Liquid Piston Engine

[fredymac]

Liquid Piston engine. The name seems to be a marketing hook but it may relate to the way fuel/air is injected into the rotary piston as a delivery path to the combustion "nooks" built into the main housing.

They seem to be progressing slowly but steadily and are targeting military/UAV applications as commercial/automotive markets are resistant to new engine architectures and require serious financial backing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5fxoEisKxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEBydx0MHBo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNV5OvJm66M

Phase II DARPA contract for a diesel 40HP UAV engine starting at 4:30 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zCOIZufrgA

 

[Arjen]

At 1:29 it says '4-stroke HEHC cycle' - to me it looks like a 2-stroke cycle. Maybe I misunderstood that first clip?

 

[fredymac]

Still trying to attract customers. Start ups have to pass through "death valley" in making the transition from R&D project to volume production.