Knob engine - yes really !

[Reynard]

Not sure if this one has been discussed before……but here is yet another weird engine design.

Quote

https://www.theautopian.com/the-most-complicated-new-engine-has-three-cylinders-a-rotating-block-a-stationary-head-and-is-shaped-like-a-circle/

 

[Moneybox]

A very interesting prototype but perhaps a little late to the market. Time will tell but with innovation like the Donut engine (as posted by Kyle Communications) combined with the Donut solid state battery it seems electric power is likely to soon become efficient enough to be the norm in many vehicles including aircraft.

 

 

[onetrack]

The Donut battery is 100% marketing hype. Every single statistic the promoter produces is a battery output or manufacturing "target", not something that can be produced, right now.

[Moneybox]

10 hours ago, onetrack said:

The Donut battery is 100% marketing hype. Every single statistic the promoter produces is a battery output or manufacturing "target", not something that can be produced, right now.

I can't see a reason for that comment. Of course it's the sceptics' job to knock every new innovation but if they are ready to market a motorcycle powered by a Donut motor and a Donut battery then there could be more to it than media hype. I can understand their need to keep the technology secret as long as possible because anybody and everybody wants a piece of the action if it's as successful as quoted.

 

I would like to see the end to Lithium batteries due to their destructive properties that we're seeing demonstrated every day. It's only a matter of time before a passenger packed airliner crashes to earth after one faulty Lithium battery carried in hand luggage or cargo sets off a chain of events that cannot be controlled. Of course it may have already happened, we don't always get the whole story when a plane comes down.

[facthunter]

You have More chance with Large Commercial Planes than Many other things.  Nev

[onetrack]

Moneybox, despite all the glitzy presentation work by Donut Labs, regarding their new battery, no-one actually has one of those batteries in their hand, and no-one has produced an independent and constructive report on the batterys construction, performance, or alignment with the manufacturer claims.

 

All the batteries shown by Donut Labs are display versions, just as car manufacturers show off prototype models that can't be driven, because they contain a large amount of non-working parts.

 

I have no doubt Donut Labs are working furiously to come to a final design and manufacture of their wondrous-performance battery - but I'm of the opinion there's a major disconnect between their current claims, and what you can actually purchase from them today - just as builders promise you can move into your new house next month, and you're still waiting two years later, to see the house actually completed.

 

As to the reliability of Lithium batteries, I think we have got to the stage where they have an acceptable level of reliability. Remember, we still have petrol engines bursting into flames due to system failures, so there's a risk incurred anywhere you have stored energy and ignition systems in close proximity.

 

Boeing found that a stainless steel sealed battery case was necessary to prevent Lithium battery fires on their aircraft from developing into disasters, and their research identified manufacturing faults in early Lithium batteries on the Dreamliner that were addressed by the battery manufacturer (GS Yuasa), and these steps eliminated the Lithium battery fires that appeared in several incidents on Dreamliners around 2013.

 

Lithium battery design and manufacture has been greatly improved since that time, and it's only the cheap Lithium consumer batteries that still pose a problem. There have been consumer Lithium battery fires on aircraft that did not bring down the aircraft. 

 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-lithium-ion-batteries-grounded-the-dreamliner/

 

[Moneybox]

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I'm hoping they have what they claim to have because it'll not only improve safety but should significantly reduce battery cost once there's local manufacture and competition.

 

This thread is about the Knob engine. Is the Donut engine a genuine product or just media hype as well?

[onetrack]

I believe the Donut electric engine is being produced and is available in working versions, but long-term reliability is yet to be proven, and the cost could be an issue for those with modest funds.

 

As far as the Knob engine goes, I see a great deal of complexity despite the claims of a simpler design. Sealing of rotary-style engines is always a source of major problems, especially when it comes to extended use/high hours.

[facthunter]

Cooling and  sealing and the Opposite rotating direction BLOCK is achieved through GEARS. These tend to fight each other in an arrangement like this. Adding more Modules is suspect also above 2. The 8 cyl Jab was discontinued .The 4 row Radials were unreliable. Torsional Vibration with LONG shafts with a lot of flywheels  The three onto ONE pin Conrods are Not likely to be a LONG life item with a double Fork and Blade set up  and caged rollers in a Long hardened steel Bush imposing sheer Loads. Short with Bad Load paths and sharp corners with the Conrod design. . IT Will RUN and Its neatly Built. I think the front wheel driven Radial engined Bike is a Megola, but it's engine is a fairly conventional Side valve design  with the engine rotating within the wheel and geared to it. The Trick with it was getting the Fuel Mixture to the engine. The rotating engine aided the cooling the same as in the Planes. Called "Windage". Nev