ICE for radio-controlled models. An absolute masterpiece: the incredible miniature V10 engine The smallest diesel engine as an energy source
In our previous article we already talked about. At the same time, it’s no secret that the constant rise in prices for petroleum products and the difficult environmental situation are the main factors that greatly influence. This effect actually boils down to one thing - maximum reduction in fuel consumption and effective exhaust gas cleaning.
At the same time, it is important to understand that the best way to reduce fuel consumption is by reducing. However, such a decrease naturally leads to the fact that the engine becomes less powerful and reliable, the acceptable dynamics of vehicle acceleration are lost, etc.
For this reason, designers and engineers are constantly looking for solutions to increase the power unit without increasing its volume. For these purposes, the installation is actively used on cars today, it is used in the design of engines, it is increased, etc.
If we talk about gasoline engines, the production of units that are too small in terms of working volume for cars and a wide range of other equipment is simply impractical these days for a number of reasons. At the same time, small diesel engines have a right to life and are being actively developed. Let's look at this in more detail.
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The smallest diesel engines, gasoline and rotary piston internal combustion engines
As mentioned above, solving the problem of reducing exhaust toxicity and the total amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere required comprehensive changes. Certain improvements affected both the internal combustion engines themselves and the fuel for them.
Gasoline engines began to use fuel in which a large amount of alcohol is allowed (in some cases up to 75-80%), which is poured into diesel internal combustion engines.
- As for miniature versions, the smallest gasoline engines today are used in aircraft modeling (installed on model airplanes), as well as on small models of radio-controlled cars, ships, etc.
Larger analogues can usually be found on chainsaws, lawn mowers, motor boats and other various equipment. At the same time, there is no tendency to create micromotors using gasoline. The fact is that the general principle of operation is based on the reciprocating movement of the piston, and the unit itself greatly loses in terms of productivity with a significant reduction in working volume.
Simply put, the required efficiency in the process of converting reciprocating motion into rotational motion is significantly reduced in gasoline-powered units, which is no longer sufficient to spin the wheels of a car or perform other useful work.
Let's return to micromotors. We also note that some mistakenly consider engineer Jesus Wilder’s well-known microengines V12 and V16 to be a clear example of the smallest gasoline engine. However, in practice, such a motor is more of a toy than a practical internal combustion engine. The fact is that the unit does not operate on liquid fuel. The engine is powered by compressed air, and the efficiency is very low.
- If we talk about diesel engines, this type of engine today has every chance of becoming not just small, but actually microscopic. Let's start with the fact that today we often find small diesel engines that have a displacement of just over 0.2 liters. and produce, on average, 3.2 hp.
Such subcompact diesel engines have taken root on small motor vehicles and also power various mechanisms. The capacity of the fuel tank for such an engine is usually about 2.5 liters. diesel fuel.
It is noteworthy that the working volume of the cylinder is only 1 cubic millimeter. Such small sizes were achieved through the manufacture of ultra-thin flat elements. The pistons are more like durable thin plates, and the overall dimensions of the internal combustion engine are 5*15*3 mm. For comparison, such a motor could be placed on the thumbnail of a human hand. At the same time, the crankshaft spins up to 50 thousand rpm, and the power of the installation is just over 11 watts.
- Let us also add that the Wankel rotary piston engine (rotary engine) also deserves special attention. The peculiarity of such a motor is that it does not have the usual pistons, cylinders, elements, etc.
The parts inside it perform only rotational motion, and the unit itself is more like an electric motor. The rotary unit has almost half the number of parts compared to a diesel or gasoline piston internal combustion engine, that is, this power plant is more compact in size and lighter in weight.
However, this is not the main thing. This type of engine has very high efficiency. For example, a rotary piston engine, the volume of which is only 1.3 liters, produces as much as 220 hp. If you equip this unit with turbocharging, then the power can be increased to 350 hp. The main disadvantage is high fuel consumption.
As for sub-compact versions, the smallest rotary engine weighs only 335 g and is an OSMG 1400 motor. Its displacement is 0.005 liters, with a power of almost 1.3 hp.
What's the result?
As you can see, if we take into account the significant loss of efficiency when reducing the volume of a gasoline engine, as well as specific features in the form of increased fuel consumption and reduced reliability of a rotary piston engine, a compact diesel engine is the most promising option in all respects.
In other words, the smallest diesel engine can easily act as a source of energy and be used for various purposes. If in the near future engineers and designers solve a number of problems that exist today (heat loss due to the small thickness of the walls of micromotor combustion chambers, reduced service life of small parts under high heating conditions, etc.), then ultra-small diesel engines may well become serial.
Moreover, such units will no longer consume liters, but grams of fuel; the efficiency indicator may well be around 7-10%. This means that such a motor as an energy source will be a more efficient and much more durable solution compared to various batteries, which may be similar in size.
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Subaru boxer diesel engine (Subaru Boxer Diesel). The design and features of a boxer engine, the advantages and disadvantages of this type of internal combustion engine.
Surprisingly, in the automotive industry there are, the volume of which can be less than 1 liter of a Coca-Cola bottle. If you now think that such engines are rare in our time, you will be surprised, in fact, engines with small volumes are now widely used by many automobile manufacturers. With the constant tightening of environmental standards in the world, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, most automakers are forced, but at the same time, trying to maintain a certain level of adequate vehicle power. Thus, if someone tells you that reducing engine displacement necessarily leads to a loss of power, then they are mistaken. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Top 10, which by modern standards have a rather small engine capacity, but they both prove and refute those unconfirmed rumors that the trend towards reducing cylinders in the engine is detrimental to the car.
Turbocharged three-cylinder engine Smart 0.9L
Presented by us here, which is currently available for purchase on the car market. The parameters of this machine are as follows: Length - 2.69 m, Width - 1.56 meters. Accordingly, it turns out that there is no need to install a large and powerful engine on such a mini-car. Under the hood of the microcar is a turbocharged gasoline engine with a volume of 0.9 liters and a power of 84 hp. (maximum torque 120 Nm). This is quite enough for the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds. It is clear to everyone that the Smart Fortwo will lose any race on the road, but its main advantage is fuel economy; in the combined cycle the car consumes only 4.9 liters per 100 km.
Ford 1.0L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine
Several years have passed since Ford introduced its first. Already today, in our time, this power unit can be seen on many cars of the American brand. The power of such a motor is 100 hp. (depending on the car model), the torque of its turbo engine is 170 Nm. Thanks to its small volume three-cylinder engine and the start-stop system, the car's engine consumes only 4.6 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle.
Mitsubishi 1.2L three-cylinder engine
This 1.2 liter engine produces 78 hp. is installed on a car, which allows it to consume about 5.2 liters per 100 km in mixed mode.
This fuel consumption can be compared with the fuel consumption of certain hybrid vehicles. The car's power is less than 100 hp, and the maximum torque is 100 Nm.
Fiat Chrysler 1.4L Turbo MultiAir four-cylinder engine
This four-cylinder 1.4-liter power unit is used in many Fiat models, including and. The turbo engine has a power of 135 hp. The dimensions of this engine allowed the company's engineers to install it in the compact Fiat 500 car. Also, thanks to its technical characteristics, this engine makes this small car quite high-performance. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is also quite adequate - 7.8 liters per 100 km.
General Motors 1.4L Turbo Ecotec four-cylinder engine
General Motors has launched its new 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. For example, this motor is also installed on a new one. The power of this engine is 153 hp. The average fuel consumption declared by the manufacturer is 6.7 liters per 100 km, which, agree with us, makes such a car simply amazing.
General Motors 1.4L Ecotec four-cylinder engine without turbo
For those who don’t really like turbocharged engines, GM has created a similar four-cylinder engine, but without a turbine, the volume of which is correspondingly equal to 1.4 liters and the power is 98 hp. For example, this power unit is installed on a car with an engine power of 98 hp. (128 Nm).
Volkswagen 1.4L turbo four-cylinder engine
Late last year, Volkswagen unveiled its 1.4-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The motor code is EA211. This engine was specially created for the car model. Its power is 150 hp and maximum torque is 240 Nm. In mixed mode, a car with such a power unit consumes only 6 liters per 100 kilometers.
MINI 1.5L three-cylinder turbo engine
This engine was included in the Top 10 best engines in the world in 2015, according to WardsAuto. This 1.5-liter engine is created using TwinPower Turbo technology, which is used to create its own engines. The power of this three-cylinder Mini engine is 136 hp and the maximum torque is 220 Nm. Fuel consumption in combined mode is 5.3 liters per 100 km.
Honda 1.5L four-cylinder turbo engine
Finally, Honda presented its turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, which will be installed on the new one in the future. There are many chances that this power unit will become the most popular of all the engines presented on the world market. The turbocharged engine of a Honda car has a power of 174 hp, its maximum torque is 220 Nm. In the combined cycle with a CVT, the fuel consumption of the engine is 6.7 liters per 100 km. With a manual transmission, this fuel consumption will be significantly lower.
