those same people have models that can predict 50 years from now really??
I would love to see cleaner technology for several of what I believe are legitimate reasons, pollution causes many health issues including cancers of various sorts. Our dependence on foriegn oil puts money and power in the hands of some very suspect regiems. Competition is essential for us and oil is to akin to a monopoly for my liking and oil companies raking in record profits while the rest of our nation goes down the tubes is hard to stomach.
A bit of irony in all this is the very man G.W. Bush touted as the epitomy of evil by many on the left, if he really is guilty of ruining the worlds economy then has done more to help the green agenda than anyone who has ever lived? There is something ironic about that but maybe he had a plan, sure he did ;o] Now maybe we can talk about some of the cool concepts and motorcycle related issues that makes this site such a pleasure.
Mel Beaty says
I’ve been reading about this stuff for the last 50+ years. Nothing ever comes of it. For my money, I like Crower’s six cycle engine best, Simple and with a substantial increase (apparently) in efficiency. As for conspiracies to kill all this great technology over the years, sorry, never happened. Don’t you think the oil giants would like anything that would keep them in business longer?
Jeff says
It would be great to fuel my lawnmower from my compost pile . :{)
Andrew says
These guys http://www.whispergen.com/ are in the market place already. Have done some big deals in the UK etc. Saw one running in a boat years ago (heating & power supply).
Andrew says
Oh yeah, great little kiwi company too!
paulinator says
I don’t believe that Big Oil conspiracies killed the 300 mpg carborator because I don’t believe in over-unity,
Water injection has been used with IC engines for ever. I made sketches two decades ago, that laid-out exactly what Crower describes as his 6-cycle engine. I can’t believe that there are not a thousand such sets of drawings and some prototypes in back yard sheds – its an obvious device. I never built one, but I did look at adding an external 3 to 1 cam drive, etc. to a Briggs and Stratton. Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve….
The Penske approach of using a hydraulic pump and accumulator for regen braking and short-burst acceleration looks interesting. Soy-based oil will be a lot cheaper to recycle after its usefull life-span has been reached than exotic metal-based batteries from current electric hybreds.
Pharwaylok says
Great, not only will I have to worry about SUVs and huge-4x4s on the road ahead of me or behind me, but an open flame between my legs!
Paul Bulzomi says
The Scuderi engine design will be the future internal combustion engine for the next 15 to 20 years. Most of the OEM’s are very interested the test results and those who signed the NDA will be going to Southwest Research the end of May to see the engine running and performance results. The unveiling will be in Detroit April 20th (SAE Congress), The Scuderi Group already has 10 major OEM, signed NDA’s (non discloser agreements) in house and several more are expected in the near future.
jim dorey says
yawnzzorz…efficiency…bleh, efficiency based on gasoline, who cares? how about you calculate the fuel efficiency of a gasoline engine running on chopped straw? as i see it, the point is less the efficiency and more the multi-fuel nature of steam that makes it better for me, as well as maaaany other people, and this engine, same diff. i do plan a gassifier/steam hybrid for my own use, thinking motortrike with a trailer.