Things in the automotive world become stranger and strager as Cyclone Power announced it will build an engine which can work in the absence of oxygen.
Part of an order submitted by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), the engine will be a 10 hp unit capable of running on both traditional fuels and an environmentally friendly monopropellant called Moden Fuel, the fuel which can burn without oxygen. The goals of the project are to build an unit which can be used "in various power applications."
"We see this new project a solid continuation of our working relationship, which we expect to culminate in a formal teaming agreement soon," stated Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone. "We are pleased to be working with Raytheon on the development of some very important projects for the military, homeland security, undersea exploration and other similar industries."
The news comes after Raytheon subjected Cyclone's water-cooled Mark II engine to a series of tests back in October 2009, finding the engine as being 30 percent more thermal efficient than original estimated.
That means that after operating at temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 538 degrees Celsius) and steam pressures of 1,150 psi, the Mark II functioned at 2,133 rpm and produced 13.4 hp and 33 ft-lbs of torque at a diesel fuel burn rate of 0.8 gal/hr.
The same engine tested last year passed in February 2009 test which had it running on Moden Fuel.
Part of an order submitted by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), the engine will be a 10 hp unit capable of running on both traditional fuels and an environmentally friendly monopropellant called Moden Fuel, the fuel which can burn without oxygen. The goals of the project are to build an unit which can be used "in various power applications."
"We see this new project a solid continuation of our working relationship, which we expect to culminate in a formal teaming agreement soon," stated Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone. "We are pleased to be working with Raytheon on the development of some very important projects for the military, homeland security, undersea exploration and other similar industries."
The news comes after Raytheon subjected Cyclone's water-cooled Mark II engine to a series of tests back in October 2009, finding the engine as being 30 percent more thermal efficient than original estimated.
That means that after operating at temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 538 degrees Celsius) and steam pressures of 1,150 psi, the Mark II functioned at 2,133 rpm and produced 13.4 hp and 33 ft-lbs of torque at a diesel fuel burn rate of 0.8 gal/hr.
The same engine tested last year passed in February 2009 test which had it running on Moden Fuel.