OT: Interesting new idea, the six-stroke engine Options

[lapuwali]

Crower (of Crower Cams) has just patented a new "six stroke" engine design. The crank turns 3 times for each single cam revolution. The extra two piston strokes are after the normal exhaust stroke, and involve water direct injection into a closed cylinder. This flashes into steam, and produces a second power stroke. The exhaust then opens to vent the steam. Enough heat is drawn off by this steam production that no actual cooling system is required.

It's claimed this can improve fuel economy by as much as 40%.

He's got a single-cylinder spark-ignition prototype working, and is now working on a compression-ignition version.

[alpha434]

Ok. So from my understanding. And correct me if any part of this is wrong (I'm as new to this as the rest of you are.)

1. Intake open, gas/air intake. Downstroke.
2 Upstroke Combustion.
3 Downstroke. Compression.
4. Exhaust partially open to prevent overpressurization in combustion chamber. Upstroke.
5. Water spray. Flash vaporizes. Expands in an envrionment that would be at a the highest pressure that the operating temperature will allow the water to flash at. Downstroke.
6.Exhaust full open. Everything comes out. Upstroke.

So a turbo wouldn't matter. The water would be vaporous and would just pass through like the air does.

The engine would benifit from the heat transfer from the metal to the water during stroke 5.

Water could possibly be recollected from the exhaust. For efficiency.

The car would benifit (powerwise) From having two downstrokes for the same fuel expense. And a direct port cooling system.

So less heat overall from the cycle. And the trick would to keep the cylinders within operating temp to prevent early wear. Except the comps that we have today would handle that.

And timing would have to be figured carefully, for the water cycle. Since that takes time. So a timing retard and less water injected at higher RPMs, right?

EXCEPT!!! That during the start phase, the engine wouldn't be hot enough to phase change the water. But the heat transfer is from exhaust to water, so this would be ok, as long as there is a combustion before water is injected.

So there will be small flaws that need perfected, but otherwise this is something that is far below our technological standards today, and those should be cleared up by what? 2007?