Unique engine set to run in 2015?

The prototype of a new automotive engine could be making its appearance next year as an 80 to 100kW engine for a passenger car.

The inventor of the engine claims to be “in contact with some OEMs” and is also looking at alternative means of funding the prototype.

The inventor of the engine, Dapo Ogunmuyiwa, who is managing director of Ogunmuyiwa Motorentechnik GmbH, Technologie- und Gruenderzentrum, Am Roemerturm 2, D-56759 Kaisersesch, Germany, admits that the efficiencies are “very high”.

Unbelievably high?

“But this is the unique selling point of this engine configuration,” he adds, suggesting he is walking where others have not walked before.

“I have not built an engine yet,” he said. “But I plan to build the first working prototype in 2015.”

Ogunmuyiwa declared: “Even though I have not built an engine yet, I have carried out various simulations with different swept volumes. The engine is scalable for various applications from small engines, automotive, light and heavy commercial vehicles, railway locomotives through to large engines for ships.”

Ogunmuyiwa claims: “The power outputs and indicated thermal efficiency measurements confirmed the data in my presentations. My first working prototype engine is likely to be sized for automotive applications.”

According to Ogunmuyiwa his “Planetary Gears Reciprocating Piston” engine concept has the unique characteristic that it can achieve a significantly higher thermal efficiency than that possible with the current gasoline and diesel engines.”

He adds: “The geometry of this engine concept opens up this opportunity to achieve a higher thermal efficiency, through the conversion of an increased amount of the energy from the combustion process to useful work.”

He further claims: “This geometric advantage enables indicated thermal efficiencies of up to 100 per cent to be achievable.  The projected brake thermal efficiencies are above 60 per cent.”

The inventor further notes: “The patented “Ogunmuyiwa Engine Cycle” for engines with cylinder axes arranged substantially tangentially to a circle centred on main shaft axis enables combustion to occur during the compression stroke of the cycle without damaging the engine.”

He adds “In this revolutionary cycle, during the period of combustion of the working fluid on the compression stroke, the burnt gases are successively compressed, causing a temperature increase, which supports the subsequent combustion of the unburnt gases so as to improve the opportunities for achieving a more complete combustion.”

“This will enable vehicle manufacturers to meet the EU 6b, EU 6c and 2020 CO2 emissions levels with significantly reduced after treatment requirements,” he has promised.

As engineers we read some 40 years ago of similar engine arrangements and the inventor does admit in an email “there have been similar engine configurations in the past.”

“However, the engine cycle which I patented this year is unique,” he claims in his conclusion.

In the light of the two claimed efficiency figures we will remain silent until the engine has been built, run and delivered its reputed power output, efficiencies and emission levels. Hopefully we will be able to report the results.