Very Small, Heavy-Fuel Engine (VSHF) Concepts

The military has a great need for very small, heavy-fuel (diesel or JP-8) engines for a wide variety of applications (e.g. small, unmanned air and ground vehicles, and power generation). Likewise the commercial small engine market (lawn tools, chainsaws, and model aircraft) can benefit from engines that burn heavy and alternative fuels while producing reduced emissions. However, there are numerous problems that have limited the development of a suitable engine with less than five horsepower that overcomes present day size and technology limitations. There are four significant technical challenges to efficiently burn heavy fuel in VSHF, IC engines: 1.) High compression. 2.) Well atomized or vaporized fuel/air mixture. 3.) Timed Ignition. 4.) Rapid fuel burn. The application of Compression Ignition by Air Injection engine technology will lead to small engines that are capable of efficiently burning heavy fuel.