TurbXTM Efficient Low Cost High Power Density Engine

For more information contact Dr. Mike Wilson (334) 415-0380 or email mw at turbx.com

Saving 25% of Worldwide Fuel Burn with 25% reduction in CO2 Emissions

Market Disruptive Technology -- $500 Billion Market Share

1.0 TurbX Introduction

Because of the market disruptive competitive advantages of 25% to a factor of two fuel efficiency, a factor of three smaller size, a factor of two lower weight, lower emissions, lower initial cost, lower operating cost, and longer life, reasonable TurbX market objectives are to take essentially all of the turbine market ($350 billion in annual sales) and at least one third of the piston engine market ($150 billion annually).   The approach to this $500 billion market is to seek research funding to complete product development, and to form alliances where possible, and form companies as required to fit different market segments.   The project technical objective is pilot production and market entry in the fifth year after funding becomes available.

After a strongly positive review of engine theory and concept by NASA in 1996, TurbX Engines was incorporated to provide a vehicle to raise $250,000 through family and friends to support proof of concept prototyping and international patents US 6,105,359 etc.  Using these funds, the proof of concept prototype was designed and fabricated.   During this period DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE ORNL) in ORNL/TM-2000/116 reviewed all available engine cycles for the USMC and recommended to the USMC that the TurbX engine concept was the most viable for future development.  Testing of the prototype by DOE ORNL and the University of Tennessee was published in 2003 ASME TURBO EXPO with the recommendation of further development.  Performance projections are based on the work done by NASA and these papers. Development of a 100hp engineering prototype is currently underway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                                                           

Heavy Fuel / Multifuel Engine

Environmentally Friendly, Long Lived

Extremely Simple Engine, Low Cost

Engine Sizes 1 hp to 100,000 hp

 

Expected Practical Efficiency at

10:1 Volumetric Compression Ratio

 

0.22 to 0.28 lb-fuel/hp-hr

 

2hp/lb to 10hp/lb
 
                                            

 

 

 

 

 

Turbofan Configuration

 

 

 

 

2.0.     TurbX Performance Compared to a Turbine Engine

The key invention of the TurbX engine is the achievement of the high efficiency of a constant volume combustion (the piston engine efficiency advantage) coupled with expansion to ambient ( the efficiency advantage of a turbine engine).   Figure 1 introduces the six principal elements of the 100hp TurbX engine under development.  Figure 2 compares the estimated performance of the TurbX engine with a state of the art turbine is a ship propulsion application.

                                                                            TurbX             GE LM-2500-G4

Output (Shp):                                                       50,000 Shp        40,500 Shp      

Specific Fuel Consumption (lb/shp-hr)                 0.22 to 0.28       0.354
              (Per NASA and DOE-ORNL Publications)

Thermal Efficiency:                                              62% to 49%       39%                                   
 Weight (lb):                                                         5000 lb              11,545 lb                                          
Horsepower per Pound                                        10 hp/lb             3.5 Hp/ Lb

Length (m):                                                          6.7 ft  ( 2 m)      22 ft   (6.7 m)
Height (m):                                                          6.7 ft  ( 2 m)      6.7 ft  ( 2 m)

Figure 2 TurbX Estimated Performance compared with State of the Art Turbine

                                                                            TurbX               Diesel

Output (Shp):                                                       100 Shp             108 Shp      

Specific Fuel Consumption (lb/shp-hr)*               0.22 to 0.28       .34           

Thermal Efficiency:                                              62% to 49%       41%                                   
 Weight (lb):                                                         50 lb (23kg)       495 lb 179kg                                           
Horsepower per Pound                                        2 hp/lb               0.2  Hp/ Lb

Length (m):                                                          1 ft sq (30 cm)   2.5 ft   (0.768 m)
Height (m):                                                          6 in ( 15 cm)      2x2 ft  ( 0.6 m)

Volume                                                                0.5 cu-ft            10 cu ft

Horsepower per Cubic Foot                                 200 hp/cu-ft       10hp/cu-ft

*Note:  TurbX efficiency 0.28 estimate (Per NASA and DOE-ORNL Publications)  

             considers only thermodynamic efficiency advantage 

         0.22 practical efficiency arises from reduced losses at 10:1 compression ratio.

Figure 3 TurbX Estimated Performance compared with State of the Diesel

The TurbX engine is efficient because it operates on a new and better engine cycle and has substantially less than half the losses of a comparable turbine engine. The reduced losses compared to a turbine engine make small heavy fuel engines possible.  It has lower emissions because it burns substantially less fuel.  It is low cost and low maintenance because of extreme simplicity.  It has materials advantages and longer life because the rotor operates 850oC cooler than the rotor in a comparable turbine engine

3.0.     Significance:  Events of comparable scientific significance in engine history are:

                1.    Carnot 1824                     Theoretical Thermodynamics

                2.    Otto  1876                        Initial Efficiency ~  15%

                3.    Diesel 1897                       Initial Efficiency ~    5%

                4.    Brayton 1930’s                 Initial Efficiency ~ -25%

           After 70 years of research the best practical efficiencies are near 40%. 

The fifth major event in engine history is the TurbX engine invented in 1995  and having expected practical efficiency of 50% based on the theoretical projections by NASA, DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Tennessee shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3 Thermodynamic (Ideal) Efficiency Improvement Projected by NASA, DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 
 

 

 

 

4.0  References. 

Two patents and a master’s thesis document the TurbX engine cycle, the conceptual design, aerodynamics, thermodynamics, and the testing of the half engine (no compressor) prototype. 

Wilson, Michael W., “Efficiency Enhanced Turbine Engine.” US Patent Number 5,966,927, October 19, 1999.

Wilson, Michael W., “Efficiency Enhanced Turbine Engine.” US Patent Number 6,105,359, August 22, 2000

“Determination of the Performance of a Prototype TurbX Engine”, Master’s Thesis, Kurt Erickson, University of Tennessee Knoxville, August 2002

Below is a synopsis of publications in the open technical literature by outside scientists concerning TurbX engine.

•       NASA recommended further TurbX research: Snyder C.A.  “MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, John H. Glenn Research Center,   January 10, 2000”

•     DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory recommended Atkinson Cycle Turbine (TurbX) above all other engine cycles for future development  Conklin, J. et al “ORNL/TM-2000/116  March 2000 COMPARISON OF PRIME MOVERS SUITABLE FOR USMC EXPEDITIONARYPOWER SOURCES”  

 

DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory & University of Tennessee, Knoxville ”further development of this concept is recommended.”

•       “Performance Evaluation of a Prototype TurbX. Engine” Arimilli, R.V., Conklin, J.C. et al; Proceedings of: 2003 ASME TURBO EXPO “Power for Land, Sea, & Air, June 16.19, 2003. Atlanta, Georgia, USA GT2003-38563

•      Experimental verification of TurbX 850oC rotor materials advantage over existing turbine technology, “Materials Opportunities of the TurbXTM Atkinson Cycle Turbine Engine”     Wilson, M.A. Symposium on Turbine Materials October 2001 Boulder Colorado

 

Management:  Michael A. Wilson, Ph.D.

This quiet dynamo market based technology creation and Inc 100 class leader possesses unique ability to impact the bottom line.  Effective motivational team leader encourages personal growth and maximizes team productivity.  Interdisciplinary engineer/business manager who oversees and augments as needed diverse elements of the efforts in engineering, production, accounting, marketing and sales.  Visionary recognition of technical market opportunities with the ability to lead the corporate wide innovation required to achieve product realization.