Design of a Regenerative Internal Combustion Engine

The purpose of this thesis is the preliminary study (based on previous work) and idealization of a Regenerative Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) type engine. This type of engine has a typical Stirling engine working cycle as a starting point but with internal rather than external combustion. By means of the study of thermodynamic cycles PAL-1 and PAL-2 (by Engineer Mario Palazzetti), of classical internal combustion engines, numerous papers and the various components of the RICE engine, it was possible to carry out, in conjunction with a parallel thermodynamic study (carried out with the help of specific computational sotware), measurements concerning thermal variations, particularly of the main component of such an engine, namely the regenerator. Subsequently, three continuation lines were advanced: one to carry out a preliminary bench test (of which a design was made) with the purpose of testing the effectiveness of the regenerator, one with a two-cylinder configuration, and yet another with a single-cylinder configuration, resulting to be the final layout. All three configurations were, finally, realized through the use of CAD design software. The idea of this engine was born with the aim of improving the efficiency of the thermodynamic cycle by preheating the fluid downstream of the compression stroke using the regenerator, which transfers the heat removed from the exhaust gas, during the exhaust stroke, to the compressed fluid. With such a project, therefore, an attempt is made to improve not only the performance of a heat engine, with the aim of lowering its emissions and minimizing fuel consumption, but a coupling with a linear electric motor has also been hypothesized, achieving a configuration that allows work continuity to be transferred to the electric component. Last but not least, an aviation use for ultralight aircraft is also hypothesized.