More power without forced induction

[388cube_edxr8]

Due to popular request (largely by cynics), I'm going to try and explain the principle behind the concept without giving it away. It's quite long and boring but will make sense to anyone patient enough to read all the way through.

Ok, lets start at the beginning. For argument's sake, lets all imagine the barra 6 that we know and love. This engine (and almost all piston engines) run on what is called an Otto cycle (invented by some bloke called Otto). This means that all 4 strokes (intake, compression, power, exhaust) are the same length. This means that at the bottom of the power stroke, there is still some pressure within the cylinder. This is called backpressure.

The other cycle that piston engines can run on is called the Atkinson cycle - invented by a Mr. Atkinson (not Rowan). In this system, the compression stroke is shorter than the power stroke. The idea is that at the bottom of the power stroke the pressure within the cylinder is the same as that of the atmosphere. This is more efficient than the Otto cycle, because there is no power lost out of the exhaust system, however, it produces much less power.

The Toyota Prius uses a similar system to this. Whilst Toyota claim they have built an Atkinson cycle engine, what they have actually done is design the camshaft in such as way as to keep the intake valve open for part of the compression stroke, essentially accomplishing the same thing as a regular Atkinson cycle engine.

My product, the Atkinson Charger, captures the waste energy/pressure in the exhaust system of an Otto cycle engine, and feeds it back into the engine (the energy, not the actual exhaust). This reduces the load on the engine, increasing economy and maximum power. No special tuning is required and aside from a modified exhaust manifold, almost nothing else needs to be changed. The only downside is that because the waste energy in the exhaust is being captured by the Atkinson Charger, a turbocharger becomes redundant.

While the Atkinson Charger will not produce the power gains that a turbocharger will, it is significantly less expensive and less complicated than a turbo install.

I think that explains it quite well, without revealing the design. Please feel free to ask any questions, or point out something I have missed.