GreenCar Magazine » Cyclone Power technologies

Discovery Channel Features Cyclone Power Technologies’ Land Steam Record Attempt

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 18:11:16 +0000

Pompano Beach, FL. Discovery Channel Canada featured Cyclone Power Technologies on the network’s primetime science and technology program, Daily Planet. The story, which highlights Cyclone’s attempt with the U.S. Land Steam Record Team to build the fasteststeam-powered vehicle on earth, can be accessed at http://watch.discoverychannel.ca (May 11, Episode 168).

The U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) vehicle is being designed, constructed and driven by steam car veteran and team leader Chuk Williams. Cyclone will contribute to the project a modified Mark V external combustion automotive engine which, at 180HP generating 860 ft/lbs of starting torque, will attempt to propel the 21′, 1600lbs USLSR vehicle at speeds up to 200mph.

”We’re thrilled to have the Discovery Channel shine a spotlight on our all-fuel capable, earth friendly automotive engine,” stated Cyclone CEO and engine inventor, Harry Schoell. “Our goal from the beginning was to break the land speed record for steam vehicles with an engine that can ultimately be placed economically into everyday passenger cars.”

The current land speed record for steam vehicles is held by Team Inspiration of Great Britain using a modified turbine engine. The British vehicle recorded speeds over 148mph in August 2009, which broke the previous unofficial record of 145mph set in 1985 by Bob Barber, and the official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by Fred Marriott, an American driving a Stanley Steamer at Daytona Beach.

Cyclone’s USLSR project has been endorsed by the Steam Automobile Club of America, the pre-eminent association of steam vehicle developers, racers and enthusiasts. Other individuals associated with the team include former engineers at NASA, Lockheed Martin and MIT. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, visit www.uslandsteamrecord.com.

Corporate Profile

Harry Schoell, the patented Cyclone Engine is a modern day steam engine, ingeniously designed to achieve high thermal efficiencies through a compact heat-regenerative process, and to run on virtually any fuel – including bio-diesels, syngas or solar – while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and irritating pollutants into the air. Currently in its late stages of development, the Cyclone Engine was recognized by Popular Science Magazine as the Invention of the Year for 2008, and was presented with the Society of Automotive Engineers’ AEI Tech Award in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, Cyclone was recently named Environmental Business of the Year by the Broward County Environmental Protection Department. For more information, visit www.cyclonepower.com.

Waste Products from Distructive Distillation Become Fuel for External Combustion Engine Technology

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:33:29 +0000

Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. has signed a letter of intent with Unified Fuels LLC of Foley, Alabama regarding the co-development and systems integration of Cyclone’s heat-regenerative external combustion engines.

Under the LOI, Cyclone and Unified will perform certain business and technological feasibility studies related to using Cyclone’s Mark V and Waste Heat Engines with Unified’s waste-to-fuel systems. Unified’s process uses a form of destructive distillation in which manipulation of the carbon chains in the biomass occurs with the end resultant being a liquid fuel. The final products of this process are diesel fuel, gasoline, methane and heat. The latter two energy forms, which would otherwise be wasted, can be used in the Cyclone Engines to power Unified’s total system and, possibly, create additional revenue streams for the facility owner.

Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone had this to say about the new agreement,

“This is an interesting application for our technology in a very important field of converting waste to usable fuel and power. We look forward to seeing how our companies can work together in the future.”

Source: Cyclone Power Technologies

Florida Company hopes to Set Landspeed Record with its Mark V Heat Regenerative External Combustion Engine

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:16:02 +0000

Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. has completed and shipped a full scale model of the engine it is building for the U.S. Land Steam Record Team. The high performance Cyclone LSR Engine will power the streamliner vehicle which will attempt to break the world land speed record for steam vehicles in Bonneville, UT, as early as August of this year.

The Cyclone LSR Engine is a modified Mark V heat-regenerative external combustion engine, capable of producing 180 HP with maximum starting torque of 850 ft/lbs and 262 ft/lbs @ 3600 RPM. It boasts an expanded steam generator to create greater surface area and water rate, which will dramatically increase power output, while keeping the engine’s total weight below 200lbs. Steam car veteran and team leader Chuk Williams will design, build and drive the U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) vehicle, which will attempt a 200mph record-breaking run.

“This project is moving ahead diligently,” stated Cyclone CEO and engine inventor, Harry Schoell. “We see the LSR application as a great test of the power and performance of our all-fuel capable, earth friendly Mark V automotive engine.”

