new engine can run on anything?

Hi FWD,

Brayton cycle engines (turbines) can run on anything liquid. I remember a demonstration at my Dad's university of the Chrysler turbine car being run on Perfume. This is because of the non-stoiciometric burn in these engines.

 

Here is another type of steam engine

 

Instantly I saw the coiled piping, I thought of the Stanley Steamer.

I wonder if this thing is actually available.

I'm waiting for some of the hard line engineering types to come up and comment.

I'd consider buying a string trimmer just to see it run/disassemble to see
the guts.

 

I took a quick look at online information about the Cyclone Engine. While not well written, the company's web site makes no outrageous or silly claims. Several other web sites offer corroborating information, and at least one design innovation award was issued by an industry trade association. I see no reason to get out my snake oil stamp.

The Cyclone is a highly refined and updated version of a very old idea. Essentially it is a very efficient and very compact closed cycle steam engine. The design uses extremely high pressures and clever use of heat exchangers to gain efficiency. At those pressures, you don't want to tinker with one of these engines unless you know what you are doing.

The same company also has a low pressure, low temperature engine that can be used to extract waste heat. This is equivalent to the second expansion in a dual expansion steam engine. If you go looking for more information, don't confuse this engine with the high pressure high efficiency Cyclone.

I didn't see any evidence of commercial use. I suspect they are in the investor stage, looking for funding.

Tom

 

According to the web site, the Cyclone Engine folks will be at this trade show:

Power-Gen 2008
Orlando, Florida
December 2-4, 2008 Booth 2246

Perhaps one of our Florida posters could attend and then comment on what
they found.

 

chrysler made a turbine car in 1963 that could run on gasoline, kerosine, vegetable oil, diesel, etc

Chrysler Turbine Car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

A gas turbine would be the ideal range extender for a Volt when you think about it. Small light efficient and clean. With a battery to cope with highs and lows a gas turbine is ideal for the task of supplying a constant energy.

 

This is a closed steam system, unlike the Stanley Steamer.

I believe that means it has to condense the steam back into water at some
point. It would do that by cooling it with air. I suspect that wouuld have to
move massive amounts of air to do it. I wonder what the units sound like
when they're running...

Maybe there's a hint in its name -- the Cyclone Engine!

I also wonder if the working fluid is water. Perhaps it uses some other space
age fluid that flashs to vapor and condenses at lower temps/pressures.

 

The working fluid is deionized water.

It doesn't take as much air for the condenser as you might think. Several interesting techniques are used to extract heat from the steam before it goes to the condenser, including recompressing and heat exchangers.

Tom