The low pollution
is due to the very high air/fuel ratio, over 30:1 by weight,
which provides over 100% excess air to the combustor. This,
and the fact that combustion takes place in two stages (very
rich and very lean), assures complete burning of the fuel,
which eliminates unburned hydrocarbons. Because peak combustion
temperatures are only 2600 F (1427 C), few nitrous oxides
ever form (those that do dissociate before they reach the
exhaust).
The compact size
and low weight are due to the unique thermodynamic cycle.
High pressures are confined to small parts; large parts contain
only low pressures. Because of a unique means of recovering
system energy that would otherwise be lost, condensing temperatures
and pressures can be quite high. This reduces the size of
the condenser and other components. Large condensers, the
equivalent of the conventional radiator, have been the bane
of engines of this kind. In my engine the condenser is no larger than a conventional engine radiator.
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