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Carnot efficiency. 30% is pretty typical in land-based motive systems. Shipboard combustion engines and coal-fired power plants (of all things) are rated as high as 45% efficiency.

This is based on input and output temperatures, more than anything.



F1 "power units" are at 47% thermal efficiency but there a complicated hybrid system.

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/inter...


Got it, so a 1.5x improvement on 30% lines right up with 45%. That's where they're getting their 50% gains number from.


Good eye, though it's not immediately clear that that's strictly edging in on Carnot efficiencies or if other aspects (two-stroke power cycle, valveless port-based design, eliminating cylinder-head heat loss -- on which, doesn't that eventually reach equilibrium temp anyway?, etc.) are to credit.

I've seen a few other radical reciprocating energy designs, there are some interesting YouTube vids I should track down. I think "radial engine" might reveal something. New Zealand, possibly Australian engineering firm, IIRC.




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