A Compact Pollution-Free
External Combustion Engine
with High Part-Load Efficiency
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9. Fuel Requirements
The fuel requirements are simply that it can be stored on the vehicle
and delivered in metered fashion to the Burner. Beyond that, almost any
combustible material will work. The engine provides a way to bypass nearly
all fuel preparation processes. Refining requirements are minimal. Cetane
or octane ratings, and perhaps hydrogenation, are not needed. This increases
"resource-to-tailpipe" efficiency beyond what the engine itself
delivers.
In addition, the clean burning and high part-load efficiency reduce
not only NOx, CO and unburned hydrocarbons, but also carbon dioxide emissions.
Total fuel supply requirements are reduced. The development of alternative
fuels, such as biomass, methanol, biodiesel, etc, would be encouraged
if an engine like this existed that can burn them.
Multiple fuels can be used in a single tankful; and they do not have
to be miscible. As discussed later, the Control System operates by feedback;
and fuel and air flow are adjusted to maintain fixed combustion and superheater
outlet temperatures as fuels with different heating values pass through.
With the right delivery system, powder/liquid slurries or pressurized
gases could also be used.
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