We first told you about the Scuderi Split-Cycle engine's astonishing 140 HP per liter potential back in April when it was just a bench prototype. Now it's running and we've got the exclusive video to prove it. Engine pr0n below.
When we first saw the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine prototype at the SAE World Congress last April, we talked with Scuderi President Sal Scuderi, who led us through some of the engine's features:
According to Mr. Scuderi, the design is now complete on their first prototype engine, which is designed to run on virtually any liquid fuel with much higher efficiency than a traditional internal combustion engine. It does this with very high combustion pressures, generated from the built in compressor, driven by the same crankshaft as the combustion piston. The system relies on several vigorously designed elements like the pre-intake-valve mixing chamber, the lifting rocker arm which pulls the intake valve out of the compression chamber rather than pushing it in, the 2900 PSI fuel pump, and the compressed air transfer passages.
The novel post-top-dead-center ignition is made possible by incredibly high pressures and air cooled by the transfer passage with something similar to an in-block intercooler system, to adopt common lingo. The fuel is injected in to a carefully designed chamber ahead of the intake valve and the swirl effect creates a stratified charge injection, leaving a very controlled flame front and avoiding knock from high pressures.
[gallery 5375266]Since then, the engine has been successfully fired at their Texas facility and tuned to run smoothly you see in this exclusive video below.
It certainly has an interesting exhaust note don't you think? The new thermal cycle appears to boast a very unique pressure versus volume curve with an extremely efficient cycle. They've even put together an excellent video describing the mechanics of the engine and its unique particulars.
Scuderi Group to Introduce New Thermodynamic Process at IAA
Preliminary Test Results of the Scuderi Engine Prove the Concept of Firing After Top Dead Center
FRANKFURT, Germany – Sept. 8, 2009 – Scuderi Group, LLC will announce next week that it has proven the revolutionary concept of Firing After Top Dead Center, a new thermodynamic process – the Scuderi Cycle – that has the potential to be the biggest advancement in internal combustion engines since the Otto cycle over 130 years ago.
Visit the Air-Hybrid Blog (http://www.scuderigroup.com/blog/) to listen to a podcast about the newly-proven Scuderi Cycle.
A press conference with Scuderi Group executives and engineers will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday Sept. 15 at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (63rd IAA Cars) (http://www.iaa.de/) in Congress Center Messe Frankfurt (CMF) Illusion Room 2 and 3. A working, cutaway model of the prototype engine will also be on display in Hall 4.1, Stand No. A9.
The naturally aspirated, one-liter prototype is currently running and undergoing testing at an independent laboratory where preliminary test results have matched earlier computer simulation projections. Further testing will occur over the next several weeks as engineers continue to fine tune and adjust the prototype. Engine maps and other data are currently being made available to OEMs on a non-disclosure basis.
The Scuderi engine is expected to produce up to 80 percent fewer toxins than a typical internal combustion engine. The current naturally aspirated gasoline prototype is expected to reach efficiency gains of 5-10 percent more than any conventional engine on the road today. And when fully developed with its turbocharged and Air-Hybrid components, the engine is expected to achieve efficiency levels of 25-50 percent higher.
"Preliminary test results are very encouraging," said Sal Scuderi, president, Scuderi Group. "The pressure curves produced from the combustion process of firing after top dead center are showing excellent results and torque levels remain very strong. We're excited to see this progress and be able to introduce such a historical development at this year's IAA event."
Scuderi Cycle technology offers automotive OEMs a new and realistic solution for complying with higher emissions and efficiency standards going into effect around the world - without requiring large investments to modify current production processes. The Scuderi Engine was originally conceived and designed by Carmelo Scuderi (1925-2002).
The Scuderi Cycle is a split-cycle design that divides the four strokes of a conventional combustion cycle over two paired cylinders: one intake/compression cylinder and one power/exhaust cylinder. By firing after top-dead center, it produces highly efficient, cleaner combustion with one cylinder and compressed air in the other. Unlike conventional engines that require two crankshaft revolutions to complete a single combustion cycle, the Scuderi Engine requires just one. Besides the improvements in efficiency and emissions, studies show that the Scuderi Cycle is capable of producing more torque than conventional gasoline and diesel engines.
With the naturally aspirated engine prototype now running, Scuderi Group and its independent laboratory continue to work on the next prototypes. Completion of the turbocharged Scuderi Engine and the Scuderi Air-Hybrid are expected in 2010. For more information on the Scuderi Engine, visit www.ScuderiEngine.com.
[More details at Scuderi]