The LSR project is being endorsed by the Steam Automobile Club of America, the pre-eminent association of steam vehicle developers, racers and enthusiasts. Other individuals associated with the team include former engineers at NASA, Lockheed Martin and MIT.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for corporations and individuals who want to participate in this attempt at automotive racing history. Potential corporate sponsors may include providers of U.S. grown biofuels to power the USLSR vehicle – the Cyclone Engine is capable of running on virtually any fuel, and the team has yet to choose a fuel for the record attempt. Visit the USLSR site for more information: http://landspeedrecord.intuitwebsites.com/index.html

U.S. Land Steam Record Team Selects External Combustion Engine Developer Cyclone Power

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:47:14 +0000

Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. has been selected by the U.S. Land Steam Record Team to provide the high performance racing engine for its streamliner vehicle, which will attempt to break the world land speed record for steam vehicles in Bonneville, UT, as early as next August.

The U.S. Land Steam Record (USLSR) vehicle will be designed, constructed and driven by steam car veteran and team leader Chuk Williams. Cyclone will provide a modified Mark V external combustion automotive engine. At 180HP with 860 ft/lbs of starting torque, the Cyclone engine will attempt to propel the 21′, 1600lbs USLSR vehicle at speeds over 200mph on the seven-mile track at the famous Bonneville salt flats.

Cyclone CEO and engine inventor, Harry Schoell said;

“This is a great test of the power and performance of our all-fuel capable, earth friendly Mark V automotive engine. Given our current calculations, we expect to beat the standing land speed record by a comfortable margin with an engine that can ultimately be placed into everyday passenger vehicles.”

The current land speed record for steam vehicles, which is still subject to official confirmation by the Federation Internationale d’Automobile, is held by Team Inspiration of Great Britain. The British vehicle recorded speeds over 148mph in August 2009, which broke the previous unofficial record of 145mph set in 1985 by Bob Barber, and the official FIA record of 127mph set in 1906 by Fred Marriott, an American driving a Stanley Steamer at Daytona Beach.

”The Cyclone engine boasts enormous power in a small, light package,” stated team leader Chuk Williams. “We are pleased to be working with Harry and his Cyclone development team on this attempt to bring the steam land speed record back to the United States.”

The project is being endorsed by the Steam Automobile Club of America, the pre-eminent association of steam vehicle developers, racers and enthusiasts. Other individuals associated with the team include former engineers at NASA, Lockheed Martin and MIT.Sponsorship opportunities are available for corporations and individuals who want to participate in this attempt at automotive racing history. Potential corporate sponsors may include providers of U.S. grown biofuels to power the USLSR vehicle – the Cyclone Engine is capable of running on virtually any fuel, and the team has yet to choose a fuel for the record attempt. Visit the USLSR site for more information.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Cyclone Power Technologies is the developer of the award-winning Cyclone Engine – an eco-friendly external combustion engine with the power and versatility to run everything from portable electric generators and garden equipment to cars, trucks and locomotives. Invented by company founder and CEO Harry Schoell, the patented Cyclone Engine is a modern day steam engine, ingeniously designed to achieve high thermal efficiencies through a compact heat-regenerative process, and to run on virtually any fuel – including bio-diesels, syngas or solar – while emitting fewer greenhouse gases and irritating pollutants into the air. Currently in its late stages of development, the Cyclone Engine was recognized by Popular Science Magazine as the Invention of the Year for 2008, and was presented with the Society of Automotive Engineers’ AEI Tech Award in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, Cyclone was recently named Environmental Business of the Year by the Broward County Environmental Protection Department. For more information, visit www.cyclonepower.com.

Korea Approves Patent on Cyclone Power Technologies’ Green Engine

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:08:31 +0000

POMPANO BEACH, FL, Sept. 29, 2009. Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets: CYPW) announced today that the Korean Intellectual Property Office has issued a notice of decision to grant the company a patent on its award-winning, heat regenerative external combustion engine.

Cyclone’s invention is a high-efficiency modern steam engine, capable of running on virtually any liquid or gaseous fuel, and creating far fewer toxic emissions than comparable internal combustion engines. The company is currently developing prototypes for use in automobiles, power generators, solar thermal installations and waste heat recovery (cogeneration) applications.

“As well as demonstrating the uniqueness of our technology throughout the world, issuance of a patent in Korea is very important to the company from a business standpoint,” stated Cyclone’s COO and Director, Frankie Fruge. “We have received substantial interest for our technology in Asia, and we are making every effort to protect our intellectual property and the valuable assets of our company before entering into revenue generating licensing agreements in these territories.”

The patent in Korea marks the fifth international patent for Cyclone’s engine. The company received patent protection for the engine in China, Russia, South Africa and Australia earlier in 2009, in the United States in 2006, and then on the engine’s proprietary combustion chamber in the U.S. in 2008. The company has applications pending for other components of its engine in the U.S., and for the engine in virtually every industrialized nation.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Cyclone Power Technologies receives the “Algaepreneur 2009 Award”

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:44:15 +0000

Pompano Beach, FL, Sept. 22, 2009. ” at the National Algae Association Conference, held last week in Houston, TX.

