MacDonald, Brendan (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)

Purpose

The goal of the proposed project is to harness two new technological enhancements to develop a commercially viable external heat engine. The first is to implement a cam with a pin groove, to enable the heat engine to follow the optimal thermodynamic cycles and substantially increase the efficiency. The second is an embedded piston design, that facilitates a more compact design and a shorter regenerator pathway. External heat engines can be fuelled by a wide range of heat sources, including solar thermal and biomass, making them both sustainable and robust power sources, for which there is currently a high market demand. We have built a working prototype of our external heat engine with one of the enhancements incorporated; however, there are technical challenges remaining as well as proof-of-concept validation testing required before we have a commercially viable product. The targeted research and proof-of-concept testing proposed here will lead to the development of a competitive and proven engine, which is necessary to engage investors, in keeping with the I2I Phase I program.