Scuderi Group Announces Additional Partners for Air-Hybrid Engine
25 September 2008
The Scuderi Group announced several additional ongoing development partners who are assisting in the research and development of the split-cycle Scuderi Air-Hybrid Engine. In February, The Scuderi Group had announced that it is partnering with Germany-based Bosch Engineering GmbH on development of the Scuderi Engine’s fuel injection system. (Earlier post.)
These additional partners include:
Mahle is providing the pistons for the Scuderi Engine.
Cargine Engineering is a Swedish company that develops combustion engine technology. The Scuderi Air-Hybrid uses Cargine’s air-actuated valves in its breakthrough split-cycle engine design and cross-over chamber.
Convergent Science, based in Middleton, Wis., develops Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software for analyzing computer simulations. Convergent has assisted the Scuderi Group and its independent research laboratory with critical CFD studies.
Schaeffler Group is contributing to the valve train assembly.
Gates Corporation supplies the belts for the Scuderi Engine.
The Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine divides the four strokes of the Otto cycle over a paired combination of one compression cylinder and one power cylinder. Intake air is compressed in the compression cylinder and transferred via a gas passage to the power cylinder for combustion. The gas passage includes a set of uniquely timed valves, which maintain a pre-charged pressure through all four strokes of the cycle.
Through the addition of a small compressed air storage tank with only a few control elements, the Scuderi engine can recover the energy that is normally lost when a vehicle is decelerated in the form of compressed air.
Will doubling the ICE efficiency (lets say from 20-30% to 40-60%) with a Scuderi engine ever materialize?
If so, why isn't it already in most ICE machines? specially in long haul trucks, buses, railroad and ship engines etc.
Posted by: HarveyD | 25 September 2008 at 01:31 PM
Scuderi engine is expected to achieve 37% thermal efficiency according to computer simulation, or equivalent to an Atkinson-cycle engine.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 25 September 2008 at 06:23 PM
Equivalent to Atkinson cycle but with a higher power density. I still can't wait to see how they get the combustion pistons to survive without access to fresh air...
Posted by: GreenPlease | 25 September 2008 at 08:05 PM
I am not too sure that the advantages of this engine compared to standard ICE and claimed by Scuderi is significant enough to justify its development, not mentionning that standard ICE will be dowsized, turbocharged, valve timed, compression ratio varied, directly injected, HCCIised, Atkinsonised, low frictionnised. On top of this, these guys have been postponning their demonstrator during years and still nothing. Maybe it can reduce the NOx, maybe until they show it...now the air-hybrid stuff they keep trumpeting about, well air storage is extremelly inefficient if you don't have re-heating stage, and I am not sure their engine is really suited to re-use this compressed air. Anyway will see but my feeling is that Diesel-Otto of Mercedes or Atkison, turbo-downsized VCR of EM5 will be earlier and perform better, just a feeling...
Posted by: Treehugger | 25 September 2008 at 09:57 PM
For those who are interested, I suggest to visit this website, this is really the future of the ICE, not the Scuderi
http://www.mce-5.com/mce-5_technology/index.htm
Posted by: Treehugger | 25 September 2008 at 10:16 PM
Scuderi is putting on the longest no-show in the history of car engine development, but the founders are doing something right, because they are still eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. It seems to be as safe a place to spend money as investment banks. The basic idea was used a century ago. It would be more interesting to watch the current progress of the Kitson-Still locomotive or a new truck engine that was steam diesel. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 26 September 2008 at 12:12 AM
@ Treehugger,
VW and GM are also developing "DiesOtto" type engines.
Posted by: Jorge | 26 September 2008 at 11:55 AM
This looks like an excellent team for the developement of the proto-type, due to be completed this year. Lets not forget about Bosch Engineering and Southwest research. I think this engine tech is something very special and so do several major OEM's.
Posted by: PFB | 29 September 2008 at 04:37 PM