New Car Engine Sends 'Shock Waves' Through Auto Industry

Michigan State University associate professor of mechanical engineering Norbert Mueller describes his Shock Wave Disk Generator, for which he has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a prototype new engine and generator technology that can dramatically improve efficiencies and reduce costs of electric hybrid vehicles.

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Source - Discovery

Researchers at Michigan State University have built a prototype gasoline engine that requires no transmission, crankshaft, pistons, valves, fuel compression, cooling systems or fluids. Their so-called Wave Disk Generator could greatly improve the efficiency of gas-electric hybrid automobiles and potentially decrease auto emissions up to 90 percent when compared with conventional combustion engines.

The engine has a rotor that's equipped with wave-like channels that trap and mix oxygen and fuel as the rotor spins. These central inlets are blocked off, building pressure within the chamber, causing a shock wave that ignites the compressed air and fuel to transmit energy.

Researchers estimate the new model could shave almost 1,000 pounds off a car's weight currently taken up by conventional engine systems.  Last week, the prototype was presented to the energy division of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is backing the Michigan State University Engine Research Laboratory with $2.5 million in funding.

Michigan State's team of engineers hope to have a car-sized 25-kilowatt version of the prototype ready by the end of the year.

Comments

[john]

1 horsepower =746 watts....... this engine 'would' produce 33.5 HP.

[Cheyenne]

Cheyenne--

I haven't been this excited about an automotive technology since the Turbo Encabulator...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXW0bx_Ooq4

[Smack MacDougal]

Could this make Norbert Mueller the world's richest dude?

[DailyBail]

1 horsepower =746 watts....... this engine 'would' produce 33.5 HP.

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at the very end of the clip he said the power is sufficient to run an SUV hybrid...

[john]

DB, Ford was working on a 50 kw PEM fuel cell plant in 2000.... still haven't seen it.......otherwise cheyennes' clip was funnier than hell.......

[DailyBail]

no argument there...the chrysler clip is a riot...i've seen it several times before...i was just saying that the engine size is sufficient...who knows if we will ever see it...but an engineering professor i know at UVa sent it my way....and he usually isn't prone to hyperbole...

[Mathieson]

If a car is light enough 33.5HP is plenty - the original VW Bug engine was 40HP, and enough to put that car to 90MPH.

[DailyBail]

it saves slightly more than 900 lbs of engine weight...

[john]

How much does the battery bank weigh?

[Cheyenne]

Presumably since this is the spawn of a $2.5MM DOE grant any patents arising out of this would have been assigned to the United States, such that companies exploiting this technology would be paying running royalties to U.S. taxpayers.

Did the UVa prof send along any patents or laid-open applications? When was this conceived?

[mick]

Cheyenne where do I get one ?

[S. Gompers]

Many contributors will do anything to prevent such technology from reaching the market, and many politicians will be more than happy to accept those contributions.

I love the turbo encabulator.

[john]

Here is a different attempt to develop the same type engine....

http://www.socpra.com/en/documents/Plante-Moteur-rotatif-continu-combustion-induite-onde-de-choc.pdf

this design looks a little better to me and the 3000 rpm figure answered a few questions I had about coupling the device to a generator. I still prefer the Fuel Cell concept (cell contamination may still be a problem) but at least even in success or failure, the kids will learn something and I hope that the CO^2 claims are toned down (unless the device uses hydrogen as fuel).

Let the competition begin!

[Texas Dar]

Way back in 1976 the goverment said by 1986 all cars will get over 32-38 mpg......then in 1988, goverment said all cars sold will get 32-38 mpg. Now once again goverment is saying that we need a car that will get 38 mpg on the hiway.

The other day i see a car co. claim their car dose get 38 mpg. BUT, thats not on the hiway, but on the Dino..........What they do is get a car at 55 mph, warmed up for 15 mi. and then turn the valve to turn on the 1 Gal. tank of gas, and let it run till it runs out.

That same car on the hiway "May Get" 28-29 mpg at best, "On-a-Good Day".....! !! !!! !!!!!!!-?.......................So, lets sum it up. Since 1976, nothing has changed much....My 1992 GMC costom van got 10-14 mpg, My 1989 4 wheel drive Chev Sub, gets 10 mpg.


Nope, nothing has changed much since 1976. Im glad we bought a new VW Jetta TDI Diesel in 2008. It gets 58 mpg on the hiway, and Ann gets 38-40 just runnin back an forth to work. 5 mi. each way.

Will we ever see American made cars do that...................................."Nope"... the Peterol Co. are in the pockets of the goverment-grunts and nothing is gona change till we throw the whole bunch out of Washington and start all over in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lets see here............Springfield Mo. would be a nice place to build our new goverment.

I'll send a e-mail to Ron Paul and have him pack his bags.........! We need to get a way from "DC"....thAre is something in the water that makes all of them shower with one an other. Its when the bar-of-sope is droped is when the deals are made......?

Lobyest, politictions, cheaters, lyers, gongress-people, presidents, Big Pharma, Big Banking, Big Ins, all Rub-a-Dub Dub, in the giant shower rubbing in the sudds.

Is it any wonder our country is "Fucked Up".......... All the new people we just sent to Washington are getting used to that Dildo-Soap shuved up thAre Ass, and
are joing the other side...........Their Worm Has Turned, as Box Car Willie once said on his show..................................

& you can see where they shove that bar of soap on Plosie-n-Clintion, by the look on thAre face's....?

Oh, mpg, im sure America will neaver build a car that gets 58mpg anytime soon...unless it runs on the "BS" flushed down the toilets in "DC"...?

[Texas Dar]

Will consumers revolt against the Volt?

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