Preliminary Development of a Solid Piston Micro-Engine
Abstract
A solid piston micro-engine has been proposed based on the following operating principles. A fuel-air delivery system alternately supplies air and premixed fuel and air to a catalytic combustor, wherein the fuel-air mixture is catalytically reacted to produce a periodic flow of low and high temperature gas over a solid-piston actuator, alternately heating and cooling the actuator (solid piston). Periodic thermal expansion and contraction of the piston is used to drive a piezo-electric transducer, whereby the mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy. Although thermal actuators have been studied by a number of researchers, to the best of our knowledge this will be the first application of a solid thermal actuator in a micro-engine, as well as the first use of a periodic combustion-driven thermal actuator. First-order analyses of the individual subsystems and their integration into the proposed micro-engine are in progress. The design has been modified based on current analyses. Fabrication of the first-generation prototype is underway; subsystem testing plans have been developed and equipment required for performing subsystem experiments has been purchased and assembled. The experiments will be conducted within the next 6 months, and the outcome of these experiments will be assessed in terms of the effects on full prototype operation and concept verification.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA429063
Entities
People
- D. Santavicca
- K. Sharp
Organizations
- Pennsylvania State University