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Sensor and Control Systems for IC Engine Prototyp

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Dillon4DynamicHarmonics

Sun Oct 12 2008, 01:56AM

Registered Member #1752 Joined: Sun Oct 12 2008, 01:01AM
Location: Sofa, Stockton ca
Posts: 2

I just registered specifically to seek advice on motion control and sensor systems. I have spent the last four years designing a new Internal Combustion engine. I have a strong physics and computer science background, but it was calculus that inspired my engine design. Based on harmonic sine functions, the engine is perfectly balanced. You can see more at our site,

Right now we are finishing designs for a proof of concept prototype. This design includes two perpendicular shafts that must rotate in sync at a 2:1 ratio. Most of my designs call for a bevel and miter gear to couple the two shafts, but I've always hated this approach. Gears are too costly and wear out. What I want to attempt with this model is to drive the shafts with an electric motor at one end and a dynamo at the other. Instead of a physical linkage mechanism I want to use rotary sensors to keep track of the angular velocity of each shaft, and to keep them in proper sync. The design is a Reciprocating Rotary Hybrid; meaning the combustion mechanism produces both linear force and rotational torque. Rotationally translated energy comes down one shaft while translational motion imparted on the piston travels out the other via a scotch-yoke crank. The dynamo/motor combination is the perfect Energy-In/Energy-Out combination. Itâ€™s a much better solution all around. I realize that there is a lot to consider here. The circuit has to be very fast, and I'm not sure on the best types of input could be. What is the best way to do this?

Obviously the advantages of finding a good way to are huge. I have a lot of experience designing and building PIC's and have a lot of programming experience. I'm wondering how robust of a system this needs to be to actually work. The model is only 16cm in length, and the torque requirements are very low (the Main Rotor shaft is weighs only 900g). I have not chosen a motor or dynamo yet, I'm still addressing the possibility of this idea. If you have any suggestions please let me know. The physical design will have to be tailored to the solution, so the sooner the better.

I attached a JPEG that gives you an idea of how this will look.

...

Sun Oct 12 2008, 02:31AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

If you care about efficiency at all use a mechanical linkage, even the best electrical generator/motor will not be much more then 50% efficient, maybe 75% with stellar design.

Especially for a prototype, keep it simple...

Dillon4DynamicHarmonics

Sat Oct 18 2008, 07:57AM

Registered Member #1752 Joined: Sun Oct 12 2008, 01:01AM
Location: Sofa, Stockton ca
Posts: 2

Are you Serious! Thatâ€™s horrible? Why? Are you sure about even vender and special purpose companies? Which process is it that leads to the energy loss? I'm sure it can be canceled out through some correction of the fundamental problem.

People tend to think that an industry standard; or a common limiter is something that prevents good ideas from being practically cost efficient. This historic fallacious point of view is the dividing line between creativity and knowledge.

When I look at the cost of gears and such, I don't see the future. Efficient gear trains have all those wearing faces and complexity and for what purpose? Itâ€™s for only an indirect and overlookable junction. From a thermodynamics standpoint, it seems we should pursue the future of this boundary.

Is there anyone who works with present technology that has a solution for me? I don't know if any of you guys have been to Radio Shack lately, but you can by Accelerometer, GPS, and high speed Rangefinder IC's there now. Don't you guys remember Morse Law? Get with the day. Itâ€™s not yesterday anymore. And just 2 years from now, guess what, the impossible and impartibly will again be essential and commonplace.

Come on guys, isn't there anyone who is able to make money working with electronics who are members of this site? I'm a former Telecom Engineer for the fiber industry. If you want to see it the day it goes on sale, keep up with current sites like Global Spec. The momentum of progressive design cannot be negatively accelerated, the future is now.

Guess I have to figure this out myself, Come on Guys
\

Bjørn

Sat Oct 18 2008, 09:38AM

Registered Member #27 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 02:20AM
Location: Hyperborea
Posts: 2058

There are some problems here that make people stay away from this thread. If anyone had any hopes that this would work they would be all over this thread.

First of all you are making extraordinary claims about your device without extraordinary evidence. Secondly you are rejecting simple and well-proved designs for something new and complicated without having any convincing arguments why it will be a better solution.

The electric system would require a lot of extra resources and testing and you are quite likely to end up with a result that is worse than the mechanical linkage.

Steve Conner

Sat Oct 18 2008, 09:59AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

I think someone got Solidworks for Christmas.

As an aside, Moore's Law doesn't apply to engines: if you did a die-shrink on a car, it would be too small to get inside. Personally I think the future is with the Tesla Roadster.

Oh, and I was a "telecoms engineer in the fiber industry" too. I think pretty much everyone was during the telecoms boom. If you knew one end of a soldering iron from the other, you were in with $100k and a company car.

WaveRider

Thu Oct 23 2008, 12:12PM

Registered Member #29 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 09:00AM
Location: Hasselt, Belgium
Posts: 500

First: all heat engines have certain thermodynamic limitations that no amount of PICs, funky gearing or harmonic balancing will fix. If memory serves me, only the most advanced Stirling engines with helium working gas can even approach ideal Carnot efficiency...and that leaves out generator mechanical-to-electrical conversion efficiency.

If size is an issue, why not use a gas-turbine? They can be small, simple, have high power-weight ratio.....and by default, must be absolutely perfectly balanced. Plus, if you design the generator to operate at the high rotational speeds of the turbine, you can dispense with any gearbox... Electronic circuits could then be used to operate the turbine in either max power or max efficiency mode, according to needs, by varying generator loading and fuel inlet.

If you are coming here to advertise your unproven claims, you will be disappointed as this forum is chock-a-block with skeptics with sensitive noses for detecting bullsh*t!

Predictions are dangerous, but I think the future of small vehicle power plants will lie with non-thermal cycle power generation (fuel cells, etc.)

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