External Combustion Engine Technology (Vapor and Liquid Cycles) for Individual Soldier Power Systems

Abstract

Soldiers of the future will be equipped with electronic and electro- mechanical hardware to enhance their capabilities that will require individual power. There are several potential methods of supplying these power requirements. This report is an initial study of advanced vapor-cycle and liquid-cycle engine systems directed at this application. Results of the study indicated that miniature external combustion vapor-cycle engines in the 1- to 10-horsepower class, employing modem materials and design practices, have the potential to provide a compact, high-efficiency, quiet, and multi-fuel (especially military diesel fuel) power source to meet individual soldier and special operations requirements. A major appendix presents a thermodynamic analysis of the performance of a high-compression uniflow steam engine and the associated Rankine vapor cycle. Soldier power, Vapor cycle, Engine, External combustion, Steam, Liquid, Thermodynamics.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA252754

Entities

People

  • David L. Overman

Organizations

  • Harry Diamond Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combustion
  • Diesel Fuels
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Efficiency
  • External Combustion Engines
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Engines
  • Heat Transfer
  • Internal Combustion Engines
  • Materials
  • Military Research
  • Reciprocating Engines
  • Steam Engines
  • Thermal Efficiency
  • Thermodynamic Cycles
  • Thermodynamics
  • Turbines

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics