The quasi-turbine is a rotary engine with a central rotor consisting of four hinged elements that divide an oval housing into four chambers. It features nearly continuous turbine-like combustion and is more efficient than a Wankel-type rotary engine. The design can run on various fuels, including hydrogen, and has fewer moving parts than most internal combustion engines. However, it is still in the early stages of development, and other engine designs show potential for equal or higher efficiency.
A quasi-turbine is a rotary engine concept incorporating a central rotor consisting of four hinged elements. The elements take the form of blades in simple designs and involve the use of trolleys on wheels in the more complex versions. The rotor elements seal the inside of an oval housing, dividing it into four chambers. Ports arranged in sequence around the housing allow for the cycling of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. The design features nearly continuous turbine-like combustion with four cycles for each revolution of the rotor.
The wheeled carriage design makes the engine more robust and able to withstand the demands of very high compression ratios such as in photodetonation. This is a pressure heated fuel self-ignition not suitable for piston engines or Wankel-type rotary engines. Photodetonation completely consumes the fuel and no hydrocarbon pollutants are produced. Less fuel is required for combustion, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. One of the goals in continued engine development is to produce a working prototype that effectively uses this type of combustion.
Working models of the quasi-turbine have been demonstrated as a pneumatic engine running on compressed air and as a steam engine. Other proposed applications for the project include use as a turbocharger, supercharger or pump. A virtually vibration-free pneumatic design is used to power a commercially developing chainsaw.
The quasi-turbine concept was developed by a research team under the direction of Dr. Gilles Saint-Hilaire in 1996. The patents for the device are held by the Saint-Hilaire family. The design evolved from a critical re-evaluation of the internal combustion engine as it is currently implemented. Increasing fuel efficiency and reducing exhaust emissions as an integral part of the design were central design principles.
Advantages of the quasi-turbine design include a much more efficient combustion chamber than a Wankel-type rotary engine. The fuel is burned more completely, giving you better fuel efficiency with less pollution. The engine has excellent balance and is essentially vibration free. It has higher torque at low revolutions per minute (RPM) than other engines and has the potential for quicker acceleration without the use of a flywheel. The quasi-turbine does not need a crankshaft, runs almost without oil and has fewer moving parts than most internal combustion engines.
The engine is designed to run on petrol, kerosene, diesel or natural gas. It could be adapted for hydrogen fuels with little modification. These features are contained in a compact and lightweight structure that facilitates installation and repair. The disadvantages of a quasi-turbine stem from its early conceptual stage of development. There are other engine designs as well that show the potential for equal or higher efficiency.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
