×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Ceramic Engine Design Help

Ceramic Engine Design Help

Ceramic Engine Design Help

(OP)
I am working on an engine design that is basically 100% ceramic. Burn temps. will be over 1000C.

I am completely without a clue in this, so go gentle.

I could use a development partner, if there is interest.

RE: Ceramic Engine Design Help

Contructing an all ceramic engine has been done before.  The interest seems to go up and down depending on the price of oil, and other factors.  Ceramics are generally weak in tension, and strong in compression.  However, there are companies that can manufacture the components for you, and non-destructive testing has improved greatly over the years.

I recommend as few components as possible, which will depend on your fundamental design.  Is your fundamental design based on the Otto Cycle or the Brayton Cycle.  I would recommend the Brayton Cycle(jet engine) for fewer moving parts.  It should be noted that jet engines(turbines)use turbine blades made of super alloys.  These turbine blades can be cooled by internal passages in them.

There was some work done over the years on this subject.  Ford Motor Company, and Koycera substituted ceramic components for different parts of an engine(Otto Cycle).  I would recommend a good overview technical article for you to read, which is entitled: "The New Breed of ceramics" by Richard A. Alliegro in the March 1975 issue of CERAMIC INDUSTRY.  Silicon Nitride is serviceable up to 1375C. Silicon Carbide has also been used by Garrett Turbine Engine Company to make annular combustors for a gas turbine engine. The American Ceramic Society has published over the years a number of proceedings on this topic.  Another good general reference book for you to read is Modern Ceramic Engineering by David W. Richerson, which was published by Marcel Dekker, Inc..

Obviously the best way handle this is to figure out what fundamental design you want, then contact various ceramic companies to see what they have done or have available in terms of ceramic components for your design.  This will avoid large tooling charges, depending on the forming process.  Lets face it the price you pay for ceramic components is based on volume + tooling charge.  So, you need to be flexiable.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction.  If not, then let me know.

Best Regards,

Genesis


  

Genesis

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources