The StarRotor engine uses the Brayton cycle

http://starrotor.com/index.htm

(see Figure 1), the same thermodynamic cycle employed by jet engines. In the compressor, ambient air(1) is compressed. The typical discharge pressure is 6 atm, but other pressures can be used (higher pressures increase power and lower pressures decrease power). The compressed gas(2) is then preheated in the recuperator. After the recuperator the compressed gas(3) goes into a combustor where the volume is further increased by burning fuel. Although many types of combustors could be used, we are considering a ceramic tubular type because it produces very little pollution.

After combustion the hot, high-pressure gases(4) are expanded in the expander to atmospheric pressure, thereby doing work. A portion of the work (approximately one-third) is re-invested back into running the compressor. The remaining work is sent to a rotating shaft where it propels the automobile, makes electricity, or any other useful function. The exhaust gases(5) from the expander are still quite hot so some of the waste heat is recovered in the recuperator by preheating the compressed air. Doing this allows less fuel to be used because some of the energy (heat) is transferred back into the compressed air. After the recuperator, the gas(6) is released to the atmosphere. The compressor and expander are gerotors, a positive-displacement device that can process the large volumes of gas required by Brayton cycle engines.

To create an even more efficient engine, atomized liquid water can be sprayed into the compressor inlet to keep the compressor cool. Keeping the compressor cooler allows compression to be more efficient thus the engine will be more efficient.

Please view the compressor and expander web pages for further information on how the engine works. Also click the link for answers to some frequently asked questions.

45%-60% compared to 15%-20% for a conventional engine.

If true, in an electric hybrid, it could provide insane mileage numbers. However, this isn't the first new, high efficiency engine I've seen over the past 30 years and none of the others ever made it to market. Hell, Mitsubishi was selling direct injection gas engines ten years ago in Europe. They weren't suited to our high sulfur fuel.

K&R 'cause it might be THE ONE.

Weird. :shrug:

Thanks!