Toyota 1.5L four-cylinder engine
This 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, unlike the engine in a Honda car, is not equipped with a turbine. The power of this engine is 106 hp and the maximum torque is only 139 Nm. But this is quite sufficient and sufficient, since this power unit is mainly installed on a car. Fuel consumption is 7.1 liters per 100 km.
By the way, the engines of Honda and Toyota cars are very similar to each other in their design. The only significant difference between the cars is the presence of a turbocharger in the Honda engine. When comparing the power of two Japanese engines, one can notice and note the benefit of the turbine, which gives a Honda car a significant advantage.
Despite the similarity of names, the modern Mini has nothing in common with the famous British car, produced from 1959 to 2000. The current model was created when the German company BMW became the owner of the brand. For this reason, many fans of the first Mini refused to accept the next model as a successor. However, the updated model has retained its heritage. Mini under the BMW badge was called “New Mini”, and the first copies rolled off the assembly line in 2001. The model, like its predecessor, immediately received cult status. She attracted with her extraordinary beauty and original forms.
The interior also looks to match the style. The front panel with two round indicators - one in front of the driver and one in the center, looks beautiful. But appearance is one thing, workmanship and functionality are another. Mini, regardless of version, can comfortably carry only two people. The rear is cramped, and the trunk has a symbolic size of 150 liters. The quality of the interior trim is average.
The technical side of the car is no less interesting than its appearance. First of all, the chassis deserves attention, thanks to which the Mini runs as if on rails. This is certainly one of the most important advantages. However, do not forget about the low ground clearance, otherwise you may damage the body orexhaust system elements.
Gasoline engines also make an excellent impression. Except the smallest one. He's a little sleepy. The more powerful the engine under the hood, the greater the driving pleasure. The turbodiesel is not as dynamic and is more suitable for calm drivers.
Mini sets the bar high when it comes to running costs. You have to pay a lot for maintenance and repair work, especially in official service centers. Repair bills serve as an additional reminder that we are dealing with an expensive and little-used car. Therefore, it would be a good idea to find a good unauthorized service that is familiar with the Mini. Then maintenance costs will be lower.
In 2001, when the Mini was launched, the engine range included only two petrol engines. Engines with a displacement of 1.6 liters developed power of 90 and 115 hp. The weak one went to the Mini One version, the powerful one to the Mini Cooper. In 2002, the Mini Cooper S was released with a 1.6-liter turbo engine producing 163 hp. In 2003, for the first time, a diesel engine came under the Mini's hood. The Mini One D version received a 75-horsepower 1.4-liter turbodiesel. A year later, the engine power of the Cooper S increased to 170 hp. In 2005, the model range was replenished with the sports modification Cooper S John Cooper Works Kit with a 1.6-liter engine producing 210 hp. In the same year, the turbodiesel power increased to 90 hp.
All petrol engines are a joint development between Rover and Chrysler engineers. Turbodiesel is the brainchild of Toyota. The weakest of the petrol engines struggles to power the little Mini. Its 115-horsepower version is most preferable. More powerful engines give the car good dynamics, but will require additional operating costs. And it’s not just the high fuel costs, but also the costs of maintenance and repairs. Sports modifications are often used mercilessly, so after purchasing, you will most likely have to invest a little in repairs. Diesel versions do not impress with their dynamics, but they are economical and do not cause any trouble.
Engines
Mini petrol engines are not considered problematic. All ailments are most often associated with the electronic ignition system (replacement of high-voltage wires is necessary) or a clogged filter in the fuel tank. In the case of gasoline engines, it is important to regularly check the oil level. Leaks are usually found in the crankcase area. Turbodiesels are considered very reliable.
Transmission
In the New Mini, the clutch and engine mounts wear out quite quickly. If these elements are not replaced on time, then repair of the box is inevitable. The Midland Gears gearbox, used in cars from 2001-2004, is especially prone to failure. Since 2004, the box has been replaced by the more reliable Getrag. A continuously variable variator was used as an automatic transmission. Practice shows that the life of a variator is extended by regular maintenance. If the CVT fails, you need to prepare for large expenses. Sometimes repairs are simply not profitable. But if the decision to restore the variator has been made, then it is better to contact only proven services.
Chassis
The New Mini's suspension is sensitive to operating conditions. Frequent travel on bumpy roads leads to rapid wear of suspension elements. As a result, you will have to change silent blocks, ball and steering rods. Spare parts and repairs cost a lot.
The most serious problem occurs in the steering. The power steering electric pump closes and it starts working without stopping. A number of sounds that occur when turning the wheels will indicate problems with the pump. Owners, as a rule, pay practically no attention to this, since they do not notice any consequences for a long time. In the end, the pump works and you can’t do without a service visit. Fortunately, the car remains drivable, which allows you to get to the repair site under your own power.
