Information in this section is restricted in scope due to the fact that several patents are pending on the High-Efficiency Flash-Steam Engine. As patents are granted details will be published in this section. As further test information is gained, additional discoveries are made and original inventions are finessed, details will also be published in this section.
The High-Efficiency Flash-Steam Engine depends on injecting pressurized hot water into a displacer (for example a piston-in-cylinder). The pressurized, heated water is flashed to steam, subjected to additional heating and carries out work on the displacer by expansion. Exhaust steam is almost completely condensed and heat energy recovered in this process is used to pre-heat feed water. A very compact and efficient combustion unit provides heat. Heat from exhaust gases is substantially recovered.
As at July 2004, individual elements of the engine have undergone testing for several tens of hours and the engine has operated for a total of 3.4 hours at various speeds and under various conditions.
Some of the key components of the laboratory prototype engine are shown here: