Scuderi Engine
From Wikivisual
The Scuderi Engine is a split cycle, internal combustion engine invented by Carmelo J. Scuderi (1925 - 2002).<ref>"How the Scuderi Engine Came to Be," Wall Street Journal, 04/20/2009</ref> Scuderi Group, an engineering and licensing company based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and founded by Carmelo Scuderi’s children, is testing a working prototype of the engine that was officially unveiled to the public on April 20, 2009. <ref>"New Engine Design Sparks Interest," Wall Street Journal, 4/21/2009</ref><ref>"Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine Could Make 140 HP Per Liter," Jalopnik, 04/30/2008</ref><ref>"First Scuderi Engine Prototype Assembled," Air-Hybrid Blog Podcast, 02/9/2009></ref>
The Scuderi Engine is under development by Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. <ref>"Scuderi Group Unveils Cutaway Model of First Production Prototype of Split Cycle Engine," 04/20/2009</ref>. Scuderi Group released video footage of a naturally aspirated one-liter prototype of the Scuderi Engine firing on its own in the laboratory in October, 2009. <ref>"EXCLUSIVE: Video Of Scuderi Split-Cycle Prototype Engine Running," Jalopnik, 10/06/2009</ref>
According to Scuderi Group, tests indicate that the Scuderi Engine shows gains in efficiency and reduced toxic emissions over conventional four-stroke Otto cycle designs. The company also says that the Scuderi Engine could be used as part of an air hybrid system, allowing recovered braking energy to be stored as compressed air. <ref>"Radical Engines, Quirky Designs Refuel Quest for Car of Future," Wired Magazine, 06/15/2007</ref> Laboratory tests of the prototype are said to match earlier predictions generated by computer models. <ref>"Scuderi Group Will Present Results from Split-Cycle Prototype Testing at IAA," 09/08/2009</ref>
As of December 2009, Scuderi Group said its patent portfolio included more than 100 patents worldwide and over 1,000 patent applications in more than 50 countries. <ref>"Our Patents," ScuderiEngine.com</ref>
The Scuderi Group has partnered with several automotive engineering companies to assist with engineering the Scuderi Engine's complementary components. German automotive supply company Mahle GmbH is working on the pistons, Swedish engine developer Cargine Engineering AB is assisting with the air-activated valves, Denver-based Gates Corporation is engineering the belts, and Germany-based Schaeffler Group is contributing to the valve train assembly. The engineering division of Germany’s Robert Bosch GmbH is working on the timing mechanism of the engine. <ref>"Scuderi finds auto part partners for hybrid engine," Mass High Tech, 10/10/2008</ref>
Various OEMs including Honda, Daimler AG, Fiat, and PSA Peugeot Citroën have signed non-disclosure agreements with Scuderi Group. A Daimler AG scientist familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that the design has potential.<ref>"New Engine Design Sparks Interest," Wall Street Journal, 04/21/2009 </ref>
[edit] Design
In a conventional Otto cycle engine, each cylinder performs four strokes per cycle: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. This means that two revolutions of the crankshaft are required for each power stroke. The Scuderi Engine divides these four strokes between two paired cylinders: one for intake/compression and another for power/exhaust. Compressed air is transferred from the compression cylinder to the power cylinder through a crossover passage. Fuel is then injected and fired to produce the power stroke. In a standard Otto cycle engine, the pistons fire every other revolution, however, the Scuderi engine fires every revolution. The Scuderi must have at least two cylinders. In the Scuderi cycle, the power cylinder fires just after the piston has begun its downward motion (after top dead center, or ATDC). This is in contrast to Otto cycle design convention, which calls for combustion just before top dead center (BTDC) in order to allow combustion pressure to build.<ref>"How it Works," ScuderiEngine.com</ref>
The Scuderi Group says a thermal efficiency shortcoming seen in previous split-cycle engine designs is eliminated in the Scuderi Engine through the process of firing after top dead center, which is an unconventional engine design practice. Firing ATDC in a split-cycle arrangement eliminates the losses resulting from recompressing the gas.<ref>"Alternatives to four stroke engines promise an increase in efficiency," 10/01/2009</ref>
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