The Algaeprenuer Award honors companies and individuals who make important contributions to the development and commercialization of algae-based fuels. It is usually bestowed on algae fuel producers and marketers; however, Cyclone is the first honoree of the award outside these fields. The National Algae Association (NAA) is the leading trade organization for algae researchers, producers and financiers.

Cyclone received the NAA award for its heat regenerative, Rankine cycle engine, an efficient and earth-friendly modern steam engine capable of running on virtually any fuel, including today’s most promising biofuels. In tests performed by the company earlier this year, the Cyclone engine’s fuel atomizers and combustion chamber successfully burned several different variations and grades of the same strain of algae fuel without engine modification and, equally important, without expensive processing of the fuel. It is this adaptability in utilizing algae fuels, as well as other renewable and traditional fossil fuels, to power generators, automobiles and virtually any other engine application in the near future which marks a major milestone for the industry.

Recently, major corporations such as Chevron and ExxonMobil have made large investments in algae fuel production, and Continental Airlines has demonstrated algae as a usable fuel for jet planes. Algae can be processed to produce a carbon neutral oil-based fuel which can be grown almost anywhere without competing with worldwide food supplies.

Cyclone was also featured on Channel 39 News (Houston) during the conference, a video of which can be viewed on the company’s website at: http://www.cyclonepower.com/video.html.

CORPORATE PROFILE

Cyclone Power Technologies to Present All-Fuel Engine at National Algae Conference

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:41:46 +0000

Pompano Beach, FL, Sept. 1, 2009. Cyclone Power Technologies will present its award winning, all-fuel external combustion engine technology at the National Algae Association Conference, to be held September 17-18 in Houston, TX.

The Cyclone Engine is a modern steam engine capable of running on virtually any fuel, including today’s most promising biofuels made from algae. In tests performed by the company earlier this year, the Cyclone Engine’s fuel atomizers and combustion chamber successfully burned several different varieties of fuel derived from algae without engine modification and, equally important, without expensive processing of the fuels.

“Algae is a wonderful fuel source,” stated Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone. “It has a high BTU content relative to other biofuels, and burns cleanly and efficiently in our engine.”

The economic and environmental promise is enormous for this high yielding, carbon neutral fuel, which can be grown almost anywhere without competing with worldwide food supplies. Recently, major corporations such as Chevron, BP and ExxonMobil have made major investments in algae fuel production.

The National Algae Association (NAA) is the leading trade organization for algae researchers, producers and financiers. The NAA’s conference, entitled Algae: The New Oil, will feature presentations covering a full range of subjects focusing on the commercialization of algae. It will be held September 17-18 at the Sheraton North Houston.

Electricity from Burning Waste Oil. This can’t be Green!

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:25:34 +0000

Cyclone Tech

Pompano Beach, FL, August 4, 2009. Cyclone Power Technologies announced today that it has signed a License Agreement with Phoenix Power Group LLC to provide engines for waste oil fueled power generators. The external combustion engine technology will burn a large variety of fuels not only fossil based. There is a CO2 savings of course when the fuel is a biomass or originated from biomass. Personally I think it would be better to capture and store the waste oil than to release it’s additional CO2 into the atmosphere. I think that this is a green technology being used in a nongreen manner. Here are the details of the agreement , you can make up your own mind.

The license provides Phoenix Power with exclusive North American and Australian rights to develop and sell power generator systems utilizing Cyclone’s award-winning external combustion engines, which will run on waste oil fuelssuch as used motor oil from cars, trucks and buses. Phoenix Poweris an affiliate of Atlantic Systems Group of Harrisonburg, VA, which is in the business of designing and building automotive oil change and service facilities throughout the United States, along with the manufacturing of steel tanks for the lube industry.

Phoenix Power president, Thomas V. Thillen commented on the deal,

From our current and future customers, we see an enormous, open market for the generation of electricity using waste motor oil. This is a product that will save businesses considerable money from the disposal and transportation of waste oil products, while allowing them to produce usable, renewable power throughout the year.

Phoenix Power will pay Cyclone $400,000 in license and development fees over the following nine to 12 months — $150,000 of which was paid on license execution — and then pay on-going royalties on each Cyclone Engine produced. Phoenix Power has also agreed to pay minimum royalties over the life of the agreement in an amount exceeding $4 million in order to maintain its exclusive rights, and have received common stock purchase warrants which vest on completion of the initial engine prototypes.

