DEVELOPMENT OF THE VALVED HOT-GAS ENGINE

Continued development of the valved hot-gas engine (VHGE) is reported. The VHGE is a closed - regenerative - cycle engine operating on a helium Brayton cycle, and employing a reciprocating expander/compressor. The performance of the experimental engine was measured in detail, and is reconciled with analysis which includes the unsteady internal processes of the cylinder. Variable valve timing for high efficiency control of engine power was studied. Improvements were made to allow full power operation of the experimental engine. Projected potential of the engine is confirmed by identification of causes of lower than theoretical performance. The next steps in the realization of the potential of the engine are defined.

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Department of Civil Engineering, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02139

  Department of Transportation

  Office of University Research, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Smith, JLJ
• Publication Date: 1975-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 147 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Engines; Heat exchangers; Leakage; Piston engines; Product development; Regenerators
• Uncontrolled Terms: Regeneration
• Old TRIS Terms: Brayton cycle; Gas engines; Prime movers
• Subject Areas: Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00137027
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt., DOT/TST-76/34
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-40086
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 23 1976 12:00AM