Rotary Compression-Combustion Engine for Lower Transitional Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines face inefficiencies, high maintenance requirements, and complex mechanical motions, with gas turbine engines requiring continuous combustion and reciprocating engines suffering from inefficiencies in the Otto and Diesel cycles.
Innovation Solution
The Riley cycle enables intermittent combustion without reciprocating action, using a compression assembly to compress fluid to a desired pressure and a combustion assembly to receive the compressed volume, allowing independent power strokes and controlling the inlet valve's timing for efficient fuel use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If gas turbine engines are used, then power-to-weight ratio is improved and size is reduced, but continuous combustion is required and fuel efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic combustion cycles where the combustion chamber is periodically filled with fuel-air mixture, compressed, ignited, and exhausted. This periodic action allows the engine to achieve high power-to-weight ratio while improving fuel efficiency by avoiding continuous combustion, instead using intermittent power strokes similar to reciprocating engines but without reciprocating motion.
2Use of energy by moving object
If reciprocating engines are used, then fuel efficiency is improved, but complex mechanical motion is required and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reciprocating motion mechanism from the engine system and replaces it with a rotary compression assembly. The compression assembly uses a rotor that rotates to compress fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber, eliminating the need for pistons, connecting rods, and crankshafts while maintaining the periodic compression and expansion cycles essential for fuel efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If Otto and Diesel cycles are used, then combustion efficiency is achieved, but transitional losses occur and parasitic losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary compression of the fuel-air mixture before combustion in the compression assembly. The rotor compresses the mixture to high pressure (similar to reciprocating engine compression ratios) before the combustion chamber is sealed and ignited. This preliminary action ensures optimal combustion efficiency while minimizing transitional losses by eliminating the need for subsequent expansion strokes and reducing parasitic losses from valve operations and piston friction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances fuel efficiency, reduces maintenance, and provides flexibility in fuel use, while minimizing transitional losses and parasitic losses, with the engine capable of idling at 2,500 RPM and redlining at 30,000 RPM, offering improved power-to-weight ratios and reduced emissions.
Implementation Method 1
a compression assembly configured to compress the fluid to a desired pressure for combustion
Implementation Method 2
a combustion assembly configured to receive at least a portion of the compressed volume of air for each power stroke
Data Source
AI summary
The instant invention includes systems for and methods of maximizing efficiencies in an internal combustion engine while minimizing costs and weight for the same and while also minimizing maintenance requirements for the same. Such systems include a compression assembly for compressing fluid to a desired pressure for combustion (such as above 220 psi) and a combustion assembly configured to receive at least a portion of the compressed volume of air for each power stroke. In this way, the power stroke of the engine is independent of the compression stroke of the engine, thereby eliminating or otherwise minimizing transitional losses associated with the same.