A few questions.
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:08 am
Now, I am not an expert in these engines by any means, I have built a
few, and would like to build some more, but currently do not have the
means. But I have a couple of questions.
First question, with a pressurized engine, how large does the buffer
region have to be compared to the working volume of the engine to get
the thing to run. ( I have never built one, I am just guessing that if
the buffer region is the same size as the working volume, or smaller,
the engine wouldn't run because the expansion of the working volume
would be compressing the buffer region, and this would be too great a
resistance to overcome.)
Secondly, is there a problem with lack of leakage in a pressurized
engine? Say for example, you pressurize the buffer region and allow it
to slowly leak into the working volume. It then equalizes and you then
fire up the engine. BUT..because the working space is getting hotter,
the mean pressure in the working space gets higher and pretty soon,
because of lack of leakage to the buffer space, the buffer space
pressure is too low to push the power piston down for the compression
stroke.... Can this happen? I thought I read somewhere that a
pressurized engine would only run for about 15 minutes before
stopping, and I figured this was the reason.
I'd appreciate any input you can give me.
few, and would like to build some more, but currently do not have the
means. But I have a couple of questions.
First question, with a pressurized engine, how large does the buffer
region have to be compared to the working volume of the engine to get
the thing to run. ( I have never built one, I am just guessing that if
the buffer region is the same size as the working volume, or smaller,
the engine wouldn't run because the expansion of the working volume
would be compressing the buffer region, and this would be too great a
resistance to overcome.)
Secondly, is there a problem with lack of leakage in a pressurized
engine? Say for example, you pressurize the buffer region and allow it
to slowly leak into the working volume. It then equalizes and you then
fire up the engine. BUT..because the working space is getting hotter,
the mean pressure in the working space gets higher and pretty soon,
because of lack of leakage to the buffer space, the buffer space
pressure is too low to push the power piston down for the compression
stroke.... Can this happen? I thought I read somewhere that a
pressurized engine would only run for about 15 minutes before
stopping, and I figured this was the reason.
I'd appreciate any input you can give me.