Electrics
The New Mini's electrics are capricious, as evidenced not only by the electric power steering pump, but also by the engine control unit. Owners also note unreasonable failures of power windows and central locking. Failures also occur in the automatic xenon light corrector system. It should be noted that problems with electronics are often the consequences of handicraft repairs after an accident. The vast majority of Minis have contributed to the statistics of road accidents in the past.
Body
Factory corrosion protection is good. Even in the oldest specimens it is not easy to detect rust. In extreme cases, traces of corrosion may appear in the rear lower part of the body. As mentioned above, most of the copies have already been in an accident, and therefore corrosion in the repair areas is inevitable. Among the typical malfunctions, owners note the trunk lid lock and the mechanism for folding the backrests of the front seats.
Story
1959 – launch of the first Mini.
2000 – premiere of “New Mini”.
2001 – production of the One and Cooper series began.
2002 – Cooper S version released.
2003 – diesel version of One D.
2004 – minor modernization (new bumpers and headlights, changes to the front panel, new gearbox). Versions Convertible and Cooper S Jhon Cooper Works Kit.
2006 – premiere of the second generation “New Mini”.
Advantages:
Attractive appearance and interior
Great chassis
Dynamic gasoline engines
Flaws:
Cramped interior
Small trunk
Low ground clearance
High cost of operation
Specifications Mini (2000-2006)
|
Engine version |
Working volume (cm3) |
Maximum power (hp/rpm) |
Max Torque (Nm/rpm) |
Max speed (km/h) |
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s) |
Average fuel consumption (l/100 km) |
|
Gasoline engines |
||||||
|
1598 |
90/5500 |
140/3000 |
10,9 |
|||
|
1598 |
115/6000 |
150/4500 |
||||
|
1598 |
163/6000 |
210/4000 |
||||
|
1598 |
170/6000 |
220/4000 |
||||
|
Diesel engines |
||||||
|
1.4 D |
1364 |
75/4000 |
180/2000 |
13,8 |
||
|
1.4 D |
1364 |
90/3000 |
190 / 1800-3000 |
11,9 |
||
Conclusion
Mini is a car that allows its owner to stand out from the crowd. But you will have to pay well for this. The original body is a really powerful argument in favor of the Mini. But don’t forget that at the same time you get an excellent chassis and fast gasoline engines. It is incorrect to compare the New Mini with an ordinary city car, since the British one has a significantly higher technical and aesthetic level. Unfortunately, reliability has let us down. In addition to numerous minor faults, there are also very serious ones, the elimination of which is expensive.
Engines are different. Some of them are the size of a five-story building, while others will require a microscope to see. We recently presented you with a list of the largest engines in the world, now it's time to go to the other extreme.
DKW 49cc
Although this single-cylinder engine from DKW will seem gigantic compared to others in this chart, the 49cc is still special because it is used in the automotive industry. More precisely, in the Peel P50 car. The world's smallest engine used in production cars has only 4 hp. And this, in general, is enough, because the car weighs only 56 kg.
Smalltoe motorcycle – ethanol engine
Unfortunately, we do not have data on engine displacement, but we do have data on power: 0.3 hp. This engine is used in the world's smallest motorcycle, the Smalltoe, which has a wheelbase of only 80mm. This powerful engine accelerates the motorcycle to an incredible speed of 2 km/h. And yes, you can ride it. Watch the video.
Smallest V12 in the world
Manuel Hermo Barriero, a retired Spanish Navy mechanic, builds small, working engines. Not a bad activity for a retiree, right? This V12 engine is recognized as the smallest in the world. Its construction took Manuel 1220 hours of painstaking work.
The smallest W32 in the world
If you were shocked by the previous engine, then get ready to see another creation of Mr. Barriero - the smallest W32 in the world. The engine took 2,520 hours to complete and involved 850 different parts during the construction process. Like the V12, this engine is perfectly balanced, and to prove this fact the engineer offers to watch the video.
Nanobee
Ronald Valentine has been building small engines for his model airplanes for 30 years. The smallest of them, Nanobee, currently exists only in prototype form. The engine capacity is 0.006ml. The most amazing fact is that this engine actually works! It is recognized as the world's smallest diesel engine.
The smallest steam engine in the world
In the image you see a fully working steam engine, but its dimensions are not quite usual. Indian engineer Iqbal Ahmed managed to create a functioning steam engine that is 6.8mm high, 16.24mm long and weighs 1.72g.
