How Does Thrust to Weight Ratio Impact Engine Efficiency?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of a toroidal internal combustion engine design and its potential efficiency, particularly in relation to thrust-to-weight ratio. Participants explore various aspects of the design, including its mechanics, sealing issues, and comparisons to traditional engines, while also questioning the feasibility and efficiency calculations of such a concept.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the clarity and viability of the proposed engine design, noting that it relies heavily on drawings that lack detailed explanations.
  • One participant suggests that the design aims to produce a rotating pressure wave and raises questions about its effectiveness compared to traditional turbines.
  • Concerns are raised regarding the independent movement of pistons, the sealing of the combustion chamber, and the management of fuel and exhaust flow.
  • Another participant mentions that previous toroidal engine designs have faced challenges related to sealing and power transmission, indicating a history of unsuccessful attempts.
  • There is a discussion about the potential for heat transfer issues due to the materials used in the design, particularly between metal and polymer components.
  • Some participants question the mechanism for locking pistons during operation and how torque is generated, suggesting that the design may not differ significantly from conventional engines.
  • Requests for guidance on calculating the efficiency of the engine are made, with acknowledgment that modeling such a conceptual engine may be complex.
  • One participant asserts that they have not found any existing patents that resemble their design, while another challenges this claim, suggesting that similar designs may exist.
  • There is a call for clearer visual representations or animations to aid understanding of the design's mechanics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility or efficiency of the proposed engine design. Multiple competing views remain regarding its mechanics, potential issues, and the validity of the claims made about its uniqueness.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on drawings that may not adequately convey the design's functionality, unresolved questions about the efficiency calculations, and the assumption that the design is possible to build and seal without empirical validation.

  • #31
i think you have confused mechanical design with an idea. there are no calculations or measurements provided. Perhaps if you can draft the pictures out or use CAD and provide some of the formulas etc , then people can better assess how workable this project may be.
 
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  • #32
@ grey it is not otto cycle.more like a three stroke cycle.
@ bystander yes, but we can't use gas turbines in automobiles. for one thing, they operate at very high temperatures and pressures
@ blade well, I'm trying to, but could people anyways suggest a way to calculate efficiency or something
 
  • #33
It looks like you made that in Abaqus (?). If so, did you run an FE simulation to see what types of stresses are in the engine? One of the biggest concerns in efficiency is thrust to weight ratio (T/W). If you want to take this to the next step, I recommend seeing what your stresses are like, and determining if you have too much / too little material. Factors of safety are also important.
 
  • #34
I didn't see anything.
 
  • #35
chhitiz said:
... guide me as to how to calculate, at least in theory the efficiency ...

chhitiz said:
... can we simply guess the efficiency based on c.r.? is there a way to calculate the precise efficiency of a completely new design?

chhitiz said:
... could people anyways suggest a way to calculate efficiency or something ...

What exactly do you mean by 'efficiency'? Can you write down what you mean in words, and then take a stab and quantifying it? Why do you think calculating it is any different then the 'efficiency' calculations described in the automotive engineering textbooks?
 
  • #36
Unit91Actual said:
It looks like you made that in Abaqus (?). If so, did you run an FE simulation to see what types of stresses are in the engine? One of the biggest concerns in efficiency is thrust to weight ratio (T/W). If you want to take this to the next step, I recommend seeing what your stresses are like, and determining if you have too much / too little material. Factors of safety are also important.
it was made in catia. and as far as i know, there is no way of getting the stresses in it.

gmax137 said:
What exactly do you mean by 'efficiency'? Can you write down what you mean in words, and then take a stab and quantifying it? Why do you think calculating it is any different then the 'efficiency' calculations described in the automotive engineering textbooks?
efficiency is how much of the chemical energy of the fuel is actually converted into useful work. and calculating it is different because this design will have a totally different thermodynamic cycle
 

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