Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by liammonahan 2210 days ago
Isn’t this much like how Diesel engines work? They compress air first to heat it to the point that when mixed with fuel it spontaneously ignites. Maybe glow plugs can make a comeback.
3 comments

It sounds somewhat similar to a supercharged two-stroke design like the formerly very popular Detroit Diesels (8V71, 6V92TA, for example). None of those engines were very efficient though.

Also, glow plugs are only used for starting.

Diesel engines are based off a south Pacific people's invention who used a bamboo tube with piston to ignite a sliver of wood. Rudolph used it as inspiration for his engine design.

He also intended the fuel for it to be peanut oil or canola oil a crop farmers could grow for their tractors.

Glow plugs are still here sort of although now a heating grid. My diesel truck has it to pre-heat the air to make starting easier.

In the diesel case, fuel is immediately at its auto-ignition temperature when introduced. In this, the air-fuel mixture is heated until it reaches its auto-ignition temperature.