Future Development of Free Piston Gasifier Turbine Combinations for Vehicle Traction

The present status and future developments of automotive outward compressing free piston gasifiers are discussed, with particular reference to gas generators in relation to turbocharged and compound engines, the present status of the machine produced by the authors' company, and the operating characteristics of a proposed 150 shaft horsepower gasifier-turbine-gearbox combination for vehicle traction.

It is shown that under certain specified conditions, the gas generator cycle operates with superior efficiency, and with stated improvements in component efficiencies, the present gasifier will achieve a gas thermal efficiency of the order of 45%. Further, a vehicle power unit having an estimated specific weight of 8 lb/shp and volume of 9.75 shp/cu ft for the complete unit, with an overall torque ratio of 10:1, can be realized.