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i understand it wont recover all the heat energy. Some is a good start.
Yea the steam cylinders would are not optimized for steam.(wont be able to have complete expansion)
In the compression stroke of cylinders 2 and 3, say air entering would be around 600K from the exhaust of the other cylinders. In the compression it would be heated to about 1200K (assuming a compression ratio of 9). When water is injected into this high temp gas it would created huge pressures. On steam expansion the exhaust(steam) of these centre cylinders would be cooler. Effectively there are only 2 cylinders exhausting heat as opposed to 4.
I would run water injectors off the spark ignition signal.
Does the the plug fire twice every 4 stokes or once? Because if it fires twice then water would be injected just before the compression which would cause the engine to lose power(due to compressing steam. we dont want this). we would only want injection once per 4 strokes right after compression. Clearly water injection time would have to be precise.
Could a diesel injector be used and a diesel pump?
Also the engine wouldn't run as smooth because of the different expansion rates and torques created by the steam pistons as opposed to the fuel pistons.
I really think its worth a try and if i can get hold of a old second hand engine i may do some experimenting.
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