- Scuderi Engine
The Scuderi Engine is a design of a
split cycle ,internal combustion engine invented by the late Carmelo J. Scuderi. [ [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/08/01/PM200608015.html "Carmelo Scuderi's legacy just revving up," Public Radio's "Marketplace," August 1, 2006] ] The Scuderi Group, an engineering and licensing company based inWest Springfield, Massachusetts and founded by Carmelo Scuderi’s children, is building a working prototype of the Scuderi Engine. The company says that the prototype will be completed by the end of 2008. [ [http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-15/121766149633441.xml&coll=1 "Unique 'split-cycle' engine being devised in West Side," Springfield Republican, 08/03/2008] ]As of August 2008, The Scuderi Group held some 60 pending patents and 35 issued patents in more than 50 countries that are related to the design of the Scuderi Engine. [ [http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-15/121766149633441.xml&coll=1 "Unique 'split-cycle' engine being devised in West Side," Springfield Republican, 08/03/2008] ]
The company claims that computer simulations of the Scuderi Engine show promising gains in
efficiency and reduced toxic emissions over conventionalfour-stroke Otto cycle designs. The company also says that the Scuderi Engine could be used as part of an airhybrid system , allowing recovered braking energy to be stored as compressed air. [ [http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/news/2007/06/future_engines "Radical Engines, Quirky Designs Refuel Quest for Car of Future," Wired Magazine, 6/15/2007] ]The Scuderi Group has partnered with several automotive engineering companies to assist with engineering the Scuderi Engine's complementary components. German automotive supply company
Mahle GmbH is working on thepistons , Swedish engine developerCargine Engineering AB is assisting with the air-activatedvalves , Denver-basedGates Corporation is engineering thebelts , and Germany-basedSchaeffler Group is contributing to thevalve train assembly. The engineering division of Germany’sRobert Bosch GmbH is working on the timing mechanism of the engine. [ [http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2008/10/06/weekly8-Scuderi-finds-auto-part-partners-for-hybrid-engine.html "Scuderi finds auto part partners for hybrid engine," Mass High Tech, 10/10/2008] ]Design
In a conventional
Otto cycle engine, each cylinder performs four strokes per cycle: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. This means that two revolutions of thecrankshaft are required for each power stroke. The Scuderi Engine divides these four strokes between two paired cylinders: one for intake/compression and another for power/exhaust. Compressed air is transferred from the compression cylinder to the power cylinder through a crossover passage. Fuel is then injected and fired to produce the power stroke. In a standard Otto cycle engine, the pistons fire every other revolution. However, the Scuderi engine fires every revolution.In the Scuderi cycle, the power cylinder fires just after the piston has begun its downward motion (after top dead center, or ATDC). This is in contrast to Otto cycle design convention, which calls for combustion just before top dead center (BTDC) in order to allow combustion pressure to build. [ [http://www.scuderigroup.com/technology/how_it_works.html Scuderi Group website - "How It Works"] ]References
ee also
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