Would These Engine Designs Work?

Factual Questions
1

Okay, on another message board I go to, someone posted several links to different experimental engines, and I can’t figure out how they could possibly work the way they’re described (of course, IANAE), so anyone got an idea?

Star Rotor, looks like a couple of turbochargers bolted together if you ask me.

Hybrid-Turbine, reminds me of a wankel.

OX2, rotary valve engine.

Rand Cam, looks like an oil filter with a shaft through it.

2

I think I understand the star rotor engine. I think the expander part is where work is done. THe expanded heated gas pushes the expander around turning something to perform work. What I can’t figure out is the heat exchanger on the exhaust. Wouldn’t that just increase resistance on the expander?

3

I’d think so. I know that the car mags all claim that if you wrap your exhaust system with insulating tape, you’ll get a slight boost in horsepower, since the hotter gases flow out the exhaust faster.

4

I don’t know enough about rotary or turbine engines to help, but the OX2 engine looks interesting. Though searching the site I didn’t see anything listing the BHP of the motor. Any idea what it is?

5

Given that it’s basically a bolt on head for existing engines, I think that they’re claiming a 10 HP or better boost for engines along with lower emissions. I looked at their site a couple of years ago, but don’t remember the numbers exactly.

6

Anyone else remember the seemingly endless parade of unusual engine designs that would show up in Popular Science magazine years ago?

Looks like they never really went away.

7

Actually, those two look more like oil pumps and not turbochargers.: http://www.todaracing.com/images/product_nsx_oilpumpgear.jpg

8

Speaking of two turbochargers bolted together, here’s a working example of an engine made just that way …
http://www.asciimation.co.nz/beer/

9

LSLGuy thanks for the link. Kiwi Bloke is someone I’d hang out with anytime.

10
      • Concerning the star rotor, this idea has been attempted somewhat before–a long time ago, quite frankly. Prior art will not be difficult to find.
  • When lobe-style blowers first appeared for automotive use, more than one person got the bright idea of hooking two of them together by their shafts (a small one and a bigger one) and running a combustion chamber from the “exit” of the smaller one to the “intake” of the larger one. The practical problem is that in actual use, the rotors themselves overheat and there is no good way to keep them cool. The overall efficiency of the engine is dependent upon the conbustion-chamber air pressure, but running a high air pressure causes the air to heat up, heating up the entire engine. But it does work, it just can’t produce very good efficiency, a lot of power or operate for very long before failing. Any two different-sized open-style pumps (valveless types such as gear, lobe or vane) can be connected this way, with their shafts connected and the smaller pump serving as the intake and the larger as the exhaust.
    ~
11

Better view of the star rotor engine can be found here.