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New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

ABSTRACT: Microsystems become part of everyday life but their application is restricted by lack of strong and fast motors (actuators) converting energy into motion. For example, widespread internal combustion engines cannot be scaled down because combustion reactions are quenched in a small space. Here we present an actuator with the dimensions 100 × 100 × 5??m(3) that is using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen as part of its working cycle. Water electrolysis driven by short voltage pulses creates an extra pressure of 0.5-4?bar for a time of 100-400??s in a chamber closed by a flexible membrane. When the pulses are switched off this pressure is released even faster allowing production of mechanical work in short cycles. We provide arguments that this unexpectedly fast pressure decrease is due to spontaneous combustion of the gases in the chamber. This actuator is the first step to truly microscopic combustion engines.

SUBMITTER: Svetovoy VB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3944672 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

Svetovoy Vitaly B VB Sanders Remco G P RG Ma Kechun K Elwenspoek Miko C MC

Scientific reports 20140306

Microsystems become part of everyday life but their application is restricted by lack of strong and fast motors (actuators) converting energy into motion. For example, widespread internal combustion engines cannot be scaled down because combustion reactions are quenched in a small space. Here we present an actuator with the dimensions 100 × 100 × 5 μm(3) that is using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen as part of its working cycle. Water electrolysis driven by short voltage pulses create ...[more]

PMID: 24599052

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Project description:A micro-reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with liquid hydrocarbon fuel has the potential to supply ultrahigh density energy to micro electro mechanical system because of its high-density energy, simple structure, and mature energy conversion principle. However, the diagnostic test of the combustion characteristics of the micro reciprocating piston internal combustion engine shows that its combustion characteristics are poor, and the combustion rate was lower with the combustion duration of more than 50 °CA. The mean indicated pressure (Pmi) value was only 0.137 MPa, the combustion stability was very poor, and the cycle variation rate of the Pmi was up to 60%. To improve its combustion performance, the method to enhance combustion in micro-space is explored then. Mechanism studies have shown that the pyrolysis reaction of nitromethane and hydrogen peroxide can produce amounts of free radicals OH, with the possibility of improving the combustion of methanol. Therefore, a method for adjusting the composition of methanol fuel to enhance combustion is proposed, and the method is theoretically confirmed. Finally, based on this method, the test was carried out. The results showed that the combustion rate increased and the combustion duration decreased by 6% after adding nitromethane. The power performance was enhanced, and the Pmi value was increased by 30%. The combustion stability was enhanced, and the cycle variation rate of the Pmi was reduced to 16.9%. Nitromethane has a significant effect on improving the combustion characteristics of methanol, and the enhancement of the latter was mainly reflected in the ignition phase of the combustion process. This study indicates that exploring the fuel additive that can increase the concentration of OH radical in the reaction is an effective method to improve the micro-space combustion, which will facilitate the development of micro-piston internal combustion engine to supply energy to a micro electro mechanical system.

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New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

Publications

New type of microengine using internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen.

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