Microscopic internal combustion engine
What, you're still not surprised? OK then. Take a look at this engine. By the way, to look at it, you will need a microscope, since its diagonal is only 0.0001 mm. The engine consists of a reservoir of water through which two electrodes pass. Current is applied to the electrodes, causing oxygen and hydrogen to disintegrate. As a result, gas nanobubbles are formed, volume increases and energy is generated. Oh, this science!
Since petroleum products are constantly rising in price (after all, oil tends to run out), the desire to save on fuel is quite understandable, and mini engine could be a good solution.
How economical is a mini internal combustion engine?
As you know, internal combustion engines are divided into gasoline and diesel, and both the first and second are undergoing significant changes today. The reason for the modernization of both the mechanisms themselves and the fuel is the significantly deteriorated environment, the state of which is also affected by the exhaust of equipment operating on liquid fuel. So, for example, eco-gasoline appeared, diluted with alcohol in a ratio of 8:2 to 2:8, that is, such fuel can contain from 20 to 80 percent alcohol. But this is where the modernization ended. There is practically no trend towards a reduction in the volume of gasoline engines. The smallest samples are installed in aircraft models, larger ones are used on lawn mowers, outboard motors, snowmobiles, scooters and other similar equipment..
As for, today a lot has actually been done to make this engine truly microscopic. Currently the concern Toyota The smallest minicars have been created Corolla II, Corsa and Tercel, they are equipped with diesel engines 1N And 1NT volume of only 1.5 liters. One problem is that the service life of such mechanisms is extremely low, and the reason for this is the very rapid depletion of the service life of the cylinder-piston group. There are also very tiny diesel internal combustion engines, with a volume of only 0.21 liters. They are installed on compact motorcycles and construction machinery, but you can’t expect much power; the maximum they produce is 3.25 hp. However, the fuel consumption of such models is low, as evidenced by the volume of the fuel tank - 2.5 liters.
How efficient is the smallest internal combustion engine?
A conventional internal combustion engine, which operates using a reciprocating piston, loses performance as its displacement decreases. The whole point is a significant loss of efficiency when converting this very movement of the CPG into rotational, so necessary for the wheels. However, even before the Second World War, self-taught mechanic Felix Heinrich Wankel created the first working example of a rotary piston internal combustion engine, in which all components only rotate. It is logical that this design, which is very reminiscent of an electric motor, reduces the number of parts by 40% compared to standard engines.
Despite the fact that to this day all the problems of this mechanism have not been solved, its service life, efficiency and environmental friendliness meet established international standards. Productivity exceeds all conceivable limits. Rotary piston internal combustion engine with a displacement of 1.3 liters allows you to develop a power of 220 horsepower. Installing a turbocharger increases this figure to 350 hp, which is very significant. Well, the smallest internal combustion engine from the “Wankel” series, known under the brand name OSMG 1400, has a volume of only 0.005 liters, but produces a power of 1.27 hp. with a dead weight of 335 grams.
The main advantage of rotary piston engines is the absence of noise accompanying the operation of mechanisms, due to the low mass of operating components and precise shaft balance.
The smallest diesel engine as an energy source
If we talk about full-fledged ones, then today the brainchild of engineer Jesus Wilder has the smallest dimensions. This is a 12-cylinder V-type engine, fully consistent with internal combustion engines Ferrar i and Lamborghini. However, in reality, the mechanism is a useless trinket, since it does not run on liquid fuel, but on compressed air, and with a working volume of 12 cubic centimeters it has very low efficiency.
Another thing is the smallest diesel engine developed by British scientists. True, it does not require diesel fuel as fuel, but a special mixture of methanol and hydrogen that spontaneously combusts with increasing pressure. With the clock movement of the piston in the combustion chamber, the volume of which does not exceed one cubic millimeter, a flash occurs, driving the mechanism into action. Interestingly, microscopic dimensions were achieved by installing flat parts; in particular, the same pistons are ultra-thin plates. Already today, in an internal combustion engine with dimensions of 5x15x3 millimeters, a tiny shaft rotates at a speed of 50,000 rpm, as a result of which it produces a power of about 11.2 watts.
Currently, scientists are faced with a number of problems that need to be solved before releasing mini-diesel engines into mass production. In particular, these are colossal heat losses due to the extremely thin walls of the combustion chamber and the fragility of materials when exposed to high temperatures. However, when the tiny internal combustion engines finally roll off the production line, just a few grams of fuel will be enough to make a mechanism with an efficiency of 10% work 20 times longer and more efficiently than batteries of the same size.
