Interesting article about a read interesting engine design

Jstas

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/30/autoline-on-autoblog-with-john-mcelroy/

From the article:

Eco Motors is the name of a new company that has come up with a radically new type of engine. It has two opposing pistons in two contiguous cylinders, connected to a common crankshaft in the middle of the engine. An electric supercharger provides boost on demand. It's a two-stroke engine with no valves, yet still achieves 90% scavenging efficiency with less oil consumption than a four-stroke engine. In other words, it's a two-stroke engine that can meet the strictest emissions standards. It can be made as a spark-ignited or compression-ignition engine, and the diesel version can meet emission standards without using urea.

edbert

Very interesting!

LessisNevermore

Also interesting, is that the designer is the same man who designed the VR6 for VW.

ShinAce

LessisNevermore wrote: »

Also interesting, is that the designer is the same man who designed the VR6 for VW.

I'm not in the loop, but the article seems to think so:
"Just as importantly, the OPOC engine was designed by Peter Hofbauer, who spent 20 years at Volkswagen designing diesel engines and the VR6, that narrow 15-degree engine."

mhardy6647

Thought that said OPEC engine...

audiobliss

Wow, that's really amazing! Never would have IMAGINED a design like that. Even after reading the description. I was picturing it wrong 'til I saw the vids. It'd be cool if this actually took off and went somewhere.

Tony M

I feel there has to be a third cylinder introduced to prevent 180 degree lock-up...No?

I liked the Wankel design. Three worked there If I remember right.

Jstas

A Wankel engine has no pistons. It's otherwise known as a rotary engine.

mhardy6647

The rotor in a Wankel is effectively triangular; the combustion/exhaust chambers sort of "figure 8" shaped (IIRC).