HEHC engine company LiquidPiston raises $2.25M
29 June 2013
LiquidPiston, the developer of engines based on its High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle (HEHC) (earlier post), has raised $2.25 million in new funding, according to SEC filings.
LiquidPiston’s X Engine is a non-Wankel rotary embodiment of the HEHC. Expected realized brake efficiency for the X engine is 58% (peak) and 50% at partial load; power density is targeted to be around 2 hp/lb.
HEHC is an improved thermodynamic cycle optimized for fuel efficiency that combines features of four existing cycles:
- High air compression ratio (Diesel)
- Constant volume combustion (Otto)
- Over-expansion to atmospheric pressure (Atkinson)
- Internal cooling with air or water (Rankine)
The combination of high compression ratio, true constant volume combustion, expansion into a larger volume than intake, and (optionally) water turning to high pressure steam cumulatively add to the efficiency of the engine.
Both the Otto engine and the diesel engine came from developments that took place around 1900, Felix Wankel started his engine developments in 1956 and this original design is still being refined by Wankeltec that has a few different sizes running with diesel fuel and an efficiency of 40 percent and still improving , the 40 % efficiency is not great but the weight and space saved for their engine of around 75 % compared to a 4 cycle piston engine is fantastic, this will give added benefits that cannot be pictured in to the 40 % efficiency presently achieved , a 10 % weight saving in a car will decrease fuel consumption by 7 to 8 % and the smaller frontal surface for less space will also help, if in the future 50 % efficiency is created by such new technologies as from Wankeltec or Liquid Piston and the added fuel savings of less weight and space they will be adapted fast in to the car market.
Valmet a Finnish company recently put a small prototype on a show that has a range extender with a 35 kilo weight and 18 kW output see link http://www.valmet-automotive.com/automotive/bulletin.nsf/PEBD/29222A63034DD111C2257B2100349EE6?opendocument
with a fuel consumption of 1.5 liters per 100 km for a small 4 seater !!!!
Posted by: gideon goudsmit | 29 June 2013 at 08:01 AM
Rotarys have excellent power, if only they could seal better. Still, it would seem they could fill a constant velocity ~10% range extender function very well.
Posted by: kelly | 29 June 2013 at 09:09 AM