Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > The Unicorn Corral
Register Now
 Register Now
 


Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-13-2016, 08:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,548
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,447 Posts
4-stroke opposed-piston engine development from Pinnacle Engines?

They claim their target market is Asia, focusing on scooters and the highly=competitive 3-wheel utility vehicles market in India. Their concept seems interesting, and maybe it could succeed, but it's been under development since 2007 and, after some delays, a production version of the 110cc scooter engine seems likely to start in November 2017 in India. Larger-displacement versions with more cylinders are under development too, intended to the automobile market, even though their horizontal layout keep their applicability quite limited to longitudinal-engined vehicles. But anyway, even though American automakers are not so receptive to technologies developed by third parties, it's likely to be one of the ways to meet more stringent EPA/CAFE requirements.

http://www.pinnacle-engines.com/

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 12-13-2016, 09:28 PM   #2 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
I've always thought opposed-piston engines had some inherent efficiency advantages and have been puzzled by their lack of penetration into the smaller engine market.
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2016, 09:29 PM   #3 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
LittleBlackDuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: The Land Downunder
Posts: 229

CT - '11 Lexus CT200h Luxury
Thanks: 26
Thanked 80 Times in 61 Posts
As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, then it generally is not true.

Sleeve valves have always had sealing and durability issues and the opposed piston concept has too many moving parts for low cost production.

Interesting that it is partially based in India...

Simon
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 02:03 PM   #4 (permalink)
.........................
 
darcane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Buckley, WA
Posts: 1,597
Thanks: 391
Thanked 488 Times in 316 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleBlackDuck View Post
As they say, if it sounds too good to be true, then it generally is not true.

Sleeve valves have always had sealing and durability issues and the opposed piston concept has too many moving parts for low cost production.

Interesting that it is partially based in India...

Simon
Durability and complexity are always my concern with these too. I'm curious to see how they do after a few years of actual use in a vehicle.

400 hours sounds like a lot of testing... but if you average 30 miles/hr that comes out to only 12,000 miles. A typical modern car engine can be expected to run 5000 hours or more.

So, it's interesting, but I'm skeptical that it will make the cut, long-term.
__________________
Past Cars:

2001 Civic HX Mods

CTS-V

2003 Silverado Mods
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 02:13 PM   #5 (permalink)
Volvo-driving MachYeen
 
Fingie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Finland
Posts: 788

Neo Volvo - '98 Volvo S70 10V
90 day: 24.98 mpg (US)
Thanks: 298
Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts
well, they laughed at hybrids when they came...
__________________
If you don't make any mistakes in your life,
life itself will be a f*ckup.



With Volvo to Valhalla and back!
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2016, 08:02 PM   #6 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,548
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,447 Posts
What did surprise me about this engine is the 4-stroke cycle, while all other opposed-piston designs are 2-stroke. Anyway, even though it seems to have some realistic possibilities to find its way into the market, what makes me quite skeptical is the focus in some market segments with a lower profit margin.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2016, 06:52 AM   #7 (permalink)
Volvo-driving MachYeen
 
Fingie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Finland
Posts: 788

Neo Volvo - '98 Volvo S70 10V
90 day: 24.98 mpg (US)
Thanks: 298
Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts
sometimes, the solutions comes from the places with simplest of demands
__________________
If you don't make any mistakes in your life,
life itself will be a f*ckup.



With Volvo to Valhalla and back!
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2016, 08:40 AM   #8 (permalink)
It's all about Diesel
 
cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Posts: 12,548
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,622 Times in 1,447 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fingie View Post
sometimes, the solutions comes from the places with simplest of demands
Of course, but some segment with a higher profit margin could lead to a quicker return of the investment on research and development. Anyway, since their design is originally meant to be fitted in horizontal position, that would lead to a good market opportunity in aviation.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2016, 10:49 AM   #9 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 196
Thanks: 4
Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts
An interesting idea that crops up every so often. The brits had this fantastic sounding 3 cylinder, 6 piston, 2 stroke diesel engine locomotive, with a bunch of turbos. It sounds fantastic.

Pollution was problematic, so they went away.

Here's a model that illustrates how it works:




Here's a video that really captures the sound of the Napier Deltic engine:



Sometimes known as the whistler engine.
__________________
2004 VW TDI PD on bio

want to build 150 mpg diesel streamliner.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2016, 11:35 AM   #10 (permalink)
Eco-ventor
 
jakobnev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: sweden
Posts: 1,630

Princess - '92 Mazda MX-3 GS
House of Tudor
Team Mazda
90 day: 53.54 mpg (US)

Shirubāarō (*´ω`*) - '05 Toyota Prius Executive
Team Toyota
90 day: 54.88 mpg (US)

Blue Thunder - '20 Hyundai IONIQ Trend PHEV
Team Hyundai
Plug-in Hybrids
90 day: 587.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 74
Thanked 701 Times in 444 Posts
Send a message via MSN to jakobnev
I saw one in a museum a couple of years back, I don't think the lack of cylinder head heat losses, can overcome the disadvantage of all that extra complexity.


Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	o_piston.jpg
Views:	575
Size:	183.0 KB
ID:	21061  
__________________




2016: 128.75L for 1875.00km => 6.87L/100km (34.3MPG US)
2017: 209.14L for 4244.00km => 4.93L/100km (47.7MPG US)
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com