Adiabatic diesel engine

A research program for an innovative, high payoff concept called the Adiabatic Diesel Engine is described. This engine concept insulates the diesel combustion chamber with high temperature materials to allow ''hot'' operation near an adiabatic operating condition. The ''hot'' or insulated high temperature components include piston, cylinder head, valves, cylinder liner and exhaust ports. Additional power and improved efficiency derived from this concept occur because thermal energy, normally lost to the cooling water and exhaust gas, is converted to useful power through the use of turbomachinery and high temperature materials. By greatly reducing lost energy and essentially eliminating the need for a conventional cooling system, this engine will dramatically improve fuel economy or increase power for the same fuel input by 30% over current highly efficient diesel engines and will result in approximately a 40% reduction in both weight and volume for the same horsepower level. Engine design, materials, and materials testing techniques are discussed.