New IC engine tech?

[enipla]

Revetec
Well this may not be that new, but seems to replace the traditional crankshaft with rotating cams.

@revetec

The Directors are pleased to announce that the X4v2 petrol engine achieved a repeatable Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) figure of 212g/(kW-h) or (38.6% engine efficiency) with a best figure of 207g/(kW-h) or (39.5%) at our requested target test of 2,000rpm with a BMEP load of 450kpa (approximately 75% load) and an air/fuel ratio of 15.2:1 using 98 RON petrol and a 10:1 compression ratio. We also achieved a BSFC figure under the same rev and load conditions using an air/fuel ratio of 14.5:1 of 238g/(kW-h) or (34.4%)…

While a standard ICE gets about 25%.

@Overview of REVETEC

Patented across key markets globally, Revetec’s break-through design has a higher bottom-end mechanical advantage over equivalent conventional engine. This in turn increases the overall engine efficiency making the engine significantly more fuel-efficient than a conventional engine, with increased power/torque ratios.

@Overview of REVETEC

is an engine design company and developer of the “Controlled Combustion Engine” (CCE). The CCE is an internal combustion engine that is smaller lighter, cleaner and produces higher torque due to higher mechanical transfer than equivalent conventional engines. It is cheaper to manufacture.

Patented across key markets globally, Revetec’s break-through design has a higher bottom-end mechanical advantage over equivalent conventional engine. This in turn increases the overall engine efficiency making the engine significantly more fuel-efficient than a conventional engine, with increased power/torque ratios.

The advantages of Revetec’s engine technology can be applied to most internal and external combustion engines for use in motor vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, pumps and generators, light aircraft engines, diesel and marine engines.

It doesn’t look like vaporware.

It’s a publicly traded company. It doesn’t look like a scam to me. Very interesting tech.

What do the SDMB car experts think?

[enipla]

A little bit of a bump.

The two cams rotate and raise the piston with a scissor-like action to the bearings. Once at the top of the stroke the air/fuel mixture is fired. The expanded gas then forces the bearings down the ramps of the cams spreading them apart ending the stroke. The point of maximum mechanical advantage or transfer is around 20-30deg ATDC (the piston moving approximately 10% of its travel) making the most of the high cylinder pressure. This compares to a conventional engine that reaches maximum mechanical advantage around 60-70deg ATDC. (after the piston has moved through approximately just over 40% of its travel, losing valuable cylinder pressure).

Thispage has some graphics explaining this.

… perhaps I’m just talking to myself. But it sure looks interesting.

[Sage_Rat]

Huh.

Well, so I guess that what they are saying is that the engine will have 150% of the gas mileage as a modern day car? Certainly cool if true, though I’m not sure how big an impact this will have on the big auto makers: whether they would hire on Revetec to make the engines (or license the patent) or if they would try to keep things internal and start cracking whips to get their guys to figure out a way to get around the patent.

[enipla]

Interesting isn’t it. Who knows how reliable it is. But most of it makes sense to this backyard mechanic.

Look at how small the pistons are for example. Not in diameter, but length. A traditional rod puts side pressure on the piston. With this design, the piston doesn’t seem to get any lateral forces (perhaps torsion forces on the ‘rod’ though).

[ralph124c]

MAZDA made a big deal of its Miller cycle V6. Was this refinement anything special? It didn’t seem to provide any enhanced performance?

[DanBlather]

@ralph124c

MAZDA made a big deal of its Miller cycle V6. Was this refinement anything special? It didn’t seem to provide any enhanced performance?

Isn’t beer even more expensive than gas?

[Dag_Otto]

Not if it’s Miller beer.

[Lumpy]

How does this compare to the efficiency of turbine engines? Unless they’re very ineffcient, I would think a turbine would be ideal for a hybrid that uses the gasoline engine solely to charge the batteries the car runs on.

[enipla]

I started a thread about serial vs parallel hybrid designs about a month ago. The serial like the proposed Chevy Volt is a plug in that only uses the gas engine to charge the batteries. Using the gas engine (one liter I think) extends its minimal range. I think it is only proposed to get about 55 highway mpg. Which is not great. But, if shorter commutes can be run just on the battery, the series hybrid may be the way to go.

Obviously series hybrids will put more stress on our electric grid. And the cost of electricity will go up. I’m a liberal that thinks we should be building more nukes. Is it too late? Well just because I’m hungry now doesn’t mean I won’t plant crops for next year.

I also started a thread about using a small stilson engine to recapture waste heat from the ICE when running on the highway to charge the batteries. Thermo dynamically, I suppose it doesn’t work. (too much extra weight for the energy recaptured).

A turbine? Don’t know. I think a gas turbine is very expensive to build due to it’s extremely high tolerances and high RPM. From what I know, they are also quite noisy and dump a lot of heat.

The Miller looks interesting. Still trying to figure it out. But it is using a super charger to compensate for leaving the Intake valve open a little on the compression stroke. Interesting idea, but you don’t get something for nothing.