Status of the development

Information in this section is restricted in scope due to the fact that several patents are pending on the High-Efficiency Flash-Steam Engine. As patents are granted details will be published in this section. As further test information is gained, additional discoveries are made and original inventions are finessed, details will also be published in this section.

The High-Efficiency Flash-Steam Engine depends on injecting pressurized hot water into a displacer (for example a piston-in-cylinder). The pressurized, heated water is flashed to steam, subjected to additional heating and carries out work on the displacer by expansion. Exhaust steam is almost completely condensed and heat energy recovered in this process is used to pre-heat feed water. A very compact and efficient combustion unit provides heat. Heat from exhaust gases is substantially recovered.

As at July 2004, individual elements of the engine have undergone testing for several tens of hours and the engine has operated for a total of 3.4 hours at various speeds and under various conditions.

Some of the key components of the laboratory prototype engine are shown here:

		Injector The injector is capable of injecting timed doses of pressurized hot water
		Gas generator (Combustion Unit) The gas generator is a very compact and efficient heat delivery system
		High Pressure Water Pump The high pressure water pump maintains pressure upon water in the steam raising system
		Displacer The displacer used in the laboratory prototype engine is converted from a single cylinder Lombardini 50cc diesel engine.
		Lubrication pump Lubrication oil is delivered by a separate gear type pump.

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