Moteur Developpment International

Principal The Engine The Car Further applications Licences MDI Press FAQ

There is more and more talk about compressed air engines. The following are the result of many years of research and are presented in chronological order
of conception.

Engine series 01P01 02P01

Aim:
To build an low-consumption, low-pollution engine.
Characteristics:
Engine constituting two combustion chambers, one of which uses a small cylinder and works
at a constant volume during urban use. This 10cm chamberEsta cámara de 10cm3 ignites the
principal chamber on the road. The butt comes equipped with a rotative distribution system.
Principal cylinder: 508cc Secondary cylinder: 25cc
Year of conception: 1994
Advantages:
Combustion in a constant volume external chamber and low volume use in urban driving. Low
consumption.
Disadvantages:
Low power when powered by the small chamber (Volume transfer non-existent). Mechanical
system too complicated to manage the secondary chamber in 01P01, which was simplified in
02P01.

Go back Operation synopsis

Engine series 05P01

Aim:
To work with dead transfer volumes; to optimize the external chamber.
Characteristics:
Single energy internal combustion engine in an external constant volume chamber. Engine
developed in trial stands.
Expansion cylinder: 510cc Chamber volume: 20cc
Year of conception: 1995 Transfer volume: 4.7cc
Advantages:
Better RPM thanks to a lower dead volume transfer rate. The constant volume chamber begins
to approach spherical form.
Quality of combustion and low consumption. Natural EGR and without dampening swirl.
Disadvantages:
Sytem fed by an external compressor.
Observations:
This engine was the basis of the separation of the cycles (Este motor fue la base de la
separación de los ciclos (Suction/compression), combustion, expansion and exhaust which
would meet again in 07P01.

Go Back

Motor de la serie 07P01

 Aim:
To get the cyclical turbine engine working; to optimize performance at each stage of the
thermodynamic process.
Characteristics:
Dual-energy internal combustion compressed air engine.
Suction cylinder: 270cc Combustion volume: 20.5cc
Year of conception: 1996 Expansion cylinder: 755cc
Crank con-rod sytem developed by MDI allowing a low suction volume with a high expansion
volume.
Advantages:
Optimization of thermodynamic cycle, suction/compression cylinders and expansion/exhaust
differentials. The shape of the chamber is ideal for combustion; there is no negative work due
before ignition and it´s possible to thermally isolate the chamber and the expansion/exhaust
cylinder. Zero-pollution when running on compressed air.
Disadvantages:
Low temperature of exhaust (Approx 150°c: with problems with the catalytic exhaust pipe),
complex balancing.
Observations:
This engine was mounted into a Citroen AX trial car and, while the released air volume was
very limited, it allowed us to verify that it was possible to use compressed air on urban roads.

Go Back Engine cross-section

Engine series 08P01 08P02

Aim:
To simplify the crank-shaft/ con-rod system and return to a classic con-rod system to minimize
vibrations. At the same time we were able to study a specific distribution system.
Characteristics:
Dual engine with differential cycles and spherical chamber with ceramic interior.
Suction cylinder: 234cc Combustion volume: 15.5cc
Year of conception: 1996 Expansion cylinder: 593cc
Advantages:
Balance simplification. The same for 07P01
Disadvantages:
Completion of distribution.
Observations:
This engine allowed us to complete the thermodynamic section.

Go Back

Engine series 08P03

Aim:
To return to a reliable distribution system based on the 08P02. IIt was decided to return to a
rotative distributor. It´s a system well-known by our technicians as it was developed for many
years by Guy Nègre: to test compressed air as a single energy source.
Characteristics:
Single-energy compressed air engine.
Suction cylinder: 234cc Combustion volume: 28cc
Year of conception: 1997/98 Expansion cylinder: 593cc
Advantage:
Reliability of engine block.
Disadvantages:
Higher vibrations and energy consumption in distribution.
Observations:
This engine was fitted into the first CityCAT´s (Green Taxi) in 1998, which is still operational.
After numerous road tests, this engine confirmed that we were on the right path with our work
on the compressed air engine. Este fue el motor que equipó el primer CityCAT's (Taxi verde)
en 1998, el cual sigue en funcionamiento. Gracias a las numerosas pruebas realizadas en
carretera, este motor permitió constatar la buena orientación de nuestros trabajos en el aire
comprimido.
Also, we had to check whether the motor torque decreased when RPMs were raised with a
classic con-rod system, something that didn´t allow enough time to establish the pressure. All
engines were then equipped with a spherical con-rod system which allowed the piston to rest
at the peak in the cycle.
Go Back

Engine series 12P01-02-03

Aim:
To perform the same functions as the 08P03, including a con-rod crank system whose unique
feature is for the piston to rest at the cycles peak to obtain a shallow torque curve.
Characteristics:
Single energy compressed air engine, single working-roller. Design named "en Z". Piston
halted for: 70°in the crank.
Expansion cylinder: 622cc Chamber volume: 28cc
Year of conception: 1998
Advantage:
Piston halted at peak.
Disadvantage:
Balance of the complex masses in movement in this "en Z" design.
Observations:
The tests on this engine allowed us to modify the design to refine the balance. Following
engines would all have a "bóxer" design.

Go Back Advantages of the pause at the Peak Rest Point (PRP).

Engine series 20P01-02-03

Aim:
We knew that this engine was going to power the CityCAT´s vehicles on urban roads, reaching
25cv with a shallow torque curve. This was conceived to verify that, while holding the piston for
70° at the PRP, the design permitted the balance of the masses in movement.
Characteristics:
Single energy 600cc bi-cylinder engine with the pistonb held at the PRP for 70°.
Expansion cylinder: 600cc
Year of conception: 2000
Advantage:
Interesting torque curve.
Disadvantage:
Observations:
With the experience gained with this engine and wanting to simplify the gearbox, the 20P04
engine would be a derivation of the 20P01 while augmenting the cylinder to 1200cc.

Go Back Torque curve for 20P01

Engine series 20P04

Aim:
To utilize a two-speed gearbox, while preserving the basic functions of the 20P03.
Characteristics:
Single energy bi-cylindrical 1200cc engine with a pause at the Peak Rest Point for 70° and
variable volume expansion chamber. y cámara de expansión de volumen variable. Power
purposely limited to 25cv.
Expansion cylinder: 1200cc
Year of conception: 2000/2001
Advantage:
Impressive motor torque curve.
Disadvantage:
The utilization of two connecting crank-shafts for gears caused vibration problems.
Observations:
The pistons are mounted on rollers to minimize friction and the loss of due lateral force on the
liner. The marginal lubrication is provided by a low-pressure oil pump which uses very little
energy.
The 34 engine series (in development) utilizes the bóxer design and the pause at PRP with
just one crank.
 Go back Torque curve for 20P04 More details on the piston rollers

Engine series 34

Characteristics:
800cc moto-compressor, 4 flat-lying cylinders. Pause at the peak rest point for 70° and
variable distribution.

This is the engine which will be fitted in the MDI cars in serial production.

Go back

Privacy information © 2002 Mac sl