Harry Schoell, Cyclone’s CEO added;

We are very excited to be working with the entire team at Phoenix Power, who have a proven track record of success in building companies and bringing products and services to market. We are confident that they have the skills, vision and financial support to get this job done right.

Phoenix Powerhas also brought to this deal an exclusive license with Mr. Terry Bassett, who holds two U.S. patents, with international patents pending, for the total system package of generating electric power from waste oil using an external combustion engine. Additionally, Phoenix Power’s equity partners include Hansom James Capital, whose principals founded Tennessee-based AIMS Logistics Inc. in 1994, which, when sold to U.S. Bancorp in 2007, employed over 300 people internationally and processed approximately $5 billion annually in freight payables for clients that included Honeywell International, General Electric, and Nortel Networks.

David Nelson, co-founder of Hansom James Capital, which is providing financing for the deal, had this to add,

We have been part of successful start-ups before, however, I am speaking for the entire group when I say this one is special.We have a great chance here to create something that will leave an enormously positive environmental impact on our world.

Biomass Engine Burns a Variety of Fuels and May Some Day Power Your Car

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:00:17 +0000

Cyclone

Here is a truly unique technology that is being developed by a Florida company Cyclone Power Technologies. The US military is reportedly interested in it as well. The Cyclone Engine is a Rankine Cycle heat regenerative external combustion engine, otherwise known as a “Schoell Cycle” engine. It creates mechanical energy by heating and cooling water in a closed-loop, piston-based engine system. Unlike the internal combustion engine the cyclone engine uses an external combustion chamber. This allows much as much wider range of fuel types to be used and the process is not sensitive to fuel quality. Tests have been conducted by the company using such things fuels derived from orange peels, palm oil, cottonseed oil, algae, used motor oil and fryer grease, as well as traditional fossil fuels. Cyclone claims it can run these fuels without any modification to the engine. They have also burned propane, butane, natural gasand even powdered coal ( not recommended for greencar readers).

The company is developing this technology not just for stationary power generation but also to replace internal combustion engines in cars and trucks

The company currently has the following engines under development:

Mark II 18 HP Portable/auxiliary power, marine power, light equipment
Mark V 100 HP Automotive, marine propulsion, power generation, off-road equipment, industrial co-generation, specialty applications
Mark VI 330 HP Heavy land and sea transport, power plant, heavy equipment
WHE 15 HP Waste Heat Engine: Mini-cogeneration, residential solar, biomass combustion. For more info about the WHE, click here.
Solar I 5 HP Industrial solar thermal; mini-power generation

Here is how the engine process works. If you are interested in reviewing the applicable patents I have included links below.

HEAT PROCESS

Cyclone Power Technologies

1. Fuel is atomized and injected into the patented centrifugal combustion chamber (shown as lifted off the engine block for better viewing), where a spark ignites the fuel-air mixture into a flame that spins around the heat coils. Thermocouples (not pictured) control the duration of combustion to keep the heat in the combustion chamber at a constant temperature.

2. Water contained in the coils becomes super-heated steam (up to 1200°F) in as little as 5 seconds from start up which is (a) piped to the cylinders, (b) where it enters through a patent-pending valve system (not pictured). Note, valve timing mechanisms regulate how much steam enters the cylinders – the longer the cut-off the greater the torque and acceleration.

MECHANICAL PROCESS

3. Steam enters the six radial-configured cylinders under pressures up to 3200 psi to push the pistons down in sequence. Note, no motor oil is used – water is both the working fluid and engine lubricant. Also, because of the valve design, the engine starts without the need of a starter motor.

4. The rotating action of the pistons connected through a patent-pending spider bearing (not pictured) turns the crank shaft. Note, because the greatest amount of torque occurs at the first rotation, the shaft can be directly connected to a drive train without a transmission.

COOLING PROCESS

5. Steam escapes the cylinders through exhaust ports and (a) enters the patent-pending condensing unit where it turns back into water, and (b) collects in a sealed pan at the bottom of the condenser. Note, this is a closed-loop system – the water does not need to be replaced or topped-off.

6. Blowers spin fresh air around the condenser to speed the cooling process.

REGENERATIVE PROCESS

7. (a) Air which has been pre-heated from the condensing unit, (b) continues up to a second heat exchanger located in the exhaust port of the combustion chamber, further pre-heating the air used for combustion while also cooling the exhaust fumes (to about 320°F).

8. A high pressure pump (not pictured) pipes water from the collecting pan to the heat coils (a) via heat exchangers surrounding each of the cylinders (only one pictured), and then (b) to the center of the coils to start the heat cycle again

Patent for a Heat Regenerative engine click here

Patent for Steam Generator in a heat regnerative engine click here

To Learn more/visit their site click here